Murmuring

Murmuring

In the very first chapter of The Book of Mormon, Lehi is introduced as someone living near Jerusalem when “there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed” (1 Nephi 1:4.) It would appear the prophesying had an impact on Lehi because as he “went forth” from hearing the prophets and “prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people” (1 Nephi 1:5.) This suggests that Lehi accepted what the prophets taught and prayed the same for the rest of Jerusalem.

In response to Lehi’s sincere prayer in behalf of his people “he saw and heard much” in two revelatory experiences, that included seeing God and Christ, the ministry of the Savior and the Twelve, and being given a book to read “concerning the destruction of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 1:6-13.) Lehi’s reaction to these revelations was one of praising God and expressing particular gratitude to God that, “because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!” (1 Nephi 1:14.)

The natural outcome of Lehi’s receiving this revelation was that he joined the “many prophets” in Jerusalem and “went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard” (1 Nephi 1:18.) Those to whom God and his purposes are revealed will naturally want to share with others out of sincere love.

As is often the case, however, the people of Jerusalem were not pleased with Lehi’s adding his witness to that of the prophets. Whatever the motivation, the people reacted in three ways that are as instructive as they are predictable:

• Mocking - “The Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them” (1 Nephi 1:19.)
• Anger - “when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old” (1 Nephi 1:20.)
• Violence - Just as with the prophets of old “whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain,” with Lehi, the Jew’s “also sought his life” (1 Nephi 1:20.)

Mocking, anger, and violence in reaction to prophetic warnings are as common as they are old and predictable. The three behaviors represent a progression of rejection toward divinely commissioned messengers and those who follow them. It begins with mocking, which is intended to play off the common desire to be socially accepted, if not to be liked or even popular. The mocking can be subtle or aggressive. Often there is a great deal of sophistry in the use of mocking since the mocker would not want to appear uncivilized or crass in their behavior. It is a heavy load for the mocker to have to tolerate the ignorant person of faith so a little subtlety is in order. Mocking, in all its forms, serves as a common tool for enforcing social norms to which someone may subscribe. The same seems true today.

When the desired effect of mocking is not realized then the mocker may enlist others to join in—if one is not enough then certainly more numbers will do the trick. When the mocking proves futile then the mocking turns to anger. The mocker has exercised such compassion using social pressure, why shouldn’t they react more aggressively if prophets and believers are not going to be rational (to the mind of the mocker) in their reaction to mocking? If prophets and their followers are not going to be reasonable and stop such silliness, why shouldn't a rational person get angry?

When anger does not even work then the believers must go—whatever that may require—withholding essentials, punishing, and in some cases killing. Again, the non-believer has provided the believers plenty of opportunities to come to their senses. Since believers are not going to be reasonable by persisting in their calls for repentance and obedience to God, they simply must go.

The latter-day disciple will be tested when they experience mocking, anger, and violence toward latter-day prophets, other believers, or themselves. Therefore, we should not be surprised if our heeding the words of latter-day prophets results in our experiencing a little mocking, anger, and violence ourselves. This is a critical precept for the disciple to comprehend and accept. The believer must know when to be concerned about themselves. When we begin to mock, become angry towards, or threaten harm to another because of their witness of truth we should be very concerned about our own spiritual status. We are on a very slippery slope.

Back to Lehi. After being warned of the Lord of threats on his life by the Jews, Lehi obeys the Lord and leaves “his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and [takes] nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 2:4.) After traveling for three days the family sets up camp by the side of a river. Lehi constructs an altar of stones and offers sacrifice and thanks to God.

Lehi then turns his attention to his two oldest sons, Laman and Lemuel, pleading with them to be faithful. Why? “...because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father.” Apparently a pattern had emerged with Laman and Lemuel that may well have been manifest long before the family’s excursion into the wilderness. They “did murmur in many things against” Lehi. Why? Laman and Lemuel believed Lehi “was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart” (1 Nephi 2:9-11.)

For Laman and Lemuel, their father’s actions simply did not make sense. It seems reasonable to assume that Lehi’s family was fortunate in the sense of material blessings including gold, silver, and precious things. No doubt this wealth included social wealth including friends, status and prowess. Laman and Lemuel were missing the life they left, and Lehi’s “visions” were the reason. They were likely asking themselves, “What would possess a man to leave such prosperity and the security of a city like Jerusalem and run off into the wilderness?”

Then Nephi offers the inspired explanation for why Laman and Lemuel were murmuring:

...they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father (1 Nephi 2:12-13.)

Like the people of Jerusalem, Laman and Lemuel were engaged in the same behavior - mocking, anger, and violence. No doubt they had noticed the people’s reaction to Lehi. What Nephi adds, however, is an explanation as to why they murmured. Notice the three critical insights in Nephi’s explanation of why Laman and Lemuel murmured. They murmured because they:

1. “knew not the dealings of that God who had created them” - plain and simple, murmuring comes from ignorance, whether temporal or spiritual ignorance. Spiritual murmuring comes of ignorance about God and his dealings - with each of us individually or with mankind generally. The irony is that often people who murmur believe they are more informed. As a result, they do not view themselves as murmurers. Ironically, the murmurer considers themselves more enlightened so they prefer the more sophisticated descriptor, skeptic.
2. they did not “believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets.” The issue here is not the specific prophecy regarding Jerusalem, but their lack of belief in prophets overall - particularly when they call for repentance.
3. “...they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.” Murmurers have a particular disdain for prophets, particularly when the prophet calls them to repentance. Left unchecked, their disdain for those who raise a warning voice, or even believers at large, can devolve from mocking into anger and violence.

Murmuring, then, is shorthand in The Book of Mormon for mocking, anger, and violence toward God and his servants - whether prophets or the simplest of disciples. What is on display when we murmur is our ignorance of God and his dealings with us or others. The Book of Mormon is filled with examples of mocking, anger, and violence toward the faithful including the Book of Mormon anti-Christs Sherem (Jacob 7), Nehor (Alma 1), and Korihor (Alma 30);  Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah (Mosiah 27:8-9); King Noah and his wicked priests (Mosiah 12-21), Amalekiah (Alma 46-51) and many others.

Each aspect of murmuring (mocking, anger, and violence toward God and those who seek him) will receive specific attention in other articles. But the point to be made here that really speaks to the precept to be derived for the latter-day disciple is found in what happens next. After giving Laman and Lemuel a charge to be faithful, aided by the Spirit, Lehi rebukes Laman and Lemuel with such power “their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them” (1 Nephi 2:14.)

No doubt, this experience had a powerful effect on Laman and Lemuel, at least for a brief period, but it seems to have profoundly captured Nephi’s attention. Nephi had seen all that had happened with his father’s joining his voice with that of the other prophets in Jerusalem. Just like Laman and Lemuel, he had seen the people’s reaction to his father’s testimony to the people. He had observed Laman and Lemuel “murmur in many things.” And now he saw the effect of a powerful rebuke by the Spirit leaving them physically shaken. There had to be a better way. All this seems to have contributed to Nephi’s “having great desires to know of the mysteries of God” - understanding what can only be understood by the power of the Spirit - particularly prophetic pronouncements.

Clearly, Laman and Lemuel did not understand, and the result of murmuring did not look appealing both in terms of having to put up with their murmuring, and seeing them physically shaken by the Spirit as a rebuke for their murmuring. Wherefore, Nephi “did cry unto the Lord.” There is no mention in the record of Laman and Lemuel seeking to know the truth of what Lehi was being told by the Spirit - whether warning the people of Jerusalem or leading his family into the wilderness. The result of this effort? Nephi explains that the Lord “did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.” wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers” (1 Nephi 1:16.) Laman and Lemuel murmured because “they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them,” so Nephi was going to do just the opposite, learn about the dealings of that God who had created them!

What is the precept to be derived from all this? Murmuring is a slippery spiritual slope that all too often leads to mocking, anger, and even violence against, prophets and believers alike. The antidote to murmuring is submissiveness, seeking to know the dealings of God with his children at large and with us personally. Seeking God softens our hearts towards his prophets and believers when we seek after him. We will see this contrast illustrated again between Nephi and Laman and Lemuel later (1 Nephi 15:1-9) and throughout the rest of The Book of Mormon. The fundamental issue with murmuring is that, left unchecked, murmuring goes well beyond the dictionary definition of “a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction” and becomes mocking, anger, or violence toward God and his servants and disciples at large.

The other precept to be learned is that discipleship is risky business in a society that knows less and less about the dealings of God with his children! The irony in all this is the more the disciple desires and seeks to learn about, follow, and serve Christ, the greater the likelihood they will experience mocking, anger, and even violence, but they will not murmur themselves.

Therefore, a question we should ask ourselves is, “Am I murmuring? Am I mocking or growing angry or violent toward God’s prophets or his people?” Recognizing when we are mocking is an early warning that we are on the slippery slope of murmuring.