THE DUST OF THE EARTH

 

“Now Mormon did not mean to say that the Lord has greater concern for and loves the dust of the earth more than He does His children (Helaman 12:7-8; Mosiah 2:25). He did not mean to say that we, the children of the Lord, in His sight are considered less than the dust of the earth. The point he is making is that the dust of the earth is obedient. It moveth hither and thither at the command of the Lord. All things are in harmony with His laws. Everything in the universe obeys the law given unto it, so far as I know, except man. Everywhere you look you find law and order, the elements obeying the law given to them, true to their calling. But man rebels, and in this thing man is less than the dust of the earth because he rejects the counsels of the Lord….” (Joseph Fielding Smith, in CR April 1929, p 55)

How true this statement is! We seek our own wisdom at every turn and stumble in darkness half the time failing to seek counsel from God to fulfil our mortal callings. There would be less chaos in the world if we, like the dust of the earth obeyed the God given laws and ceased our ego driven pursuit to live ‘our own truth’. This has become the mantra of the free world. Everyone has their own truth they want to live by so they can deny God’s truth.

I reflected upon Nephi this week and how compliant he was, like the dust of the earth. The only reason Nephi became a great man is because He allowed God to turn him into one. Have you noticed how he went to God for instruction and guidance and knowledge, at every turn? He did not say to himself, ‘let me just sit here and figure out what my father’s dream meant. I know I can do it, I’m a smart man’, he turned to God instead (1 Nephi 11:1-3). When obtaining the plates, he didn’t rely on his own bravado, he trusted God to have a plan (1 Nephi 4:1,6). When commanded to build a ship, his first response was, ‘where will I find ore to make the tools to construct the ship?’ (1 Nephi 17:9). He asked God who was issuing the commands.

Nephi’s greatest asset was his faith, not ‘his truth’. That’s where his greatness lay. He knew God had a purpose for him and he knew he needed God to fulfil it (1 Nephi 17:3). His obedience to every command he was given set him in harmony with God and in alignment with His plan. We cannot become great without the greatness of God. Better be the dust of the earth in His hand than wallow in the mire of this world.

I would rather be a vessel in Your hand

Than a crowned king on gilded throne;

I would rather be a bird in flight

Without a shelter to keep me warm;

I would rather cross the oceans

And go where you would want me to go

Than sit contented never knowing

the trail that leads me home.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Footprints of Faith by Ivan Guaderrama)