Line Upon Line

One of the difficulties about living in Truth is that we as human creatures want to see the end from the beginning. We are given inspiration and revelation to guide us, but we want to know where that inspiration and revelation are taking us. We want to know the results before we take the first step. But that is not how faith works. As Moroni tells us: “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6). 

This is illustrated very well in the story of Nephi building a ship to sail to the Promised Land. After being told he is to build a ship, Nephi asks where to go to get ore for tools. He then makes tools and begins to build. However, he is shown what to do step at a time. As Nephi puts it, “The Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship” (1 Nephi 8:1). He also tells us that he is not building a ship like the ships he has seen before. He is being instructed in something new and different so he has no reference or idea of how things are going to turn out. Instead he simply follows each instruction the Lord gives him and then waits for the next instruction.

This is how life works in the Realm of Truth.  We receive instruction through commandments and revelation, we obey, and then we are given more instruction. Just as the mountains that are pictured above grew line upon line or layer at a time, we navigate life “line upon line” trusting that the Lord knows where He is taking us and what He is "growing" us into.