36. Revelation

CHAPTER 36

REVELATION

Joseph came into the carpenter shop the next morning to see to his guests.  “How is everybody this morning?  Were you able to rest?  Is there something you need, or anything I can do for you?”

Zenos answered for all of them, “Thou art most kind, dear Joseph.  We thank thee for letting us rest here with thee, and please let Mary know that we are very grateful for the time we spent with you last night and your invitation to stay here.  Thou hast done more than enough already.  Perhaps there is some way to repay thee?”

  “Payment is not needed.”  Joseph brushed the air with his palm down.  “Did you know that He was laid in a manger after He was born because there was no room for us in the inn?  I hope you didn’t mind too much sharing your night together in a place for making mangers.  I know this is not a typical place to stay.  I’m sorry we have no better.”

Zenos expounded, “There is no better when a manger was enough for the Best.”

“I’ll return in a moment with something for all of you to eat,” Joseph said before he went back to the house.  His purpose for coming was obviously to verify that it was not too soon to provide them with a morning meal.

When Joseph returned to the house, Zenos told the others something he did not to confide to Joseph.   “Actually, I slept very poorly; and not because my bed was uncomfortable alongside a manger.  I dreamed a troubling dream in the night.”

“Why!  So did I!” exclaimed Jared.  “What was your dream about?  Do you remember?  Mine was very strange --- a warning of some kind.”

“Normally, I don’t have dreams, or if I do I don’t remember them after I wake up,” explained Zenos.  “But last night I had a strange dream about a terrible beast.  The beast had two horns like curved swords coming out of his head and seven tails of chains of iron, but only one eye in the middle of its face.  And on its forehead there was a mark and the number of its name.  And its number was one-third.

“When the beast shook its head, anyone near the beast was killed.  And the beast stomped to and fro on its hind legs in a world filled with gold and wealth which cracked open with the stomping of the beast.  After the world cracked open, twelve stars appeared in the heavens that came down and moved in a circle around the beast who roared in anger at the sight of them.  While the beast was distracted by the stars, a Lamb entered the world of the beast and swallowed all the gold and the wealth of its world without getting any larger.

“And the stars began to sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.  They sang the words great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?  For thou only art holy.  For all nations shall come and worship before thee.  For thy judgments are made manifest.

“And after that I looked, and behold, the beast was chasing the stars who were flying in every direction to keep it from going near the Lamb, but two of the stars fell to the ground. 

“Tell us about your dream now, Jared,” requested Zenos.

“In my dream,” Jared reflected, “a large dragon without wings rose up out of the ground under the temple of God.  The temple was carried on the back of the dragon to the edge of a dark pit used as a nest for the dragon’s newly hatched and hungry young. 

“The temple was dropped by the mother of dragons and was falling into the open mouths of her awaiting young when twelve angels clothed in pure and white linen, with their breasts girded with golden girdles, and standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire and the harps of God, caught the temple in its fall.  The twelve angels placed the temple at the top of the tallest mountain, and then a great voice out of the temple was heard saying to the twelve angels, go your ways, and avoid returning to the lair of the dragon.

“And I looked, and behold, the angels were gone except for three who stood between the dragon and the mountain of the Lord’s House.  And there was war between them.  The angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought against the angels, and prevailed not when two of the angels overcame her by the sacrifice of their blood, and by the word of their testimony, because they loved not their lives unto the death.  And the heavens rejoiced, and all that dwell therein to see the defeat of the dragon.  And many spirits sang praises to God and glory to the Father as they descended out of heaven and entered safely into the mountain of the Lord’s House.”

Different, but similar dreams were shared by Noah, Ezias, Zenoch, Lumech, and Zedek.  Each of their dreams appeared to involve the defeat of some formidable enemy in the form of a beast, a serpent, or other animal about to destroy a valuable treasure.  Each dream had something like twelve brave and courageous servants of righteousness who succeeded in valiantly protecting the treasure and ultimately defeated the enemy by avoiding his trap and escaping death, except for two of the twelve.

Simon and Cleopas were anxious to return to their own country and had made plans to return right away without even going back to Jerusalem.  Neither of them had dreamt a strange dream during the night.  Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman said they had not experienced any strange dreams either.

“So what do you think your strange dreams mean?” asked Simon.

Zenos again took the lead in speaking for all.  “I think none of us should go back to Jerusalem or let Herod know anything about the star leading us here to find Mary’s Son.  I think we should keep His identity here hidden, and not testify of His presence until we are back safely in our own countries and among our own people.  Herod is a serpent who would strike against the Holy Child.  These dreams are a warning from God, and we should depart for our own countries another way.”

Just then Joseph re-entered the carpenter shop carrying baskets of food and fresh goat’s milk so nothing more could be discussed about the dreams.  Joseph ate with his guests and excused Mary for not joining them while she took care of her Son.

Zenos expressed thanks for the kindness Joseph and Mary had extended to all of them during their stay.  He told Joseph that many of them were going to leave as soon as they could be ready.  He did not tell Joseph about their dreams.       

Most of them ate in contemplative silence, but Hantuman discovered that he and Joseph had a lot to talk about because they shared a love and an excitement for work in carpentry.  Hantuman told Joseph about his ship and how it was skillfully crafted to navigate as desired, and how it was still sturdy enough to endure the weathering and the stresses of a long voyage.  Joseph promised to show Hantuman some of the tools he had in his shop that might be able to do the kind of things Hantuman was talking about.

When the meal was finished, Joseph carried the empty baskets back to the house.  The twelve were left to make plans for completing their journeys.

Zedek voiced a concern.  “Simon and Cleopas have plans and are anxious to depart.  Jared and I can find another way back to our country as will most of you to yours.  But what about you, Nephi?  And you, Lehi and Hantuman?  Your ship has been wrecked and you have no way to return home to the land of Zarahemla!”

“God always provides a way,” answered Nephi.  “In time, perhaps Lehi and I can help Hantuman build another ship.  We might even be able to find the tools and supplies we need right here in Joseph’s carpenter shop.

“No matter what God has in mind for us after the rest of you go, I am not concerned.  I am as calm as the still waters on a windless sea.  If I should die before making it back to my home in the land of Zarahemla, I shall die knowing that my mission to worship my Savior here in the land of my forefathers was successful.  And even if I should die this night, I shall die blessing the name of my God from my lips.”

After everyone except Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman were prepared to go, the twelve gathered together and knelt in a circle for a prayer of departure.  As they did so, Lehi spoke some final words, knowing that they would never all be together again.

“Our people have kept a record written by prophets,” Lehi declared, “and in this record is a statement that could apply to us.  The prophet’s words, as I remember them, are these;

“And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity.  And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me:  If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean.  And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

“And now I bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.  And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus.”

Lehi finished his quote by the prophet and then Nephi offered the prayer.  He prayed that they might be sanctified through the truth.  He prayed for all of them and asked God to keep them as one, even as they were separating to return to their own lands.  Neither prayed he for them alone, but for them also which would believe in the Son of God through their word.

Joseph was at the door of the house when the travelers came from the carpenter shop to say farewell.  Mary joined him, holding the Child in her arms.

One by one, the men came forward and fell on their faces at the feet of Joseph and Mary while she held her Son.  One by one, they bid farewell to Him with tears of love and kisses.  They said good-bye to Joseph and Mary.  They thanked their hosts again, and expressed the hope of their hearts that they could meet again someday, even if this meant waiting until they were brought before the judgment-seat of God, where all men would know that theyhad been made clean through the power of this Holy Child of Whom they could now testify as special witnesses to the people in their own lands.  One by one, departing farewells were sacredly exchanged.

At last, only Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman remained.  They blushed.  They did not know exactly what to do.

But Joseph knew what needed to be done.  He dismissed the awkward moment and said, “It looks as if the carpenter has some new clients today.  So, if you Noahs will help me, I think we have a ship to build.  I think there’s a way back!”

Soon, Joseph was back in the carpenter’s shop.  He and Hantuman shared thoughts.  They discussed a very creative way to build several basic parts of a ship in separate pieces.  The separate pieces could be more easily transported through the desert.  The entire ship didn’t need to be completed until all the separate pieces were assembled at the shore of the sea.  Such a brilliant idea!

Joseph and Hantuman mapped out their plans together and became totally absorbed with their diagrams and ideas.  They drew pictures to show each other.  They talked excitedly and practically non-stop the whole day about their work.

Nephi and Lehi tried to help.  They made a small suggestion every now and then when they thought they might have something to add.  But for the most part, Hantuman and Joseph were in their own world.  Nephi and Lehi stood around and listened, or watched with amazement as Hantuman and Joseph made many detailed sketches.

Sometime that evening, after Joseph had been repeatedly summoned to help Mary, he bid his three remaining guests goodnight and left the carpenter shop.

Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman prepared to retire for the night as well.  Nephi led them in prayer and prayed that God would be with them through the night.  He prayed that Mary’s Son would be protected from harm or danger.

After the prayer, they realized how tired they were.  After all of the exciting events in the past few days, it didn’t take them long to fall asleep.

But they didn’t sleep for very long.