The Manner of Men

What is your approach to solving problems?  Though we may not enjoy admitting it, we all are creatures of habit.  We are greatly influenced by our parents, our spouses, our church culture, our peers and society in general.  In spite of our desire to be innovative and creative, most of us solve problems much like everyone else.

It is therefore both interesting and instructive to study how ancient Book of Mormon prophet Nephi solved a very unusual problem when he was instructed to build a boat.  Nephi was not a boat builder, but he was a very good problem solver.  He had been called upon many times during his family’s eight-year journey through the desert wilderness to help them survive.  As a skilled and experienced problem solver, it would have been natural for Nephi to consider all the boats he had seen in the past and then build one to the best of his ability base on these recollections.

But instead of being a creature of habit, Nephi’s first step was transformational:  he went to the Lord to seek new knowledge.  As a result, he did not build the boat the traditional way – and this made all the difference.

“And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.  And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things” 1 Nephi 18:1-3.

When we are faced with challenges – from the very common such as raising a teenager to life defining such as dealing with an addiction – do we work on it “after the manner of men”?  Or do we go to the Lord, with a completely open mind and replacing all fear with faith?  And then do we act upon whatever new inspiration we receive?

Nephi had already mastered the power of this approach: “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:6).

Even so, Nephi was criticized and derided by his brothers and their wives.  They did not like his new design for a boat.  They doubted his abilities.  But Nephi was undeterred.  He had learned long ago that he could and would trust in the Lord.

In our time this pattern of problem solving can be powerful and productive whether we are called upon to build a boat or deal with life’s many challenges.

·      For I did not raise my teenagers after the manner which was learned by men…

·      For I did not treat my widowed father after the manner which was learned by men…

·      For I did not gossip and spread rumors after the manner which was learned by men…

·      For I did not interact with my daughter-in-law after the manner which was learned by men…

·      For I did not take offense when I was harshly criticize after the manner which was learned of men…

·      For I did not do my home-teaching after the manner which was learned of men…

·      For I did not live my life…