Can't See the Forest for the Trees

 

One of my favorite camp songs: 

(this is my favorite verse) 

There are bees, bees, with little knobby knees

at the store (at the store)

at the store (at the store)

There are bees, bees, with little knobby knees

at the Quartermaster's store.

 

My eyes are dim, I cannot see

I have not brought my specs with me

I have not brought my specs with me!

 

When I was a little girl, all trees looked like this.  I knew that trees had leaves, but that was close up.  Far away, they looked like big fluffy green things.

In 4th grade, I got glasses.

Suddenly, I realized that trees had visible leaves from far away.  It was an amazing gift, this thing called sight. 

My eyesight has slowly gotten worse over the ensuing years, and each year I get a newer, stronger prescription.  Alas, it does not make my eyes bionic. 

 

Our understanding of God's laws can be like my unaided vision.  We can see little pieces when exposed to them up close, but get a little distance and the whole image is blurry.  We aren't omnipotent, and so it's okay that we see that way.  Well, it's okay until we learn about trees and realize that we should be seeing things more clearly.  We should have a desire for clearer and clearer understanding. 

The thing is, that none of it is that hard to see, though often we need help to see it. 2 Nephi 31:3 says, "For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men.  For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."

The knowledge is there, like a looming forest of truth. It is not hidden.  It is not hard to see.  It is not too difficult to understand.  Apparently God, like Pearle Vision (I use their name, because that's where we spend our monies by direction of insurance, not because they are like God, or because they are the very best), has a lot of different varieties of lenses and frames, enough so that every person everywhere can see/understand in a fashion that suits them best. 

There really is no excuse for not looking to understand the directions Heavenly Father gives us.  That's what got Laman and Lemuel into so much trouble.  It wasn't that it was hard, it was that they did not want to see.  Generations were lost.  So much valuable time living the gospel was lost.  Repentance covers a lot, but it cannot bring back time-- well or poorly spent, it's simply gone.  If it hadn't been for Lehi's sealing to his children, there would have been no basis for a promise that eventually those who wandered would be brought back. 

Everywhere I look, I see the grace of God.  It is becoming clearer to my understanding.