There
is a strong depiction of father-son relationships in the Book of Mormon. This
is obvious because the records were kept by men and handed down to their sons. What
else can be seen, however, is the spiritual legacy passed on from father to
son.
Consider
for a moment just these few sons who had been righteously influenced by their
fathers: Nephi, who believed all the words of his father Lehi (1 Nephi 2:16)
and became crucial to preserving the tribe of Joseph in Americas; Enos who
allowed the words of his father Jacob to sink deep into his heart (Enos 1:3)
and because of which he was led to such mighty prayer that God could not be
restrained from covenanting with him regarding the preservation of the records
and the imminent salvation of the Lamanites (Enos 1:16); Alma the
Younger remembering his father’s prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ when he
was racked with torment for his sins (Alma 36:17); and his concern for his son
Corinaton which prompted an entire discourse on God's justice, mercy and
resurrection spanning three chapters of his book (Alma 40,1,2); Moroni who
accepted the incredible responsibility to safeguard the records and who gave us
the discourse on faith, hope and charity as taught by his father Mormon (Moroni
7:1).
What
is also felt throughout the Book of Mormon is the inter-generational
influence evidenced by many repeated references to the 'fathers', rather
than 'ancestors'. Helaman the second gave his two sons the names of Nephi and
Lehi so that they would always remember them and carry on their good works
(Helaman 5:6,7). And indeed they did, keeping the commandments and teaching the
word of God among all the people of Nephi (Helaman 5:14). What do we learn from
these family associations? That the testimony of righteous fathers can be a
guiding beacon for generations to come.
There
is one relationship that stands out the most in the Book of Mormon but this
time it is the son-father relationship. Nobody has been a greater son to his
father than Jesus, who fulfilled the will of the Father in all things (3 Nephi
1:14); the son who 'does always those things that please him" (John 8:29)
and was consequently called by the Father "Well Beloved" (Helaman
5:47). During His visit to the Americas, according to my calculations, Jesus
made 148 references to the Father. He came not only to affirm his divine
Sonship but to teach the people to worship the Father. It is the Saviour's love
for the Father, more than His love for us, that motivated Him to become the
author of our salvation, defending and preserving the Father’s glory forever (Moses
4:2). During His ministry Jesus stated often that He and the Father are one (3
Nephi 11:27, John 14:10-11). He is the perfect son because of a perfect father.
I
hope you fathers recognise the crucial role you play. Without your protection,
guidance and principled teaching, the future generations cannot make things
better. Without you fulfilling your God given role, societies can crumble and families
can be lost forever. May you be the fathers that your sons and daughters are proud
to recognise as their own for is there a more touching declaration in the Book
of Mormon than this: "I am Helaman, the son of Alma" (Alma
58:41)......except, there is this one: "I am Jesus Christ, the Son of
God" (3 Nephi 9:15).
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