10

Attitude of Mocking

And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
—1 Nephi 8:27–28

Thoughts, Insights, and Observations

The first thing Lehi noticed about the tenants of the great and spacious building was their manner of dress. “Costly apparel” is a common phrase used in the Book of Mormon to describe wealth, but more specifically, materialism. Since cars, speed boats, electronics, recreational vehicles, and so forth had yet to be invented, wealth and the love of money are usually described in terms of apparel, such as costly clothes and jewelry.

Isaiah spent nearly an entire chapter condemning the daughters of Zion for their jewelry and adornments, which he described in great detail (see 2 Nephi 13:16–26). Isaiah used the phrase “the daughters of Zion” as a symbol for all of us (male and female), along with the symbol of the bridegroom to represent Christ. The reason Isaiah condemned the daughters of Zion was because their adornments and their flirtatious behavior was evidence that they were trying to attract other lovers when they were betrothed to Christ (can you imagine anything more hurtful?). In other words, we are unfaithful to Christ when our riches become our love and the object of our worship.

In addition, costly apparel is condemned because we might be tempted to accumulate wealth at the expense of our neighbor. Moroni asks, “Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted [who have life] to pass by you, and notice them not?” (Mormon 8:39). To put it another way, “you’re treating things like people, and people like things.” The Savior pled with us to love one another, not to love our possessions more than others.

Lehi also described what the occupants of the building were doing: They were “mocking,” “pointing their fingers,” and “scoffing.” This ridicule caused those who had partaken of the fruit to be ashamed. It’s hard to believe that anyone could be ashamed of something so wonderful, so exquisite, and so fulfilling beyond anything else available as the fruit of the tree of life, but that is the danger if we become preoccupied with popular opinion and the “praise of the world.”

Let’s consider for a moment the impact of the noise coming from the great and spacious building for those who were still on the path. We often speak of the main effect of the mist of darkness as “blinding the eyes” of those making their way. But there is nothing described in Lehi’s dream that would affect the sojourner’s hearing. We can surmise that the nearer the people came to the tree of life, the more they could hear the scoffing from the great and spacious building.

We can only imagine the feelings we might have were we in their place—being overcome by the mists of darkness, being unable to see where we were going, feeling alone and cut off from others, having to grope our way through the mists, all the while being assailed by the mocking, scoffing, and derision from the great and spacious building. Clearly, the journey to the tree of life was not (and is not) a walk in the park.

Applying the Dream to Our Reality

Like those who were drawing nearer and nearer to the tree, we may expect the opposition to get louder and louder. Perhaps Satan works harder on us the closer we get to where we ought to be.

One woman told of a particularly difficult situation at her place of employment, and how the Spirit whispered to her five words from Lehi’s dream that made a dramatic difference. This quiet piece of inspiration about a scriptural story had an immediate application that gave her perspective, peace, and power:

I had worked in an office for several years, and had firmly established my reputation as a “G-Rated” person. No one told questionable jokes around me, and when they did swear, they always apologized to me. The ladies in the office dressed very well, and, although my clothes were neat and clean, I felt plain in comparison. I was able to interact amicably with my coworkers, but I was conspicuously left out of their after-work socializing. This would bother me from time to time, as I felt excluded, but I reminded myself that their after-work activities usually involved bars.

One day I was told that some of the ladies in the office had considered doing something with me, to which one of them commented, “There are only so many churches in Baltimore.” I could feel the derision and contempt in her comment.

What really surprised me was how I was hurt by her remark. I told myself I should be glad that she knew that I wouldn’t go to bars. So why did it hurt? I struggled with the stinging remark, and considered going out with them so I could fit in. I told myself I could go to the bars, and just not drink. I would belong. Still, that option didn’t feel right.

As I wrestled with my hurt feelings, and the resulting confusion, a quiet voice in my mind whispered, “the great and spacious building” (1 Nephi 8:26). I was filled with the image of Lehi’s dream and the people in the “great and spacious building.”

I saw my experience with new clarity as I likened this scripture unto myself. I saw myself being tempted to let go of the iron rod. I felt for a brief moment I was in danger of falling into forbidden paths and becoming lost. I felt a renewed determination that I would not heed the scorners.

I also found a renewed testimony of the importance of studying the scriptures. Only by reading and studying these sacred words can we draw upon them for strength in time of need. (“Living by the Scriptures,” Church News)

Two “tastes,” we might say, competing for the same soul. For some, being mocked is so “distasteful,” that they forget the exquisite taste of the fruit of the tree of life. Keeping the memory of the tree of life is a great protection.

There is an old saying that “wise men learn from experience, but super wise men learn from others’ experience” (George I. Cannon, “Live to Make Good Memories”). The scriptures are preserved to “enlarge the memory” of the people who read them (Alma 37:8). When the scriptures are treasured up in our minds, we benefit not only from wisdom gained in our past, but from the wisdom and experience of others as well.