the admonitions of the Lord. 2 Nephi 4:13

Carolina Chickadee

Admonition: gentle or friendly reproof....counsel or warning against fault or oversight. ... to reprove gently but earnestly, to counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution. To remind of something forgotten or disregarded, as an obligation or responsibility.  

Examples: an admonition to be careful.... He offered words of advice and admonition.
Synonyms:  adjuration, admonishment, advice, counsel, guidance, input. 

Related Words: recommendation, suggestion; hint, pointer, tip; data, feedback, information; answer, solution; advisement, consideration, thought; alarm, alert, caution, cautioning, expostulation, forewarning, remonstrance, remonstration, urging, waring, judgment, observation, verdict; assistance, briefing, coaching, direction, instruction, mentoring, priming, prompting, teaching, tutoring; interference, kibitzing, meddling, moralizing, pontficating, preaching; exhortation, lecture, lesson, sermon speech, 

I'm sitting on my back porch. It's mid morning and the Chickadees are having a row of it. Their happy "chick dee, chick dee" song has been replaced by a gargled "rasp- slink, tee tee tee tee" and even a "screamy- squeal."  In the not to far off branches the parents are giving their fledglings a coaching, a lesson, a warning, a few pointers,  i.e....some parental admonishment. 

Occasionally the parents will lift off of the branch, fly to the feeder and return with food. I count at least four babies that are out of the nest and flitting in a flurry of wings amongst the branches, squawking at one another with a pestering chipping sound. They take their instruction with great excitement. 

I imagine if I could speak "Chickadee", I might hear some good preaching and teaching. Clearly from the ruckus of chips and screams coming from the fledglings, accepted wisdom comes easiest from parental chirps and perks, not from one another.  I couldn't be sure but it appeared that the "mealy worm" treats from the feeder (that the parents were frequently gathering) were being used as added encouragement. 

Admonishment is an art form practiced best by wise parents. Who else will a child suffer to teach them? Nephi spoke often of his elder brothers inability to take instruction from him, their younger brother. It did not matter that Nephi's gifts and talents and insights were uniquely different, as the eldest, they believed leadership was their right.  
Admonishment is foremost a parental responsibility. Lehi did not take this responsibility lightly. Nephi tells us that Lehi not only gave his sons blessings and counsel often, but that he and Nephi tried fervently before Lehi's passing to speak to them. Shortly after Lehi passes away however,  sibling animosity grows- first to anger then into hatred. Without the gentle counsel and sweet reproach of their father Lehi, the brothers focus more on their differences than on their love for one another. After only thirty years in the wilderness the family finally separates. 

A Chickadee cools off

I've read and pondered these verses for some time now. What I discovered is that much like the Chickadees ruckus that I heard this morning, not only is the design of the family one that requires parental guidance, but also parental encouragement. It appeared to me that the parent Chickadees were both reprimanding and rewarding their chicks. 

The Lord has told us that we should do the same, for correction, advice, reprove, caution are all difficult for young birds to take. When coupled with gladness and a happy tone, discipline becomes more palatable.  And - if they don't learn from their parents while young, then who? 

In reading these few verses and preceding and subsequent chapters I gleaned a few things about Lehi's family. 

• Laman and Lemuel took instruction only from Lehi, they resented any instruction Nephi gave 
• The curse that was placed upon their heads came from their interactions with Nephi - not Lehi.
• Lehi would reprove with great gentleness and love giving them encouragement and positive images to hold on to such as a river and a valley. (1 Nephi 2:9-10)
• Nephi was prone to be drawn into his brother's anger rather than respond to it with loving encouragement. (2 Ne 5)
• Lehi's love could not replace the experiences needed to bring his children to the Lord. But he did bless them that they would not perish and that their sins would be upon his head. (2 Nephi 2) 
• Once he dies, their faith dwindles and the brothers who were born and/or raised in the wilderness  purposefully separate themselves from those that were born in Jerusalem. (2 Nephi 5) 
• Lehi spoke many words of instruction and encouragement to his sons. He admonished them often to draw near to the Lord and exercise their faith. 

And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lord.2 Nephi 4:-1-13 

The word admonition is used in this verse in context with Laman and Lemuel's anger, hence we tend to connect the two, but they are not meant to be connected. To be admonished is to be corrected and feel the love of the one who offers the admonition. Why didn't Nephi's brothers feel the Lord's love? 
I believe it is because they were prone to murmur and complain -not only against Nephi but also their father and his leadership. In looking back at Lamen's and Lemuel's actions murmuring always preceded their anger.
And their anger clouded their ability to feel their father's or the Lord's love. 

A chickadee flits toward the feeder

The Lord's love is long and merciful. Unlike the cruelty of nature where when a young bird refuses his parents council he perishes, the Lord's mercy is long and true. Lehi knew his sons were far from feeling the Lord's love and yet he blessed them that they would not perish. He knew that they would need experiences to bring them to a full understanding of his love for them and that they would not hear or understand what it was he so wanted them to learn. He understood that their eternal existence depended on their ability to learn and take instruction. 

Once we learn to take instruction from the Lord, taking it from others is not a threat or a compromise of power. Our love for one another and the Lord's greater plan of happiness precedes our insecurities and gives us hope and security in what we cannot otherwise know. As the Lord admonishes those whom he loves we too are to love one another in a like manner. 

The Lord has instructed us to admonish one another. 

14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.Romans 15:13-14

Even those who refuse to listen, or obey:

14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

And of course I loved this last verse because it reminds me of my beloved Chickadee family that when they are not taking instruction or squawking about their reprimands they are singing to one another and me with "grace in ...their... hearts to the Lord." 

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 

A chipping sparrow admonishes us with his stare. 

What a joyful song the birds do sing. 
Such gladness to my heart they bring. 

Of wisdom and song they counsel youth
with hymns of praise, words of truth.

L.Conkey Shaw Copyright May 2013 

Another Sign Helaman 9:25-41

Helaman 9:25-41

I was driving my GuitarGuy to school the other morning

when I saw the back side of a stop sign. It appeared that the street I was crossing had a stop sign that an oncoming car was ignoring. Out of precaution I yielded to her as she never hesitated. After I crossed through the intersection I saw my mistake. The sign was not facing her direction of traffic but yet a third angle of traffic. It was good that I had yielded.

This made me think of signs and their purposes. Signs give directions by instructing us what to do. A stop sign is a good example. Signs also inform us of important information ,such as a railroad sign that lets us know the train crosses here. Signs give warning of

what is to come.

So the sign of a whistle blowing or a car honking is to warn us of impending danger. Signs also act as locators along our pathways. On the highway mile-marker signs line the interstate to let you know where you are in relation to the beginning or the end of the road. Lastly signs testify of truths. Mostly. There can be errant signs designed to deceive, but most signs give you the truth. If you see an exit sign while driving, you know that you will be able to leave the interstate.

It is important that we read and comprehend the signs we see correctly. Our lives could depend upon it. In my case, if I had not questioned who the stop sign was meant for, if I had assumed that the other car was responsible for stopping, then I could have been seriously injured or killed.

Signs are meant to protect us and to give direction to the destination of our choice.

Nephi wanted to help the people believe that all he said was true. He wanted them to believe on faith alone. But faith was not enough. They needed to connect their faith to something tangible. They needed a sign. So he says to them. "I will show you another sign". I will give you another truth.

When we receive the signs as we drive down the highway, it is up to us to use the signs (of truth) to help us get to our destination. Sometimes when I am driving long distances I might see a sign that says "Atlanta 126 miles". I drive a little longer and forget just how far I have to drive and I forget where I am in relation to Atlanta. So I search for another sign that will tell me again where I am on my journey to Atlanta. These signs give distances of truths. The highway department measures with accuracy and I can feel assured that the distances they post are true. I have to have faith that they know what they are doing. I have to believe them.

So it is with God and the signs he gives us. He gives us "road" signs in our lives that testify of his love for us. He helps us to know that he is watching over us and we are traveling on the correct road, a road that will lead us home to him. Like when we travel, we have to combine our faith and belief in the truth of the signs to help us make good decisions, to help us know who and what to believe.

This passage of scripture is not so much about Nephi showing these non-believers who knows more, as it is about giving the believers yet "another sign" to help strengthen their testimony. Many of these people embarked on their journey of belief when they saw Nephi praying in his garden outside of the city. Their curiosity peeked, they asked questions, they measured his words against their actions, and they mocked him. But when the signs came, when the truth came, they began to listen.

I too can pay attention to the "road" signs of my life. God has given me many different signs that help me understand who I am, where I am destined, how I should arrive there, and what I am to do. Signs of spiritual truths are not too much unlike the physical road signs. They too instruct, warn, locate, and inform. We simply have to learn how to read the signs that God's spirit sends our way.

Words and Phrases

vs 25 another sign - we have many different kinds of signs and many different signs to help us find our way through our life journey. If we miss a sign, or misread a sign, it may prove eternally costly. God gives us many signs to help build our confidence in our ability to choose correctly. Think of how many signs you need to read to help you feel secure that you are traveling in the correct direction.

vs 31 ye shall examine- It is important to examine the signs that are given. Just as I misread the back side of the stop sign, so can we misread or misinterpret the signs that we receive or notice. Closer examination will reveal the truth and assure a positive outcome.

vs 33 which has come upon your face - many signs of our lives are found in the faces of those we hold dear. Signs of joy.. signs of happiness, or sadness. signs of contentment and acceptance. guilt, etc.

vs 36 by the power of God - signs from heaven come to us by the power of God. He alone can orchestrate our lives and help us make good decisions. He can help us choose by giving us good signs of truth to guide us. By his power are we saved because we learn to listen to and hearken to the signs of warning, information, instruction, and location while we live our lives.

vs 36 an honest man - Honest men give honest signs. The DOT gives honest distances, and true signs. Honest men do not give signs that are deceptive or corrupt. Honest men are sent from God.

vs 38 brought to prove - I watched the Count of Monte Cristo the other night. In this great movie a man is wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years. While in prison he carves into the walls of his dungeon cell. "God will grant me justice." In the end all truth will be "brought to prove" and men shall have a righteous judgement of God.

vs 39 they had been converted - Why were these 5 converted. Maybe it's because they lived on both sides of the truth. The side where they were casting the blame and the side where they were being blamed. Their perspective changed and they saw how valuable the truth is. They saw the reasoning behind Nephi's words and felt the strength of truth and it's power to change lives.

vs 39 and there were some - a few believed that Nephi was a prophet. They based this on their experience with them.

vs 41 know of all things - When we use the truth of the signs that God gives us we eventually are able to build upon the truth of these signs and receive a larger perspective of life. When you travel and you rely on the road signs to tell you where you are going, and how to get there, eventually in your mind you are able to step outside of your car and see a larger overall picture of your journey. When I travel by plane I enjoy the window seat that gives me the perspective of large cities and the highways that feed into them from other cities. I have a perspective different from when I drive the car.