The Great and Spacious Building

Painting of Lehi's Dream by Steven Lloyd Neal 

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.

26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.

33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

In the August 2010 Ensign Magazine, Elder Boyd K. Packer (p.23) suggests we put ourselves into Lehi's dream.  When people mock and scorn us, are we ashamed? Do we join them in the great and spacious building?  Or like Lehi do we heed them not?  

He writes: "Largely because of television, instead of looking over into that spacious building, we are, in effect, living inside of it.  That is your fate in this generation.  You are living in that great and spacious building."

Because of television and the internet, if we are living in the great and spacious building, we must be even more vigilant in assuring that we hold fast to the iron rod (and remain true to gospel principles and values).  We need to careful to look at and read only those things that are "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Article of Faith 13). 

"You will be safe if you look and groom like and act like an ordinary Latter-day Saint," writes Elder Packer. "Dress modestly, attend your meetings, pay tithes, take the sacrament, honor the priesthood, honor your parents, follow your leaders, read the scriptures, study the Book of Mormon, and pray - always pray.  An unseen power will hold your hand as you hold to the iron rod."  

Our true identity

The sons of Mosiah show how to gain spiritual strength

From the experience of the sons of Mosiah we can learn how to gain
spiritual strength. In Alma 17, Alma reunites with the sons of Mosiah
who had for 14 years served among the Lamanites. They had gained
spiritual strength because they had searched the scriptures
diligently, that they might know the word of God. They prayed and
fasted and so had the "spirit of prophecy" and "revelation." The
result was they had "the knowledge of the truth" and "sound
understanding" and "when they taught, they taught with power and
authority of God."

Read more at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/17

No inequality among them

Alma 16:16 <http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/16> And there was no
inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the
face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to
prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among
them at the time of his coming—

Let us seek to do the same and be equally blessed in our day.

Lessons from the story of Zeezrom (Alma 15)

Sometimes we feel that our sins are so great that we can't be
forgiven. Such was Zeezrom's case. He felt his opposition to the
Church had led to the death of Alma and Amulek and others. However,
even in his situation, his faith in Christ was enough that he was
forgiven and also healed. See Alma 15
<http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/15>.

5 and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him
upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind
also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw
them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would
heal him.
6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand:
Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?
7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.
8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou
canst be healed.
9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.
10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have
mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in
Christ.
11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet,
and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all
the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the
land of Sidom.
12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that
time forth to preach unto the people.

We also learn in this chapter that sometimes when people accept the
gospel that their family rejects them. Such was the experience of
Amulek. (Alma 15:16)

Why do the innocent suffer?

On example of the innocent suffering is in Alma 14. Those people who
believed the word of God taught by Amulek and Alma were thrown into a
fire.

10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were
consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How
can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our
hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them
from the flames.
11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must
not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up
unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this
thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to
the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall
exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the
innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily
against them at the last day.