Monday, September 15, 2014

279: ONCE A LIVING BODY OF WATER IS NOW AN EMPTY VESSEL.

 
At the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon there used to be 4 beautiful natural lakes of living water. They are named the "sister lakes": Lake Mary, Lake Phoebe, Lake Martha, and Lake Katherine. Many years ago a dam was built at Lake Mary.  Lake Mary grew in size and became a reservior instead of a natural body of living water. The level of the Lake Mary rose so high that it eventually combined with Lake Phoebe into one large lake. This large body of water was the home to rainbow trout fish and other wildlife. The water was also used for drinking water. My family loves hiking the 2 mile round trip to have lunch and feed the chipmunks on the shores of this Lake.
 
Here is a recent photo I took of the Lake Mary:
 
 Additional few photos of Lake Mary courtesy of other photographers:


 
Last weekend I have been struggling with some serious questions and needed direction in my life. I needed some answers to some difficult questions. My heart and mind were at odds with each other. I felt prompted to spend the day praying and pouring out my heart to the Lord on Friday, September 12, 2014. I need to spend some time alone and planned on hiking to a Mountain Peak that I usually hike to. Once I got into the car, I felt that I needed to hike to Lake Mary instead. I would spend the time listening and reading and praying along the shores of this beautiful lake.. (actually a man-made reservior now).
 
Once I reached the lake. I was shocked at what I saw.  The lake was gone. No water. Completely empty. The natural lake, converted into a man-made reservior, used to contain living water full of fish and wildlife was  now all dried up. Here are a few photos I took:
 


I was stunned. However, this was a profound symbolic answer from the Lord to one of my questions. I talked to another hiker who was equally shocked to see all of the water gone. He had just hiked to this lake a week ago and he said that the lake was completely full. In a short amount of time... all of the water.. I mean.. ALL of the water with the exception of a tiny remnant of water was GONE.
 
 The scripture in D&C 121:37 came to my mind.  Whenever we exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon anything the Lord has created including the souls of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. (and the living water that used to exist is gone) 
 
Any attempt to control or use compulsion on living water will eventually become an empty vessel.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you! I have been struggling with, I think, the same questions. This is yet another answer to the next steps I need to take.

Jake Mahan said...

My thanks too. It's amazing how fast these things happen.

Annalea said...

Heaven help us all . . .

AndEva said...

I can imagine the shock to see the river like that. Your answer from the Lord is extremely profound. For those who have eyes to see.

FSF said...

The question remains- where did all the fish and other living creatu desperate for life go? Did they die in agony? Did they find a way out? Are their lifeless bodies there symbolically showing more questions unanswered?
What a tragedy. And how it applies to all things related to the incredible Book of Mormon

FSF

Anonymous said...

What a perfect demonstration of this principle! Wow. Just so heartbreaking when we are "awakened to or awful situation...". Thank you for sharing this!

Gary Gibson said...

There is no doubt, now. It is time to move forward and labor with our might.

The servant of Lord has called other servants.

Jacob 5:70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.

71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

Gary


Powerful symbolism!! Thank you so much for sharing.

C.J.S. said...

I hiked up to Lake Mary last Saturday and camped overnight to Sunday morning. I woke up in the middle of the night and as I was falling asleep I had the most profound dream/vision that I have ever had. When I woke up, I had a distinct impression that this dream meant something. This I what I wrote in my journal:

I entered into a room that had a metal framed bed inside. On the bed was someone, I couldn't see their face but I had the impression that he was a male. Growing at the bottom of the bed was a tree. The tree was withered and dead. As I got closer to the tree I saw that there were spiders on the branches. Big spiders, colored yellow and black. As I was looking at the spider, a beautiful monarch butterfly fluttered down and landed on the branch. Immediately as the butterfly landed it was attacked by the spiders. The spiders were incredibly fast and violent. More and more butterflies flew down only to be attacked and encased in the spiders webbing.

I have been pondering this dream the entire week. This blog post gives me more to think about. Thank you.