Striving Toward the
Promised Land

Therefore, underlying the children of Israel's from Egypt and their journey into the wilderness can be seen symbolic representations of the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Paul apparently confirmed this, saying, "All these things happened unto them [the children of Israel] for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition." (1 Cor. 10:11,6.) If these things have spiritual applications, we might ask ourselves what the wilderness and the promised land represent for the individual.

Moses explained the purpose of the wilderness to the children of Israel: "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to ^a.prove thee, ^b.to know what was in thine heart, ^c.whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." (Deut. 8:2.) The Lord's statement about the probationary purpose of this life for the individual rings very similar to this. He said, "...We will ^a.prove them herewith, ^b.to see ^c.if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." (Abr. 3:24,25.) We know that our entire life is a probation (2 Ne. 2:21), but could the period following baptism be particularly important inasmuch as we then become much more accountable? Might this be an individual's "wilderness": being separated from the world, striving to prove ourselves worthy of the promised land?

The "promised land" is a more common metaphor, and it seems to represent salvation. For example, Alma said, "...The words of Christ, if we follow their course, [will] carry us...into a far better land of promise." (Alma 37:45.) His statement to the individual matches the following statement of the Lord through Moses: "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers." (Deut. 8:1.)

Mosiah taught that those who will be brought to heaven and have everlasting salvation and eternal life are those who become "steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works...." (Mosiah 5:15.) Again, looking to history, we find a likely parallel. Of those children of Israel that came through the Red Sea, only two were allowed to enter into the promised land: Caleb and Joshua. They were the only ones who "wholly followed the Lord." (Deut. 1:36,38.)

Interestingly, the others who were allowed to enter into the promised land were the "children, which in that day [when they passed through the Red Sea] had no knowledge between good and evil...." (Deut. 1:39.) Recall above that we suggested that passing through the Red sea represented baptism. The children's being unaccountable, strengthens this correlation. Mormon taught that little children do not need to be baptized, "for they are not capable of committing sin... [and] are alive in Christ...." (Moro. 8:8,11.) Therefore might this ancient occurrence symbolize the fact that those who die before the age of accountability automatically inherit the Father's kingdom? (D&C 137:10.)

As we consider the parallels between the literal promised land and personal salvation, statements about history seem to take on profound, spiritual meaning. Take, for example, the Lord's promise to Nephi: "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even ^a.a land which ^b.I have prepared ^c.for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands." (1 Ne. 2:20.) This sounds much like Jesus' statement, talking about the mansions of heaven in which he said, "^b.I go to prepare ^a.a place ^c.for you." (John 14:2.)