In Abraham 3, Jehovah says "we will prove them now herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." The antecedent to "herewith" is the materials of which this earth is made. In other words, we will use the physical matter of this world to prove people. It is easy to become distracted and decoyed by the things of the world, away from the right path of obeying the commandments. We are our own judges, because our actions show what we actually want.
Lehi's dream in 1Ne 8 becomes ever more poignant to me as the years pass. Worldly distractions, a giant building of well-dressed jeering mockers, a river of filthy water, a Tree of Life with penultimately desirable fruit, a narrow path leading to it, all symbolize essential elements of this earthly proving we are experiencing. Perhaps the most important image is the iron rod, or word of God. (It cannot represent the scriptures only; millions of people and thousands of denominations have falsely interpreted scripture. It must also be emblematic of the Holy Ghost.) Today I was struck by the fact that Lehi did not arrive at the tree alone. He beckoned his wife and children to partake of the fruit with him. Lehi's life has many parallels to Adam's. Both prophets are told to leave their homes on pain of death by God; both see a Tree of Life and a dreary world; both build altars after their expulsion; both have righteous and rebellious children; both prophesy about their posterity; both leave a final blessing on their posterity; both become fathers of nations. And both are inseperable from the mothers of their children.
It is not good for man to be alone. Marriage is the cure for "alone." Who is the main beneficiary in the transaction of marriage, the man, or the woman? If they were the only choices, I would say the man gets more out of if, but children are the big winners when mom and dad love one another. The Tree of Life evokes reproduction. If Lehi's dream is a template for this life, we can see our choice more clearly; either choose family, or the distractions of the world. More and more, the options seem to be family-oriented economic toil, or the glittzy, glamorous enticements of the world. There are many ways to "find yourself" touted by the world (an activity Jesus warned would lead to losing one's life). Travel to find yourself on a different continent. Climb mountains. Break glass ceilings. Accumulate wealth and status and titles. Pursue the pleasures of the flesh. In essence, put the materials of which this earth is made ahead of the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. Satan does not care where we end up, as long as we are single and childless like him.
If we do not directly reject parenthood, we can also fall into the trap of "later," being lulled into carnal security. But the window of reproductive opportunity is very brief. Peak years for males and females are 18-25, with potentially another 10+ years for women, and varying degrees of waning potency for men. And it takes more than the ability to beget children in order to raise them well. It takes vigor, energy, and time to keep up with their needs as well. The waning years of later life give us an opportunity to repent of abusing reproductive powers in the first half of life (my paraphrase, according to Hugh Nibley; see 2Ne. 2:21). To delay marriage is a trap.
Jesus taught the world how to pray: "Father which art in heaven," He began. And the whole Christian world has been vainly repeating the phrase, praying as Jesus exemplified. Why that title above all others? Of the innumerable names of God, this one is the one He chose to address deity. What does that let us know about Him, and ourselves? Lehi immediately looked around for his children to share the fruit; parenthood runs deeper than intellectualism. His search was an immediate, instinctive reaction, not methodical or calculated. His family was his highest priority. "Father" lets us know who is behind us, supporting us, and what lies ahead if we are obedient.
The title "Father," eternally speaking, indicates that the gates of eternal reproduction are open. Anything less than parenthood is literal damnation in the hereafter, to be stymied and impeded in one's progress. "Eternal Father" emphasizes the endless nature of His kingdom, and His posterity. "Worlds without number," all peopled with billions of us, His children. "An innumerable company of angels." It is the antithesis of alone. We are His work and His glory; I am grateful when I pray that I sense His presence, feel His love, and get those still, small answers to my prayers. I am grateful He has nothing He would rather be doing.
