Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Latter-day Saint
They Could Not See

They Could Not See

Last updated on: April 12, 2018 at 10:15 am by Delisa Hargrove

They Could Not See 2018-04-12T10:15:05-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I participated in a mock jury online. It was a civil case. We heard the plaintiff’s case and then the defense’s case. The plaintiff and defendant counsel spoke for just under two hours giving us the information they felt pertinent to the case for us to see a verdict.

The moderators then divided us into groups of eight and asked us to deliberate a decision. The case seemed so obvious to me. I felt surprised by the disparate reactions to the same information I’d heard. As people talked, I realized they heard a piece of information which fully engaged their minds (and emotions) and so they actually didn’t hear subsequent information. I’d heard the initial information, too, but the subsequent information changed my perspective.

When I mentioned the additional information, they said they didn’t hear or remember those details.

After we finished, I looked for information on the case online. Reading through news releases, I realized that some of the details included there could have shifted my decision again.

Since the experience, I’ve been thinking about how our perspectives can really cloud our vision.

Joseph’s Brother’s Couldn’t See Him

Today, my scripture study included Joseph in Egypt. As his brothers bowed before him, Joseph clearly recognized them. His brothers didn’t recognize him.

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

How is that even possible?

A phrase that sticks out to me in the story is

And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land.

Did he know his family would come to Egypt for grain? Did he deduce that or did the Lord reveal it? Regardless, Joseph positioned himself to be at the right place if his brothers came to Egypt.

The brothers sold Joseph to the Midianites in his late teens, so even though his features had matured during intervening years, he would look essentially the same. Egyptians shaved their faces, so Joseph would stand barefaced towards his brothers.

Yet, they could not see him.

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

They’d decided that Joseph was dead. I wonder if any of them wondered if he could still be alive!

Even when Joseph sat them according to age, they didn’t consider it to be Joseph’s handiwork.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marveled one at another.

Why?

The Atonement Enables Us to See

As I read the story this time, the difference seemed to lie in who had applied the Atonement’s healing power to the situation. Despite ensuing hardships, Joseph placed his trust in God. He knew the broader purpose of his sufferings and trajectory. God place Joseph in Egypt to save lives. Were there other ways to put him second in command to Pharoah? Certainly. But Joseph’s life and struggles are a penultimate example for us.

Joseph steadfastly followed the commandments. He listened to the Holy Ghost. His spiritual strength was such that he could correctly interpret significant dreams. Everything he touched prospered. God was with him.

Some of his brothers were murderers in their hearts and hands. The Lord killed several of Joseph’s nephews for wickedness. His brother slept with a harlot (aka his daughter-in-law). Another brother slept with his father’s concubine.

Despite everything, the story indicates the brothers were willing to sacrifice themselves and their families for Benjamin.

The Atonement Brings Peace and Healing to a Situation

Had they applied the Savior’s atonement?

Two passages indicate, to me, that they did not. When Joseph revealed himself to them—the brother they hadn’t seen in years—they were “troubled.”

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

Joseph had to comfort them and share his convicted that God was in the details of his life and because they’d sold him into slavery, he could, ironically, save their lives.

The second occurred after Jacob died.

And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Now therefore fear ye not:

They still harbored fear regarding the incident and didn’t trust, or couldn’t see, Joseph’s overtures of kindness and forgiveness.

After all they endured together, the brothers still couldn’t see him.

Can I see?

The lesson for me is a reminder to look at the relationships in my life. Am I really seeing each person? Do I need to ask for the Savior’s grace in any situation?

Am I cleansed from all sin, too?

My greatest hope and desire is to be able to not only see the Savior’s truth, but to see Him. His atoning sacrifice makes that possible.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Realization

Ancient Stories about Scriptural Truths

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Seeking Truth

Previous Post

April 8, 2018

Relationship with the Holy Ghost-A Test, Making Up For My Weaknesses

Next Post

April 14, 2018 The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Discovery How Tos Realization Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz