The Trial of Your Faith

In our stake conference yesterday, Elder Kevin Brown spoke and discussed the story of Zoram. He suggested that there was more than one reason that Nephi and his brothers went up to Jerusalem that first time. Of course, one reason was to obtain the plates of brass, which they ultimately did. The second reason, one they would not have realized until later, was to obtain a husband for the oldest daughter of Ishmael. Ishmael had five daughters who were not married and two sons who were. When Nephi and his brothers went the second time to get them (Zoram did not go with them, likely because it would have been too dangerous for him to be recognized), this eldest daughter may have been worried that she would not have an opportunity to marry. She was righteous, and it would have been fairly obvious who was going to marry Laban and Lemuel based on what happened in this verse: “And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters” (1 Nephi 7:6). There were two other daughters of Ishmael who joined in the rebellion of Laban and Lemuel, and it was probably clear to everyone that they would be paired up in marriage. That left two younger men, Nephi and Sam, who likely were much closer in age to this eldest daughter’s other two righteous sisters. So, she may have despaired that she would have no opportunity to marry as they embarked on their voyage into the wilderness. We do not know when she found out that another single man was going to be with their party, but I’d like to think that she made the choice to come with faith in the Lord and not knowing there would be a possibility of a family for her. She went forward trusting Him, and He provided a miracle for her. Why did Nephi and his brothers go to Jerusalem that first time? It was to get the plates and to get a husband for this righteous daughter of Ishmael. Nephi recorded simply, “Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife” (1 Nephi 16:7). All four sons of Lehi and all five daughters of Ishmael were able to marry and have a family because Zoram was with them. Many years later the record shows that this eldest daughter was still righteous as “Zoram and his family” were among those who went with Nephi and “believed in the warnings and the revelations of God” (2 Nephi 5:6). She and Zoram were greatly blessed of the Lord for their faith, and I wish we had more details from their story.

                One of the most important principles from stories of the first book of Nephi, including this one about Zoram and the eldest daughter of Ishmael, is that we must move forward with faith even when we cannot see how things will work out. Nephi had to go into Jerusalem that night without knowing how he would get the plates from Laban. Lehi had to take his family into the wilderness without knowing how he would possibly guide them through the desert wasteland they would encounter. Sariah had to follow her husband from their home into the desert without a witness for herself other than his word (that didn’t come until her boys came back safely from the first trip). And this eldest daughter perhaps embarked on her journey with the family without any idea how she would have the opportunity to be married. This reminds me of something President Boyd K. Packer once related, “Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do. I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’ Then he quoted these 18 words from the Book of Mormon: ‘“Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith’” (Ether 12:6). We must sometimes walk to the edge of the light, and even step into the darkness, before we gain the witness and light that we need. These early stories of the Book of Mormon encourage us to trust that the Lord will guide our way as we keep His commandments, even when we cannot see the path forward. His promise to them was surely meant for all of us who make and keep covenants with Him: “And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led” (1 Nephi 17:13).