And It Came To Pass...
And it came to pass... a simple phrase used a ton in the scriptures. In the Bible it is used 452 times and in the Book of Mormon it is used 1424 times. I know growing up I had read it so much, it just turned into something that was at the beginning of sentence while reading the scriptures just as a period falls at the end of a sentence.There is a much greater meaning to this five worded phrase.
As I have contemplated my life the past couple of weeks and those close around me, I have watched trials enter into all of our lives of varying degrees. Some trials have come because of choices that one has made, while others have entered simply because it's life and shit happens.
A scripture in particular comes to mind: 1 Nephi 16:18 "And it came to pass that as I, Nephi went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did not obtain food."
Nephi's bow broke not because he was a sinner or because he had made a wrong choice. It happened because it was supposed to: "sometimes in life, THE BOW JUST BREAKS." It was a trial/experience that he was supposed to go through, even though it was really hard. His brothers condemned him. His mother and even his father (a prophet of God mind you) murmured against God. Nephi had every right to complain, mourn and feel like giving up. BUT the difference is, he didn't. He put his faith in God and put his "shoulder to the wheel." He constructed a new bow out of wood and found food for his family.
Nephi is an excellent example of bad things happening to a good person. He experience what he did and did not turn his back on God. Instead he drew closer to God and moved forward.
The phrase came to pass for me is actually a promise from God. Hard times will come. Hard times filled with sorrow, pain, heartache, loss, anxiety, anger, frustration, etc. They will come, but then THEY WILL pass. These experiences are a chance to prove our character and exercise our faith. They come for us to grow and learn and then they pass so the next one will come along.
Embrace life, come what may and love it.
Cheers,
GMSW
and it came to pass that I left you a comment and I liked your post. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great attitude to have. In the book Roughing It, Mark Twain claims that if they took out all the "and it came to pass" phrases out of the Book of Mormon, it would only be a pamphlet. But I love the repetition of the phrase, and especially when having my younger children read during our family scripture study, and seeing them get excited to read the familiar phrase, because they know it so well.
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