There is No End to Might
The LO was researching some Hebrew for her Isaiah studies. She said that is was interesting that the same word-core that means strength or power also means hold or grip.
I thought about the iron rod.
“Hold to the rod.” We think that implies commitment and it does. Maybe it also implies that we are strong, and therefore able to hold on strongly.
There are two different ways of holding the rod in Lehi’s vision.
The first group
they did press forward through the mist of darkness, aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the bfruit of the tree.
This group all make it to the tree and all fall away under the mocking of the great and spacious building. “Clinging” is not, it would seem, a good thing.
The other group does not fall away. They are the ones who
did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
I would be very interested in hearing what you think the difference is between the clingers and the ones who hold fast.
My thought–its tenuous but it feels right to me–is that the hold fasters have some strength and purpose in themselves. We are all weak, but those who hold fast have used the savior’s lifeline to become less weak.
The clingers, fear of the darkness motivated them, but once they got to the tree and the darkness wasn’t obviously present, they had no real purpose of themselves and fell under the sway of the Great and Spacious Building’s values.
jorgen
February 28, 2022
Obama’s attempted insult about Clinging to God and guns comes to mind.
Annie
March 1, 2022
Clinging as currently used often implies neediness. (the ‘clingy’ girlfriend, Obama’s insult) I think there is a connotation of uncertainty and weakness. If you cling, it’s because you suspect the one clung to will likely dump you. Add lack of trust to the connotations. Also fear. (ie, I cling to the iron rod and chains provided on the Angel’s Landing trail in Zion National Park.) But clinging impairs your movement. You’re so busy clinging you can barely put one foot in front of the other. Holding fast brings to my mind a picture of a confident, head-up person, with a relaxed grip on the rod or railing, not letting go but free to explore the vistas ahead.
G.
March 1, 2022
I like that
John Mansfield
March 1, 2022
Annie’s last sentence reminds me of my time on a via ferrata in West Virginia. The photos in the link below give the idea.
https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/via-ferrata-guide-united-states
Annie
March 1, 2022
John, it was the memory of a couple we sidled past on another hike in Zion (Hidden Canyon) that informed my comment about being so busy clinging you can barely…move, etc. They were so clingy and fearful they were not enjoying themselves. I’m not sure I could do a via ferrata without fear (!), but I see your link showed one in Zion. Good way to practice ‘holding fast’ with confidence and trust. I’m also sure there’s a good sacrament meeting talk in there somewhere.
Bookslinger
March 1, 2022
Annie, in the technical literal sense, the strength of the connections are the other way around.
“Cling” is the light hold, as in sticking, but easily pulled off, e.g. “clinging vine,” and “cling film.”
“Hold fast” has the same base, fast, as “make fast.” Which is a relatively more permanent and stronger connection. The verb form is “fasten.”
Therefore “hold fast” (fastened) denotes a stronger hold than “to cling.”
In the nautical literature that I’ve read, “make fast” is to connect two things so that they don’t come loose.
My take is that “fastened” is the kind of connection we want with the iron rod, not a “clinging” connection that can be peeled off like a vine climbing a wall.
My take is that by fastening ourselves to the scriptures, we absorb more, so that when we arrive at the tree, we won’t be ashamed. Merely touching the scriptures won’t be enough to transform us.
In another sense, merely arriving at the tree is insufficient. We must arrive in a prepared and proper state or condition. I agree with G that clinging versus fastening ourselves to the rod likely plays a part.
Net: I’m suggesting that clinging is the lighter connection.
Annie
March 1, 2022
THanks, Book. I appreciate you delving deeper into the language. I think we are saying the same thing in slightly different ways.