Lehi and Nephi in the Prison

This week we read about the sons of Helaman Jr., Lehi and Nephi.  Like Ammon and the sons of Mosiah, they bravely go into the lands of their enemies, the Lamanites, to preach repentance.  They are thrown into prison and we are told the Lamanites are planning on executing them (5:22).  What follows is reminiscent of both Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the Old Testament and the Day of Pentecost in the New Testament. They are encircled about with fire (v 23) while those around them are engulfed in darkness (v28). Those in darkness hear a voice calling them to repent (v. 29) When the Lamanites do call on Jesus, they are included into the circle of fire (v. 43) and receive a visitation of angels (v 28).

I did a whole post last year about the symbolism of fire on the Day of Pentecost. All the symbolism I mentioned there applies here as well. Some of the podcasts I listened to also mentioned that these events foreshadow Christ's coming to the Americas 60 years later. They hear a voice that is small but pierces them to the heart (v. 30).  They experience the mists of darkness and the earthquakes which appear again at Christ's visit (v.31)  They ultimately enjoy a visitation from angels and then are converted. 

Each culture has its own thesaurus of religious symbolism and God interacts with each culture in a way that they will understand.  Even though it has been 500 year since the first Lehi left Jerusalem,  the spiritual iconography of the Old Testament has clearly persisted up until this period, probably because they still viewed the story on the Brass Plates as their founding religious text.  (though the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego wouldn't have been on the brass plates because that story happened during the captivity, they would have understood the pillar of fire over the tabernacle.)  In this incident, the Lord pulls out all the stops to communicate that God's power is at work.

After their experience the Lamanites repent and become a more righteous people than the Nephites.  It begs the question, why doesn't the Lord do these kinds of spectacular miracles more often?  If they work to convert thousands to the Gospel, why not use them? People say it is because we need to learn to have faith.  So, didn't they also need to learn to have faith? Did God somehow impede their faith by giving them the spectacular experience?  The answer is that I don't know. We just have to trust that the Lord is wise.  He knows when a great miracle is the best choice, and when learning to endure in difficulty is the best choice.