2 Yea, I make a record in the alanguage of my father, which
consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
“in the language of my father, which
consists… learning of the Jews… language of the Egyptians.”
-here Nephi is more specific
about the “learning of his father”. He
indicates learning of the Jews and language of Egyptians. Among other things, this tells us that the
religious and intellectual aspects of their lives (during his time) were
bifurcated. He knew of the Jew’s
beliefs, history, religion, experiences, etc. but their culture was also
strongly influenced by another society (the language, means of communication). Language is a very large influence on a
society -to a large degree, language
guides or “rules” society. Indeed, from
a society’s language we can see what they value, what is their character.
-it
is not uncommon for God’s people, his saints of any era, to find themselves
pulled between two or more cultures.
There is a heavenly culture that includes the moral standards, faith,
commandments that bear of our actions/behaviors, etc. then there are various
prevailing earthly cultures. For Lehi
and Nephi this was the culture of the Egyptians, for us it is a culture of post-modern
materialism, technology and secularism.
Some of the prevailing and permeating elements of these temporal
cultures are language, norms, values, entertainment and a host of competing
values. Ours is one of self-focused
satisfaction, excessive self-sovereignty, materialism, competition, technology,
immediate gratification, and entitlement.
These clashing cultures have always pulled the children of men in a
tension for their allegiance. Christ perfectly described this condition but
also provided the key to appropriate behavior when he said, “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which
are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's (Matt 22:21).
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