I've been thinking, even before today, about this phrase, 'visionary man'. Sariah complains that Lehi is a visionary man. Then he admits to being a visionary man. He tells her that it is through a vision that he knows of the goodness of God. This goodness of God is him being led out of Jerusalem so that he is not killed and so that he can be taken to a promised land. The time it took for Nephi to return must have caused Sariah to think that Lehi's vision may have gotten him out of danger but landed her sons in his place.
When we talk about Lehi being a visionary man the cross-references take us to two different types of references. There are some that point out the specific verses where he received visions from God. The others seem to be more related to Sariah and her derogatory use of the word "visionary". Apparently there isn't a strong enough negative connotation to this phrase for Laman and Lemuel as they instead say, 'foolish imaginations of his heart'. Here they seem to be saying that he is being led by his heart and his own desires and not necessarily by logic. And certainly not by a higher being, as they believe 'the Lord maketh no such think known unto us' (1 Nephi 15:9).
Do we condem ourselves from time to time of following the foolish imaginations of our hearts when really the spirit is speaking to us and we should trust it? Do we distrust that the Lord can make such things known unto us? For me I hope I can be more attentive to the small and the big feelings that seem to be impressions from God, as they probably are. Especially when the promptings appear to bless my family or others that I care about.
When we talk about Lehi being a visionary man the cross-references take us to two different types of references. There are some that point out the specific verses where he received visions from God. The others seem to be more related to Sariah and her derogatory use of the word "visionary". Apparently there isn't a strong enough negative connotation to this phrase for Laman and Lemuel as they instead say, 'foolish imaginations of his heart'. Here they seem to be saying that he is being led by his heart and his own desires and not necessarily by logic. And certainly not by a higher being, as they believe 'the Lord maketh no such think known unto us' (1 Nephi 15:9).
Do we condem ourselves from time to time of following the foolish imaginations of our hearts when really the spirit is speaking to us and we should trust it? Do we distrust that the Lord can make such things known unto us? For me I hope I can be more attentive to the small and the big feelings that seem to be impressions from God, as they probably are. Especially when the promptings appear to bless my family or others that I care about.
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