Abraham and Planting Trees

I was reading in Genesis the other day and came across this verse about Abraham planting a grove of trees in Beer-sheba:

And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.
 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days. (Genesis21:33-34)

Looking at other versions other than the King James’ Version and looking at the foot note for grove it looks like a better translation would be: tamarisk trees.

Now I never have heard of tamarisk trees, so looked up Wikipedia’s description:

tamarisk tree

They are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees growing to 1–18 m in height and forming dense thickets. The largest, Tamarix aphylla, is an evergreen tree that can grow to 18 m tall. They usually grow on saline soils, tolerating up to 15,000 ppm soluble salt and can also tolerate alkali conditions.
 The tamarisk is used as an ornamental shrub, a windbreak, and a shade tree. The wood may be used for carpentry or firewood. It is a possible agroforestry species.

So why did Abraham plant tamarisk trees, and why is this significant enough to write about it in the Bible?

Reading in the ENSIGN, the First Presidency Message entitled The Best Time to Plant a Tree, has part of the answer (for me at least):

An old proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
 There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment.
 Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be—not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity.

Abraham was very, very old at this time.  He probably knew that he would not stay there in Beer-sheba for 20 years or however long it took for the trees to get big.  So why did he plant them?  I think for two reasons:

First, He planted the trees for his children.  He might not see the trees be full grown and beneficial but his children and grandchildren will.  God had promised this land for his inheritance and even if he would not permanently inhabit the land his children would.  Now was the time to start working on his children’s inheritance.

Now is the time to do all I can to help my kids.  I want my kids to become good, happy and God-fearing Adults.  And just like a tree, now is the time to make it happen.  I need to teach them and nurture them now at the age of 6 and 3.  So when they are 26 and 23 they will be good, happy and God-fearing adults.

Second reason,  I think can be found in last part of the verse. It says that he “called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God” there.  Obviously there was no temple there.  But just like our leaders to day tell us, Abraham made his home a heaven.  We are repeatedly told to make our homes like a temple.  Because home is where we want to invite the Lord to be.  Abraham did this by planting trees.  He wanted to invite the Savior to be there and knew that the Spirit will abide in clean and wholesome places.  So he made is home that way.

In my own life, my father has always loved trees.  (I guess that is what happens when your major in college is botany.)  Everywhere we have lived he has had us kids planning and watering trees—hundreds of them!  But we always seemed to move long before the trees got big.  I realize know how much like Abraham my dad always was.  I know my dad loves the Lord.  I know he will do whatever God tells him to do.  And just like Abraham, he was planting—and having his kids plant—trees to teach his children to be better people.  And to make his home a better place so the God’s Spirit would want to be there.

Marriage and Eternal Happiness

It has seemed to me that the media and society is promoting same-sex-marriage, infidelity in marriage, and promiscuity out side of marriage and it has really started to bother me.  I was reading in Moses chapter 3 about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and I really felt such a peaceful reassurance of what God’s design of marriage and sexual relations are designed to be like.  And I just want to share some of what I have learned and know to be true. Most of this post has been taken from the Institute Manual: The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual

In their proclamation on the family, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared: “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102; see also Hebrews 13:4; D&C 49:15). Of note it only says between a MAN and a WOMAN.  No other coupling or scenario is ordained of God.  A fullness of joy in this life and the highest degree of exaltation in the celestial kingdom are obtained by entering into the new and eternal covenant of marriage (see 1 Corinthians 11:11; D&C 131:1–4; see also Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 27–31; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 21–24). 

God joined Adam and Eve together in marriage before the Fall. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “Marriage as established in the beginning was an eternal covenant. The first man and the first woman were not married until death should part them, for at that time death had not come into the world. The ceremony on that occasion was performed by the Eternal Father himself whose work endures forever. It is the will of the Lord that all marriages should be of like character, and in becoming ‘one flesh’ the man and the woman are to continue in the married status, according to the Lord’s plan, throughout all eternity as well as in this mortal life” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:71).

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in their proclamation on the family, taught: “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

President Howard W. Hunter said the following about the relationship between a husband and wife: “A man who holds the priesthood accepts his wife as a partner in the leadership of the home and family with full knowledge of and full participation in all decisions relating thereto. … The Lord intended that the wife be a helpmeet for man (meet means equal)—that is, a companion equal and necessary in full partnership” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 68; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 50–51).

In Moses 3:24 it says:

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be done flesh.

The word cleave means to be closely united. Adam and Eve were commanded to be “one flesh,” meaning to be one mentally, socially, sexually, and spiritually. This oneness was a command with which they could not fully comply until after the Fall.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained:

“Human intimacy is reserved for a married couple because it is the ultimate symbol of total union, a totality and a union ordained and defined by God. From the Garden of Eden onward, marriage was intended to mean the complete merger of a man and a woman—their hearts, hopes, lives, love, family, future, everything. Adam said of Eve that she was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, and that they were to be ‘one flesh’ in their life together [see Genesis 2:23–24]. This is a union of such completeness that we use the word seal to convey its eternal promise. The Prophet Joseph Smith once said we perhaps could render such a sacred bond as being ‘welded’ [see D&C 128:18] one to another.

“But such a total union, such an unyielding commitment between a man and a woman, can only come with the proximity and permanence afforded in a marriage covenant, with solemn promises and the pledge of all they possess—their very hearts and minds, all their days and all their dreams” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 100; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 76).

Referring to the charge for a man to leave his parents and cleave to his wife, President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Do you note that? She, the woman, occupies the first place. She is preeminent, even above the parents who are so dear to all of us. Even the children must take their proper but significant place” (Ensign, Mar. 1976, 72).

I know that we will be happier and healthier by following this council.  I have been married for over 13 years now and I definitely do not know everything but I do know that the happiest and wonderfulness times have been with my wife and children.  It has been following the guidance of having my wife be my helpmeet.  By cleaving to her and to none else.  I know if the world will support God’s design for the family and upholds His commands on this matter that the world will be a happier and healthier place.