HEALING THE LAND: STEPPING OUT ONTO THE GRASS

It was 5 wearisome days since the moving van pulled away and had been returned. The boxes were unpacked, broken down and now it was time to begin our purpose: Why we had moved to Manti. We had felt the call to come and to learn how to heal a piece of land…our land; our almost half of an acre.

However, this story really began in the home long before the yard. We had spent a great deal of time setting our home in order and learning about Holiness. We began purging those things that God called abominable or offensive to the Spirit, such as movies and music. We began to align our home with the words of the latter-day prophets as our standard—even if it was not popular with friends and family. Our home was beginning to be governed by the Lord, and inspiration from heaven, as my husband began slowly taking the Patriarchal lead. Our family was learning that God is real. A life of submission was being created—from the foods to the amusements—and every decision was based on the question: “Is this what God has asked me to do?”

TRUE EDUCATION

Prior to moving, my husband and I owned a private school. As the administrator year after year, I met families who were as broken as we were—struggling with a lack of vision, rebellious children, and the family order all in disarray, hoping to save their family through the private educational system. I spent years of frustration, wondering what could be the answer as I saw families leave after a year or two and return to public school. It had to be more than learning the ABCs. As beautiful as the education was that we offered, it didn’t instill long-lasting conversion upon children’s hearts or heal homes.

It was not until my 8th year of teaching that I learned about a specific blueprint outlined in scripture for the education of the family. Joseph Smith, in section 109 of the Doctrine and Covenants, revealed a pattern to apply to our homes. I learned that within this scripture, the Lord shared a powerful tool to help bring individuals into the presence of God, and how to truly educate His children in His way—to usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We began a deep and thorough study of this chapter and applied what we were learning to our own home. And immediately, we began receiving blessings! The blessings literally poured in, as one by one, our children began changing. Peace settled into our home, hearts softened, and Babylon was being purged by every member.

What is the whole purpose of education? To build faith. To teach the true nature of God. And that was what we were learning—no longer a Hollywood version—but a divinely-inspired pattern straight from the scriptures.

THE BLUEPRINT

Doctrine and covenant 109:7-21 can be broken down into 24 principles.

FAITH: And as all have not faith
DILIGENCE: seek ye diligently
TEACH: teach one another
WISDOM: Teach words of wisdom;
BEST BOOKS: seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom,
STUDY & FAITH: seek learning even by study and also by faith;
ORGANIZE: Organize yourselves;
PREPARE: prepare every needful thing,
HOUSE: establish a house
PRAYER: even a house of prayer,
FASTING: a house of fasting,
FAITH: a house of faith
LEARNING: a house of learning,
GLORY: a house of glory,
ORDER: a house of order,
GOD: a house of God;
INCOMINGS: That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord,
OUTGOINGS: that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord,
SALUTATIONS: that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord,
UPLIFTED HANDS: All with uplifted hands unto the Most High—
WORTHINESS & CLEANLINESS: that it may be done to thine honor and to thy divine acceptance; And in a manner that we may be found worthy, in thy sight,
FULFILL PROMISES: to secure the fulfillment of the promises which thou hast made unto us, thy people, in the revelations given unto us;
GLORY & POWER:
SANCTIFIED & HOLY: that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;

WHERE ELSE HAVE WE BROKEN THE LAW?

After we had made these changes, naturally we wanted to know if there was more to learn: “Where else had we broken the laws? Where else had we allowed the philosophies of man, and not God, into our home?” If you are like us, you have probably now turned to the outdoors of your home, wondering if there might be scriptural instruction for the land as well. That is exactly what we were to learn (or be reminded of) when we stepped out onto the lawn that early, crisp autumn morning of September 2018.

WHEN THE SPIRIT WHISPERED

So began our journey. When we moved, the area was going through a long, dragged-out drought. Many town folks could only water for 15 minutes twice per week. People had to choose between their gardens or their lawn to water. Neighbors had said this was not the first time our town’s ponds were empty. That day I stood at the end of the cement before stepping out onto the grass. I was hesitant if I should even be thinking about gardening when there was a shortage of water. What was God thinking?

During this moment the Spirit whispered, and reminded me, “and as all have not faith...”

I stood there for a moment and was caught off guard. This was the first principle of the blueprint I had taught to school families, and that we had applied in our home! Could this really work as a pattern for gardening the Creator’s way? Could this heavenly pattern help us heal our land? What were the laws we were to follow in this work? How would I know what is right or what is wrong? I guess we were about to find out. “Yes!” I boldly exclaimed, with an assurance that we were on the right course. These principles worked, as I had taught to so many and seen miraculous miracles. I took the step off the cement and into the sun-scorched yard!

HIS WAY

What came next? I was to seek Him, and what He taught about gardening. Every system should come from the scriptures. In everything we do—including gardening—we should ask the question, “Can I back this up with scripture/revelation?” If not, what is our standard?

I began learning that man should mimic nature’s garden and forest for his own garden, following God’s pattern, beginning with no-tilling. Tilling in Hebrew means to “serve” the Earth—not to uncover the ground—which began my first lesson from scripture. Using the pile of moving boxes, I began laying them out on the grass for a garden 4 times the size of the one I raised my family on. As we began ripping off the old tape on the boxes, the principles were refreshed, and we knew that this was what we were to do in healing our land—there was no other way. If we wanted the blessings of the heavens for a complete healing of our 100-year-old pesticide-laden, once-upon-a-time farmland…or what was left of it… we had to trust God.

What I learned that the first year was all that one needs to begin healing, in any format, is a desire to do it His way—enough faith to step out, and enough humility to accept the real answer, even if it goes against what you were raised to do or believe— such as using harsh chemicals, fertilization, modified seeds as the only way. I had to even retrain my thinking that dandelions were from God, and not from the other Kingdom but sent as a natural healer for the lawn, and to let them grow!

LET HIM TEACH YOU!

Since that first day, the training with God has been priceless. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real and taught over and over right there in the garden. One does not truly understand the resurrection until one watches a seed open up with new life, or a strawberry plant pushes its way through the piled leaves after a long winter. You can find endless stories about God’s generosity, but have not seen anything until you have seen His abundance in the garden from one Jerusalem Artichoke!

Are you humble enough to use His blueprint for healing when it comes to your backyard? Do you trust Him when He says He will heal your lands if you are obedient to His commandments? Do you believe that He has a standard even for the garden….If not, but you have a desire to know, step out on your lawn, and then seek Him and let Him teach you too.