WWJD

Riding through Death Valley the past few days on motorcycles with a group of friends left me plenty of time to ponder the answer to the question WWJD (what would Jesus drive?).  Our band had a couple of Hondas, a Yamaha and even a Triumph, but was mostly Harleys.  Though Marnie and Chris might disagree, the answer to WWJD is obviously a Harley.  Dad’s even converted to the dark side.  Last summer convinced him.

For one thing, Harleys are very fun and a great way to travel and meet new people.  But on top of that, a lot of those whom Jesus associated with in his lifetime (publicans, harlots and sinners) would probably be riding Harleys if they lived today.  So, yes I think if Jesus lived today, he would definitely ride a Harley.

(The downside to Harleys is they sometimes break down.  Mine did about 15 miles outside of Las Vegas.  However, while I was sitting on the side of the road for about a half an hour waiting for a tow-- 4 different bikers or groups of bikers stopped to see if they could help.  Kind of restores your faith in people--even the rough, tatooed type.)

If you haven’t been, Death Valley is very mountainous much like other parts of the Rocky Mountains that you may be more familiar with.  The difference being it is so barren of plant life.  Sure there are places with scrubby bushes and weeds, but there are vast hills, mountains and valleys that are completely barren (not even a tumbleweed).  It’s a great place to see dirt and lots of it.  You can find rocks and dirt in all varieties and colors.  There’s dark chocolate dirt, violet, tan and every shade of brown in-between.  Reds, yellows and golds, black, white, copper orange, pinks, greens and even blue dirt can be seen in Death Valley.  All of these various colors and shades are mixed together in one short scenic loop called Artist's Drive.  In the midst of this vast wasteland, you'll discover an oasis called Furnace Creek.  Here you see date and palm trees, bushes, flowers and even a golf course.  All possible from a spring of water in the area.

I was reminded of two things.  One is that the scriptures teach we are less than the dust of the earth.  (Mosiah 4:2, Helaman 12:7)  Why is that?  Dust isn’t much.  It’s usually something I try to brush or wash off.  Not something I’ve given much consideration.  But riding through Death Valley, surrounded by “dust”, I did think about it for several hours.  Perhaps, one of the reasons we are less than the dust of the earth is that it “the dust” obeys God perfectly.

Agency is not just a “principle” that God is fully committed to, it is central to existence itself.  Without agency there is no existence (D&C 93:30).  Abraham records that during the creation, the “Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed”(Abraham 4:18).  At some level, the earth and the elements have a degree of agency and “choose” to obey the order God has established for them.  They do so perfectly.

It is interesting that in particles physics, scientists have discovered not only six quarks (an elementary particle and one of the fundamental constituents of matter) but also six anti-quarks (antiparticles that differ from the quarks in having opposite signs).  (Lehi taught that opposition is also fundamental to creation. 2 Ne. 2:11). 

I heard a radio program some time ago where a scientist was discussing these basic building blocks of all matter and why they behave the way they do.  In some instances they appear to behave one way and in another instance they appear to behave in another.  It was almost as if, to use his analogy, that they open an envelope which either has an A or a B on it.  If it is A they behave one way and B they behave another.  Well what determines whether there is an A or a B in the envelope?  He stated he was beginning to think that it was a choice made at the time the envelope is opened.  It’s an interesting thought.  I don’t pretend to understand much about quantum physics or the “theory of everything”, and I don’t know if this scientist even knew what he was talking about in his analogy.  It may be completely off-base.  But as a lay person, I am interested in what we are learning about the universe.  I also believe that science and religious truth will move closer together and confirm those things we have received through revelation.

The point is this:  we don’t obey perfectly, and, in at least that sense, we are less than the dust of the earth. 

In Lehi’s final words to his sons, he admonished them to “arise from the dust and be men” to “put on the armor of righteousness” and “shake off the chains with which ye are bound” (2 Nephi 1:21, 23).   Well how do we do that?  By coming unto Christ.  Christ gives living water (John 4:10,  D&C 63:23)  Water combined with the dust and seed brings forth life.  The beautiful oasis in the midst of the desolation of Death Valley is a stark testimony to what a difference water makes. 

Christ compared himself to a vine and us to the branches (John 14:1-5) which bring forth fruit.  Without Christ our lives can become desolate, dry and unproductive.  If we abide in Him and receive living water, He will cause us to bring forth much fruit.