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My wife and I were talking about something church related yesterday and she said: Quote:I hope you are not offended by this, but you are like Sam from the story of Nephi. Not a complainer, doing what you are asked, but Sam was probably like you, not really sure about anything but liked Nephi more than his other brothers so he was loyal to him.
My response:
Quote:Cool analogy. I really like that and think I might use it in my next talk. And thank God I am not Nephi.Are you dissapointed that you got a Sam and not a Nephi?
My wife:
Quote:I don’t think I would get a long with Nephi!
Me:
Quote:That’s one of the many reasons I love you. You are the best! He would be really insufferable a lot, I think.
Anyway, it got me thinking about Sam. As a culture we seem to make this leap that Sam knew as much as Nephi, that he believed everything Nephi told him, that he must have received his own witness. Let me make a few of my own leaps: Sam was a part of a family that undertook a difficult journey, whether he wanted to go or not we don’t know. We don’t read about his thoughts, any visions or anything about his testimony. He never comes out and says that he believes Nephi, that is something Nephi said about Sam. I like the idea that Sam was perhaps a faithful doubter. There because he loved his family, Nephi treated him better than his other brothers so he supported him, he didn’t really know if everything was on the up and up, but was willing to bear the burdens of those he loved.
If a Sam is what I am, I’ll take it. Seems like a pretty good guy.
-SBRed
Looking at your analogy, I really think that there are a lot of Sams in the church – people that just want to help out where they can and try to lead a Christlike life. Thankfully they don’t take center stage like the Nephis do — we still have too many of them 🙂 .I have spoken about Sam as a great model of most good people – and as the one who keeps things going okay when BOTH the Nephis and the Lamans get too extreme. We need Nephis, but we need more Sams.
I think I definitely am a Sam. I am one of those that gets along with almost anybody. It has served me well at work as I am a manager and often get the “trouble cases” that are fun. I guess “Sam I am”, but I do like eggs and ham (bacon that is) even if someone put green food coloring in them.
I too have always loved Sam the Unknown. My other favorites to wonder about are the brothers of Alma the Younger. Alma the Younger is listed as “one of the sons of Alma the Older.” Thats all we ever read or here. Imagine them being the good kids, collecting the fast offering, wearing the white shirts, getting their eagles, serving missions – and along comes the Prodigal One. Not only does he abandon the faith, he physically works to destroy it – But wouldn’t it just be great if he came back. Well shoot and be danged he does, but not just to sit in the family pew. Oh no, he is the triumphant, supernal, exalted. Now how does it feel to “one of the sons of Alma the Older.” Imagining the Sams and the sons of Alma the Older are my favorite parts of scripture pondering.
Oh and tell your wife – I am so with her on the Nephi is insufferable. I always choke when someone says, “Nephi is my hero.”
mom3 wrote:I too have always loved Sam the Unknown. My other favorites to wonder about are the brothers of Alma the Younger. Alma the Younger is listed as “one of the sons of Alma the Older.” Thats all we ever read or here. Imagine them being the good kids, collecting the fast offering, wearing the white shirts, getting their eagles, serving missions – and along comes the Prodigal One. Not only does he abandon the faith, he physically works to destroy it – But wouldn’t it just be great if he came back. Well shoot and be danged he does, but not just to sit in the family pew. Oh no, he is the triumphant, supernal, exalted. Now how does it feel to “one of the sons of Alma the Older.”
Imagining the Sams and the sons of Alma the Older are my favorite parts of scripture pondering.
Oh and tell your wife – I am so with her on the Nephi is insufferable. I always choke when someone says, “Nephi is my hero.”
I’m there with both of you on Nephi – I know some Nephis, and aren’t they the ones that keep some of us from going to church or make us want to walk out of Sunday School?
I think your Alma the Younger analogy is very much like the parable of the prodigal son. The parable does talk about the other son, but it never really resolves what happens with either of them in the long run. Alas, I am a prodigal son and I do see the reaction of the other son sometimes – even here on this board a couple times. But I do understand the point of view of the older son and I agree – he is not treated fairly in light of how the other is treated. I’ve spent some pondering time on that as well. That said, outside the parable I am probably also a Sam as I am not a Nephi or a Laman and Lemuel (although I do sometimes do things like they do).
SunbeltRed wrote:My wife and I were talking about something church related yesterday and she said:
Quote:I hope you are not offended by this, but you are like Sam from the story of Nephi. Not a complainer, doing what you are asked, but Sam was probably like you, not really sure about anything but liked Nephi more than his other brothers so he was loyal to him.
My response:
Quote:Cool analogy. I really like that and think I might use it in my next talk. And thank God I am not Nephi.Are you dissapointed that you got a Sam and not a Nephi?
My wife:
Quote:I don’t think I would get a long with Nephi!
Me:
Quote:That’s one of the many reasons I love you. You are the best! He would be really insufferable a lot, I think.
That might be a similar discussion between Lemuel and his wife…in talking about Nephi or Laman.
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