by: Norberto Betita
In one of our family home evenings, my son Robert Sherwin
started his lessons about a story of two caterpillars strolling around. One of
them observed a tower where many other insects were struggling to climb as though
there is something very significant over the top. The other caterpillar was
somewhat intrigued by the enthusiasm of the many insects and asked those who
had returned what was on top of the tower. But no one ever told their
experience. The Caterpillar was all the more enthused and become very desirous to
go up. He invited his friend to go with him, but such instead discouraged him
vehemently. The caterpillar was so engrossed with his desire to know of the
things on top of the tower that he left his friend and slowly climb the tower.
It was a long and weary ascent only to find nothing of importance to him. While
he was going down from the tower, he noticed a beautiful yellow butterfly. He
was so attracted at the beauty of the butterfly that he wished he would have
been one. He was impressed at the beauty
of his wings and his ability to fly as if dancing with the wind over the
horizon.
Suddenly the butterfly flew near the caterpillar and landed
in front of him, and to his surprise told him that he was his friend. He was informed that while he was climbing
the tower, he started to build a cocoon. It was very hard and immensely
difficult work, but all the efforts are worth for he now could fly.
I have read and heard several versions of stories about caterpillars
and butterflies, but I love this version because it points to some familiar and
realistic accounts relative to the actual events of worldly demeanor and
patterns of life.
In the never ending march of humanity into the long road of
earthly journey many eyes are focused on the tempting and alluring sights all
around them. The thoughts and desires for expensive homes, modern luxury cars,
branded clothes, and intricately designed personal accessories---rings,
necklaces and bracelets, extends tempting invitation to every wandering soul as
depicted by the caterpillar and other insects in the story. Their ways points
to greater speculations for worldly riches and affluence rather than in
discovering their eternal potentials. They take the comfortable and broad way of the
journey and unsuspectingly enter the wide gate that leads to their own
destruction.
However, like the caterpillar turned butterfly, others take
the narrow and difficult passage into the race of mortality. They trudge the
tough and most challenging course and bend their backs while carrying the
burdens of life’s contest. They endure
every required effort to win the race. And by obedience to their eternal coach,
they were trained to stretch their wings and learn to fly closer to their eternal
journey to partake of the sweetest prize of eternal life.
The same circumstances was also portrayed and described in
Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life:
“And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the
other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood
as it were in the air, high above the earth.
“And it was filled with people, both old and young, both
male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were
in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had
come at and were partaking of the fruit.
”And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed,
because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden
paths and were lost.”
“ And he also saw other multitude feeling their way towards
that great and spacious building.
“And it came to pass that may were drowned in the depths of
the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
“And great was the multitude that did enter into that
strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point
the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but
we heeded them not. (1 Nephi 8:26-28,
31-33)
In contrast, Lehi “saw other multitudes pressing forward;
and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press
their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron until they came
forth and feel down and partook of the fruit of the tree.” (1 Nephi 8:30).
The description of those multitude mocking and pointing
fingers to those who intends to come to partake of the fruit of the tree and
scoffing those who already have partaken of the fruit that they were led astray
and fell into forbidden paths is now an extreme reality.
I witness these sad realities daily common even in the
social media. When there is a negative post about somebody, hundreds or even
thousands will join in negative comments. When popularity is in publication,
likes and shares are in number almost innumerable confirming partnership in worldly
camaraderie.
But others on the other hand refuse to give heed to the
fingers of scorn and instead press forward and hold fast to the rod of iron or
the word of God and eventually joyfully partook of the fruit of the tree of
life. Such was the attitude of the caterpillar turned butterfly.
Pressing forward and holding fast to the word of God was
never an easy task, especially as we consider the underlying and magnifying
temptations and glamorous demands of worldly lusts and pleasures. The valleys
of adversities and rivers flowing with filthiness all around the bridge to
eternal finish line require so much spiritual strength to endure. The current
of materialism; the lures of pornography; the torrents of infidelity; and such
other worldly allurements, become a continued threat to every faithful soul. However,
as these things are bravely mustered and successfully endured they become our
spiritual cocoon.
Joseph B. Wirthlin explained, “Wrapped tightly in its
cocoon, the developing chrysalis must struggle with all its might to break its confinement.
The butterfly might think, Why must I suffer so? Why cannot I simply, in the
twinkling of an eye, become a butterfly?
“Such thoughts would be contrary to the Creator’s design.
The struggle to break out of the cocoon develops the butterfly so it can fly.
Without that adversity, the butterfly would never have the strength to achieve
its destiny. It would never develop the strength to become something
extraordinary.
“Adversity can strengthen and refine us. As with the
butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people. Even when we
are called to sail through troubled waters, we need to know the place of
adversity in shaping our divine potential.”
“The testing processes of mortality are for all men, saints
and sinners alike. Sometimes the tests and trials of those who have received
the gospel far exceed any imposed upon worldly people. Abraham was called upon
to sacrifice his only son. Lehi and his family left their lands and wealth to
live in a wilderness. Saints in all ages have been commanded to lay all that
they have upon the altar, sometimes even their very lives.” (Bruce R.
McConkie).
My long years of struggles and battles against adversities and
the refining tests of mortality of various nature and intensity levels had
continually formed and built into a silk envelope or confinement of my personal
spiritual cocoon, which as with the butterfly I need to break and endure in
order to enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the promised eternity.
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