The Lord showed a tremendous amount of patience when the Children of Israel went astray in their worship and created a golden idol. As we read in this week’s lesson “They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them.” (Ex 32:8) To help them, He made a new covenant, created another set of commandments and gave them to Moses so they could all try again.
Thankfully we belong to a God of 2, 3, 10, 100+ chances. As many as we need, as oft as we will repent and return.
Perhaps in 1995 when the Lord reiterated His precious plan of happiness through His prophets in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” it was similarly “another set of tablets” for us. Children who had maybe started to wander in our worship? A reminder of what we would need to really remember, and hold fast to in the days coming. An ideal to not abandon.
“To help us develop the godly attributes and the change in nature necessary to realize our divine potential, the Lord has revealed doctrine and established commandments based on eternal law.” (President Dallin H. Oaks | April 2022)
Many of those who had been described as stiff-necked before, with another chance were now described as “willing- and wise- hearted.” (Ex 35). In some ways we’re similar to the ancients of Israel; the choice remains to despise God’s law with a stiff neck, or accept another chance with a wise and willing heart.
Art Title: Golden Tears