Sharon Proctor, I love how that changes the meaning of that sentence!
Thank you & thanks for the insight on the whole topic Jeff :)
Rsymond Takashi SwensonFebruary 1, 2019
The young men in Helaman's battalion were under the age to become warriors when many of their fathers died. They watched those fathers deliberately walk out unarmed to meet the Lamsnite armies, being egged on by the wicked Zoramites and other Nephite apostates. And they saw their mothers bravely support their fathers, even though the lives of themselves and their children were threatened. These young men had seen their mothers stand firm in faith, in the face of death. They knew their mothers' faith because they saw it demonstrated that terrible day. I am sure the mothers continued to teach their children to have courage when performing a mission from God, but what gave their children a certain knowledge of their mother's faith and bravery was the way they stood fast in the face of what looked like certain death. On Mothers Day, we cite this story as we praise the teaching of faithful mothers. But how many of us, mothers and fathers, have demonstrated unequivocally our faith in God's grace despite our own helplessness? If we wsnt to borrow the honor given those mothers, are we willing to pay the price they paid?
Other mothers who showed like courage were the mothers who made the pioneer journey across the wilderness, and the mothers who stayed faithful behind the Iron Curtain until the Berlin Wall fell. Mothers whose husbands were jailed by the Federal government for practicing plural marriage made great sacrifices. Mothers whose husbands served missions supported their families with faith.
Sharon ProctorFebruary 1, 2019
Another thing I think is interesting comes from knowing that when the manuscript of the Book of Mormon was sent to the printer, it didn't have punctuation. The printer put in the punctuation. As the sentence now reads it only reflects the mothers' belief. Suppose, however, the sentence is punctuated this way: We do not doubt. Our mothers' knew it." That way the young men testify that they also know, but that knowledge came because of the faith of their mothers.
Kevin ChristensenFebruary 1, 2019
Nice observations Jeff. It's also worth considering the source of the promise made to their sons, given the circumstances, which, if that was all they had to go by, would contradict what they said. See my 2005 essay here.
https://meridianmag.wpengine.com/article-1-707/
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BEV TAYLORFebruary 6, 2019
Sharon Proctor, I love how that changes the meaning of that sentence! Thank you & thanks for the insight on the whole topic Jeff :)
Rsymond Takashi SwensonFebruary 1, 2019
The young men in Helaman's battalion were under the age to become warriors when many of their fathers died. They watched those fathers deliberately walk out unarmed to meet the Lamsnite armies, being egged on by the wicked Zoramites and other Nephite apostates. And they saw their mothers bravely support their fathers, even though the lives of themselves and their children were threatened. These young men had seen their mothers stand firm in faith, in the face of death. They knew their mothers' faith because they saw it demonstrated that terrible day. I am sure the mothers continued to teach their children to have courage when performing a mission from God, but what gave their children a certain knowledge of their mother's faith and bravery was the way they stood fast in the face of what looked like certain death. On Mothers Day, we cite this story as we praise the teaching of faithful mothers. But how many of us, mothers and fathers, have demonstrated unequivocally our faith in God's grace despite our own helplessness? If we wsnt to borrow the honor given those mothers, are we willing to pay the price they paid? Other mothers who showed like courage were the mothers who made the pioneer journey across the wilderness, and the mothers who stayed faithful behind the Iron Curtain until the Berlin Wall fell. Mothers whose husbands were jailed by the Federal government for practicing plural marriage made great sacrifices. Mothers whose husbands served missions supported their families with faith.
Sharon ProctorFebruary 1, 2019
Another thing I think is interesting comes from knowing that when the manuscript of the Book of Mormon was sent to the printer, it didn't have punctuation. The printer put in the punctuation. As the sentence now reads it only reflects the mothers' belief. Suppose, however, the sentence is punctuated this way: We do not doubt. Our mothers' knew it." That way the young men testify that they also know, but that knowledge came because of the faith of their mothers.
Kevin ChristensenFebruary 1, 2019
Nice observations Jeff. It's also worth considering the source of the promise made to their sons, given the circumstances, which, if that was all they had to go by, would contradict what they said. See my 2005 essay here. https://meridianmag.wpengine.com/article-1-707/
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