I really, really like this post. I had noted the difference between Lehi’s path to the tree and the one with the rod of iron followed by later travelers, but had never made the connection that Lehi’s way seemed to be in many ways preferable to the later one. I think it has been so ingrained into me that the rod of iron is good and essential, that I was unable to look and see, as you were able to, that in some ways it is flawed.
It’s also interesting to equate the Great and Spacious Building with Jerusalem. That seems like an obvious connection once you say it, but it is one I had never made. I’m really glad you’re doing this series.
]]>In either case, the rod is a metaphor. They all made it by following the word out God, be it angelic, prophetic, patriarchal, or scriptural.
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