Several years ago my wife and I were sitting comfortably in the family room of our home. It was the first Saturday in April and we had just finished watching the morning session of general conference when we received a text message from our daughter Brittany. It contained a picture of her two oldest boys, Braydon and Preston, sitting in the doorway of a small pup tent. Not such an unusual sight you might say. Except that the tent was set up in the middle of their living room. The door of the tent was facing the TV and general conference was on. The caption? You guessed it. ‘Facing the prophet like the people of king Benjamin.’
I have often reflected on this wonderful object lesson and how those boys will long remember watching conference seated in a tent in their living room. A family tradition that they have since shared with their younger siblings. To fully appreciate this object lesson let me add a couple of additional thoughts. First, the tent was set up prior to the beginning of conference. A simple, yet not insignificant act of preparation, signaling their intent to face the prophet, God’s living oracle, prior to even knowing what he was going to say. Second, this attitude of facing sets the stage in our minds and prepares a place in our hearts for the word of God to enter into our hearts. Nephi teaches us, “When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth [the message] unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1).
Personal faith and humility are required for God’s words, as spoken by his living prophet and apostles, to go beyond the threshold of the door to our hearts. Without this preparation the Holy Ghost can bring God’s words as spoken by his living prophet and apostles unto our hearts, but never into our hearts. Inviting the Holy Ghost to dwell within your heart depends solely on you.
Sadly, there are many in the world who are more like nomads. Some days they pitch their tents in the family room in front of sporting events, other days in the a game room full of self indulgent activities. At times delaying, until the last minute, the decision where to set up camp. Perhaps even waiting until after the prophet and apostles have spoken, and the social correctness of what they've said can be fully weighed before determining the orientation or direction their tent door will face.
Some will argue that this attitude of facing is insignificant, others that its constraining or limits their agency. But I would argue to the contrary, it is most important we recognize to what source to look for divine direction. It is facing in the wrong direction which leads to spiritual dumpster diving, to satiate the souls hunger for truth, a kind of self inflicted famine of the word.
With the scant, almost non existent, nutritional value of a diet based mostly in political correctness and seasoned generously with the artificial sweetness of social acceptance it is no wonder that the Apostle Paul summarized our days using the following descriptions; "lovers of their own selves, proud, without natural affection, false accusers, despisers of those that are good, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, led away with divers lusts." (2 Timothy 3:2-3) Just to name a few. But herein is the final clincher, “Ever learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
A brief review of the account of Abraham and his nephew Lot as found in the book of Genesis provides additional insight into the importance of the direction we are facing. The questions we should ask ourselves are these, "what commands our attention? To whom, what or where are we looking when plotting the course of our life?"
If you're unsure of the answer, then a simple review of recent personal choices will give you a good clue. Abraham and Lot started at the same place, both were very successful. When Abraham and Lot parted ways Abraham moved his tent and dwelt in Hebron and built an altar there. (Genesis 13:18)
Lot on the other hand dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:12). At first glance moving a tent, or pitching a tent might seem trivial or of little significance. But think of it this way, moving or pitching your tent is likened to establishing your household. Even today we use metaphors like 'pulling up stakes', 'staking a claim' or 'putting down stakes'. The latter two metaphors indicate a location, a place where one plans to make their home. But what is most important here are the actions linked to the establishment of their new residences. Abraham built an Altar, a clear indication that like Adam he too was looking to God for more light and truth and that keeping God's commandments was central to their new place of dwelling.
Lot on the other hand looked to Sodom. As this story unfolds the city of Sodom clearly represents worldly trends and sinful lifestyles. Within a few years Lot had moved again, he and his family relocated and resided in Sodom (perhaps in close proximity to the city). During that same time frame Abraham met with Melchizedek the king of Salem and priest of the most high God. He also received a promise from the Lord that his seed, his posterity would be more numerous than the stars in heaven. Does it still seem like their direction of facing was trivial or insignificant? But the story doesn't end there. Lot's decision, as the patriarch of his family, to face Sodom ultimately affected his whole family.
In Genesis 18 the story tells of three holy men who warned Abraham of the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham reasoned with the Lord, "wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?" The Lord agreed to spare the cities if 10 righteous people could be found dwelling there. I think Abraham was hoping that his nephew's family could be counted on to be a large part of the total number of righteous persons needed to spare the cities.
Unfortunately in the beginning of chapter 19 we learn that Lot is now found within the gate of Sodom. It is noteworthy that he started merely facing toward Sodom, but before long he and his family were living inside the city of Sodom. When the warning came from the Holy men to flee, for the destruction of Sodom was imminent, he was unable to persuade his sons in law and his married daughters to 'pull up their stakes' and 'get out of dodge' so to speak. They chose to stay and in so doing to be destroyed.
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
The Angels who came to destroy the wicked city pressed Lot to hasten his departure from Sodom, "lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city." An apt warning for all those who have over time allowed themselves and their families to look more to the world and its steady march toward acceptance of trends and behaviors that are sinful in the eyes of God. In v. 17 of Genesis chapter 19 we see the admonition that applies to all who find themselves in close proximity to or even within the gates of latter day Sodom and Gomorrah, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."
What this means for us today is that we should run, not walk away from the worldly trends and sinful behavior. Now is neither the time to linger nor yearn for those lifestyles which encourage us to compromise our standards. The safety of your children and posterity depend it.
Lot's wife and two unmarried daughters were still able to be persuaded to leave, but regrettably the longing or desire in their hearts to hold on to worldly lifestyles was not easily left behind. That is why the final instruction was to escape to the mountain. Please remember that the Lord often uses mountains and high places as a symbol for where He dwells, His temples. Why escape to the temple, because it is a place of refuge from life's storms.
The matter of personal facing has one additional facet. And that has to do with this principle, "where our hearts are so will be our treasure." It does matter that we are not only facing in the right direction, but also that in this attitude of facing we are full of faith, humble and our hearts are longing for God and His ways. In v. 26 we read, "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Apparently looking back, longing for sinful lifestyles with all of their social and perhaps even economical perks, if not repented of, will result in the judgements of God.
For those of you with children still living at home it might be wise to get out your camping gear and set up a tent in your family room. That way when the first Saturday of October rolls around you too can teach your children what it means to pitch your tents facing the prophet.
If you can, take a picture with your cell phone and post it to facebook, or pinterest or email it to me. Include a quote from a prophet and show how you and your family face the lord. Use the hash tag #facingtheprophet or #facethelord. It will be fun, and who knows it might be like starting the wave at Dodger stadium, before long it may just catch on.