IN THE WILDERNESS

 

I learnt the other day about the spiritual concept of ‘wilderness’. Whereas the word usually refers to desert country, it has great religious significance as a place of segregation of “the righteous from the wicked and the position of the righteous man as a pilgrim and an outcast on the earth” (Hugh Nibley, “An Approach to the Book of Mormon”, p 135).

The Lord has used this method of segregation throughout history, think of the children of Israel and the scattering of the Ten Tribes.  This concept, however, is also prominent in the ancient Americas and its purpose is two-fold.

The word ‘wilderness’ occurs at least 336 times in the Book of Mormon. It connotes protection for the righteous from judgment that befalls the wicked and also purification and spiritual refinement of God’s people.

The most obvious example is that of Lehi and his colony who spent 8 years in the wilderness of the Arabian Peninsula, which even the hardened Bedouins avoid like the plague...detestable certainly describes the place in the eyes of Lehi's people, who 'murmured' bitterly at being led into such a hell." (Hugh Nibley, Lehi In the Desert, p 51).

At the end of his life Lehi called the deserts of Arabia “the wilderness of my afflictions” (2 Nephi 3:3) and at the same time he recounted how great things the Lord had done for his family in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem and how merciful He had been (2 Nephi 1:1,4).

The wandering didn’t end there however. Just as soon as Lehi’s family landed in America, Nephi was commanded to take those who would go with him and ‘flee into the wilderness’ to escape his brothers who became the Lamanites (2 Nephi 5:5-7). Nephi’s brother Jacob called them “a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers….born in tribulation, in a wilderness….” (Jacob 7:26).

Alma identified the sacred purpose of the ‘wilderness experience’ when he said that ‘because of their isolation, God gave them special revelation, and glad tidings were given to them in plain terms that they cannot err’…and then he gave the reason: ”and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore we are thus highly favoured” (Alma 13:23).

Wilderness is, therefore, a place where the Lord puts His people to make them His own. It accomplishes the greatest purpose of teaching them absolute and complete dependence on God (Mosiah 4:21-30). Think of the children of Israel’s experience in the wilderness for forty years.

The more I read of this concept, the more I could see how this plays out in our individual lives in a modern-day setting.  Sometimes we are placed in a ‘wilderness’ of sorts where God can teach us without the influence of others or where we become totally dependent on God through a trial of our faith that is unique to us.

You will know you are in a wilderness if you feel isolated and alone because some experiences are meant to be this way for our greater connection with God.

Being in ‘wilderness’ is not for the faint hearted. It requires stretching, accepting, and enduring hardships but the benefits are enormous……The Lord usually puts us into this spiritual ritual to teach us who we are and who He is and to make us His own. It’s a lonely road but one on which you will meet God.

I met You on the lonely road

And heard You say to me:

You will ever be mine

If you walk with me.

 

Your presence enthralled me,

Your exquisite love nearly ripped me apart;

I walked away from all else

Just to have You in my heart.

 

I walk now with Your hand in mine

The lonely road paved with tears of love

Oh, if only everyone knew where to find You

And long for You to come!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)