10. Agency

CHAPTER 10

AGENCY

The hut of father Nephi was practically identical to his son’s.  They were both silently pondering in their hearts about the events already taken place that morning when they arrived at the father’s hut.  Many things, both past and future weighed on their minds.

They prepared a simple mid-morning meal of fruit, fish, and beans.  When they sat down together to eat, they had some time to talk.

“Where’s Timothy?” Nephi asked his father.  “Why isn’t he here with you?”

“Oh, Timothy is pretty much staying full time in the village now.  He is sixteen, you know.  Some of those village girls are beginning to attract his attention.  Speaking of which, when are you finally going to get serious with someone?  You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

“Oh, father, stop!”  Nephi’s face reddened noticeably.  “And why didn’t you re-marry?  The right girl will come along.  I’m not that old yet, you know.”

“No.  You’re not.  And I’m sure you’re right.  The right girl is out there somewhere for you.  Sometimes I just think you are older than you really are because of your maturity and your spirituality.”

“Thanks, father.  Maybe I’d better change the subject before you lose your confidence in me.  Have you ever regretted giving up the position of chief judge?”

“No, never, not at all!  I think it was a good decision then, and I would do it again.  I was able to dedicate my life to more fully preaching the gospel of Christ.  That’s more important to me than anything else.”

“But don’t you sometimes miss the excitement?  The attention?  I mean, really, you could be living at the palace like a king and dining on rich food instead of these beans.  And you could have all kinds of servants waiting on you instead of being here by yourself.”

“Hah!  Well, that’s true.  But let me tell you something.  I choose Christ over worldly status.   Eternal spiritual things are of greater value to me than any temporary, earthly glory.  It’s a good thing I stepped away from the government.  I couldn’t tolerate the wickedness that has taken over now.  Members of the band of Gadianton are everywhere.  They are seeking that worldly power and glory you say I am missing.  They will eventually find that all their worldly glory is nothing but a tempting trap that catches Satan’s worshippers.”

“Oh, I know.  I agree with you.   I was just saying.  Still…”

“Yes?  So are you wishing I hadn’t made the choice I did?  Stayed in the government and remained the chief judge?  So I could leave you with more of an inheritance today?”

“Ulp --- no.  No, of course not.”  The younger Nephi blushed again.  Flustered and momentarily distracted, he reached for another small fish on a stick by the fire.  A flame jumped out of the fire and singed his finger.

“Ow!  Ouch!  My finger!”  Nephi jerked his hand away from the fire and waved it frantically in the air before slamming his fist to the ground.

“Hey!  That won’t help!”  Nephi reproved his son mildly.  “Take this cup of water.  Put your finger in it and leave it there until it stops hurting.”

 

“All right.”  Nephi put his finger in the water and stirred it around.  “That’s better.  My, that hurt!  But it didn’t blister so I’ll be fine.”

“That’s good.  So what were you trying to ask me before you burned your finger?  Is it do I hate that all the glory and wealth is going to other people who don’t deserve it?  Is that it?”

 Nephi was amazed by how accurately his father could discern the real questions behind his thoughts, even though he hadn’t verbalized them yet.  “Well, that’s not really it.  But it’s close.  It’s not so much about hating other people or envying what they have, it’s more about justice.  Don’t you want justice?  If you were still the chief judge, you would be in position to fight those who are corrupting the government with their wickedness.”

“Of course I want justice,” replied Nephi’s father.  “And I thought I was fighting the corruption in government by preaching the word of God.”

“Oh, you are, you’re right!  Sorry.  I’m not really saying it well.  Father, our enemies are winning!  I’m saddened by that.  I got upset this morning because I remembered Tyreantum and Alumon at the judgment-seat.  Where is the punishment they deserve for their crimes?  They are rich today, and getting richer!  Why?  Because they’re evil!  Shouldn’t they be punished!?  Wouldn’t it be nice if they felt the pain they have inflicted upon you?”

Nephi did not answer his son right away.  Both of them were silent for a time.  Finally, the elder Nephi spoke.  “In other words, wouldn’t it be nice to take vengeance for the death of mother?  Get our revenge!”

“Oh, father, I didn’t mean to have it sound that nasty.”

“That’s all right, Neffy.  I understand.  I do.  I really do.  Sure, I’ve wondered how long God will allow the wicked to prosper.  He is patient with us, isn’t He?  So I guess we need to be more patient with Him.  Besides, does it make your burned finger better to punish it by breaking your hand?  No, you just add to your pain.  Would it bring your mother back to see Tyreantum thrown in prison?”

Nephi realized his finger was still in the cup of water and took it out.  He looked at the lingering small red spot where the fire had hurt him.  Then he dried his finger gingerly with a cloth.

“No.  That would not bring mother back.  I understand that.  I know that God will make things right in His own way and in His own time.  Do you know what I would like to see, father?”

“No.  What?”

“I would like seeing the scared look on Tyreantum’s face when the night without darkness comes.  Maybe then he’ll get God’s message.  Even he won’t be able to miss that one!  It seems to me that already there are indications of some signs and wonders in the heavens.  If only people would open their eyes they would see.  But Satan has managed to grab hold of the hearts of so many people.  I don’t think they are even looking anymore.”

“Good point, son.  Which reminds me, did you get enough to eat?  We have to get going.”

“Yes, thank you.  I’ve had enough.  What?  I thought our business for today was done.  Where are we going now?”

“I’ll show you.  First, let’s clean up.”

The bowls and cups were moved so they could be washed, and water was sprinkled on the fire to extinguish the flames.  The ashes were spread around to make sure no hot spots remained.  Nephi continued to ask his father questions while they worked.

“Do you remember my friend, Heli'·ves?  He came to you once requesting baptism.  Right after Samuel came to prophesy.  He was so impressed that nobody could hit Samuel with either stones or arrows.”

“Of course I remember him.  What about him?”

“He tells me that he doesn’t believe any more.  He tells me that they figured out how Samuel used mirrors on the walls.  With the mirrors, the arrows and the stones missed.  That’s because they were aimed at the reflection instead of at Samuel himself.  Everything was just an illusion!

“Now he tells me he’s entirely stopped going to church.  Plus, he is constantly listening to all that priestcraft of the Nehors.”

“I see.  I’m very sorry to hear that.  How unfortunate.  Is he persuaded by the teachings of the Nehors?”

“I think so.  He was pretty passionate about it when he argued with me.  He said that it is merely a wicked tradition handed down by our fathers that such a being as Christ shall come.  He reasons, in effect, that we can’t really know if there is a Christ.  And even if there is a Christ, we’ll never know if that is true or not because He is supposed to come to a far distant land, not to us in this land.  Therefore, to believe in Christ is to believe in a fable.  The fable has been invented to keep us in ignorance.  And it can never be seen with our own eyes if the fable is true or not.

“What can I do or say to help Heli'·ves choose to believe once again?  I know that there is still a lot of good in him.  But unless something miraculous happens, I’m afraid he will be lost forever.”

Nephi’s father did not answer the question about Heli'·ves right away.  Instead, he walked to the opening of his hut and stood quietly by himself, gazing off to the mountain tops in the distance.  Sunlight shone upon the highest peaks.  Nephi waited patiently for his father.  He knew his father sometimes prayed standing up, and took the time necessary to listen for an answer to his prayer before taking action on important matters.

After a period of silence, Nephi turned back inside to face his son and declared, “All right.  It’s time.  We should leave for the record vault right away.  Let’s get ready to go.”

Nephi’s jaw dropped and he stared back incredulously at his father.  “But, father, are you mad?  Why go back to the record vault now?  Arumor and his guards are still probably searching around and harassing everybody in sight.  We were lucky enough to get by him and out of there as it is!”