![]() 10 Similarly, in many stories of an exodus into the wilderness, those who refuse to flee or are left behind often suffer destruction. Those spirits who rejected God’s Plan of Salvation-perhaps, in part, because of its necessary mortal sorrows-suffered spiritual death along with their leader, Lucifer. Like Adam and Eve, all of us freely chose to enter into this realm and cut ourselves off from the comforts of a heavenly home. In many ways, the wilderness is a fitting symbol of mortal life itself. 8 Fleeing into the wilderness to escape the world is clearly a consistent theme in a number of Book of Mormon stories. ![]() 7 And toward the end of the Book of Mormon, readers learn about the Jaredites and their wilderness sojourn from “the great tower”-the famous symbol of spiritual Babylon ( Mosiah 28:17). Centuries later, Alma the Elder was forced to flee from King Noah, preach the gospel in a secret wilderness area, and then lead his followers further into the wilderness once they were discovered. Upon reaching the New World, Nephi and those who followed him were soon warned of the Lord to once again “flee into the wilderness” because of the hatred of Laman and Lemuel (see 2 Nephi 5:5). 6 In fact, with all the abusive violence and attempted mutinies, Nephi arguably suffered more than his fair share. ![]() 5 While Nephi remained uniquely faithful, he-much like the Savior Himself-suffered right alongside the others. The twice repeated round trips back to Jerusalem, the loss of their bows for hunting, the death of Ishmael, the difficulties of pregnancy and nourishing young children, and the nearly constant threat of dehydration, starvation, and fatigue throughout their approximately 2,000-mile journey in one of the harshest landscapes on earth 4-these and surely many more trials led most members of their party to experience moments of doubt, discomfort, and even rebellion. While their hasty flight likely saved them from immediate danger in Jerusalem (see 1 Nephi 1:20), it didn’t take long for their new wilderness environment to test each member of the party to the core. The story begins with Lehi learning in a dream “that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness” ( 1 Nephi 2:2). The Book of Mormon repeatedly and beautifully demonstrates the value of these wilderness trials. Instead of a lush land of milk and honey, the people of the Lord more often than not find themselves hungry and thirsty in a desolate wilderness. 3 It is Zion’s immediate destination that so often shocks those who are forced to flee. Go ye out from Babylon” ( Doctrine and Covenants 133:4–5).Īs Hugh Nibley described it, God intentionally “drives a wedge between Zion and Babylon, an intense mutual antipathy that constantly forces them apart.” 2 The need for such separation seems clear enough-to protect Zion from both the physical and spiritual dangers of Babylon. In 1831, the Lord declared, “gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion …. While the details of each journey varied, the underlying theme was twofold: (1) escape the world and its persecution and (2) establish Zion. 1 Some may wonder why they packed up everything they owned and transplanted their lives over and over. YLT: and the woman did flee to the wilderness, where she hath a place made ready from God, that there they may nourish her - days a thousand, two hundred, sixty.After their church was established in 1830, the early Latter-day Saints embarked on a series of westward migrations that steadily led them deeper into untamed wilderness. WEB: The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days. WBT: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days. KJV: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.ĭRB: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days.ĭBT: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has there a place prepared of God, that they should nourish her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.ĮRV: And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days.
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