The Lord has promised He will bless us. But His blessings are requisite on us having the necessary faith that precedes each one, and this includes casting aside our self-doubts and fears. We read of perhaps the most striking example of this in the book of Ether, where the Brother of Jared is permitted to see the Lord. This is due to his extreme faith, though the Lord tests that faith even during the process of receiving the blessing. From viewing a finger, to visualizing the full Son of God, to being promised he will return to the Lord’s presence, the Lord guides the brother of Jared stepwise past his fears until He can bless him with all He has. This example teaches us the process of pressing forward in faith as we seek the Lord’s blessings.
Ether 3:5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.
6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?
8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.
9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?
10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.
11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.
LESSON LEARNED: The Lord seeks to bless His children, and will nurture us through our fears in order to do so.
FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF WORKING THROUGH YOUR FEARS TO RECEIVE A BLESSING OF THE LORD?
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