An Instrument in His Hands

Part 3 Chapter 5

Part 3

Chapter 5

Jershon was a goodly land, flat and spread out with rich, moist soil. There were rice fields as far as the eye could see. We nodded to farmers as we passed by them and at last came ntered the land of inheritance for the Ammonite converts. They lived simply, in thatched huts, where many children ran about in the yards. It was growing dark, and there were many cook fires lighting the dim landscape ahead.

‘Does Aaron’s family actually live here?’ I asked Alma. It was quite a come down from King Benjamin’s Farm.

‘Normally they live in Zarahemla, but Leahla wanted to be close to Aaron and her family and people at this time.’

‘Why?’ I inquired.

‘She is expecting a child and the last time she gave birth, it did not go well.’

‘Oh, what was the trouble?’ I asked as I tried to keep up his untiring pace.

‘I’m afraid that is beyond my powers to describe, but I understand that they almost lost her.’

I gave a skip to be able to look him in the eye. ‘How long ago was it?’

‘Well, I’d say about a year.’

I gasped. ‘So recently?’ What were they thinking?’ What kind of a husband was Aaron, anyway?

Alma slowed a bit and looked at me. ‘You will find that Leahla is a woman of unusual faith.’

‘Are there other children besides the baby?’

‘They have three children.’

‘Three? How long have they been married?’

‘They married when they came to Zarahemla.’

‘That’s four children in four years!’ I did not want to imagine the details of Aaron’s marriage. It was absolutely none of my business. I set my mouth in a tight line.

‘I believe your calculations may be correct.’

‘No wonder she is having problems giving birth!’ I muttered. ‘Who is caring for her little ones?’

‘Leahla has two sisters here in Jershon. That is why she came here from Zarahemla.’

‘If she has two sisters to care for her, why do I need to help?’ Perhaps I could get out of this absurd assignment.

‘I have asked myself that question, but it is the Lord who has asked this of you, not I.’

Our progress slowed dramatically when we reached the Ammonite villages, for Alma was recognized everywhere. People reached across fences to greet him by name and by hand. Many offered to share food and a night of sleep.

Corianton rolled his eyes at me as if to say, ‘I told you so!’

Everywhere we went people greeted and revered his father.

How good it was to be with Christians! I ate my fill and then had to regretfully refuse more when it was offered.

‘Perhaps I ought to accept the hospitality offered?’ I suggested to Alma.

He looked at me sharply. I was not going to get out of my assignment, was I?

I pondered this. Did I really believe that Alma the Younger was speaking for the Lord? And, if so, could I ask the Lord to give me to power to do this thing that would be so impossible for me to do? I began to pray as I walked slowly towards Aaron’s wife. ‘Dear Father, I have done many hard things that thou hast asked me to. I have left my comfortable life and family and spent my free time serving as thy son would serve. I have not complained. But this – this thing you ask of me now…’ I stopped and wiped my eyes. ‘It is beyond my power to do. I cannot do this thing.’

‘Is it thou that asks it of me? And, wilt thou give me the power to do it? I know that thou canst, but wilt thou? I need to know this because I am so frightened. What if I hurt them? What if it hurts me?’

I waited. I opened my eyes and searched the stars beginning to twinkle.  I walked on and saw Alma waiting for me a few paces on, patiently. I looked into his eyes and saw concern and love, and suddenly, I was filled with that love, and knew that Alma had asked this thing of me from the Lord. I knew!

‘You will not be alone,’ he confided.

And I knew that I would not! I would be given the love that I needed to do the impossible. I turned my tear streaked face to him and nodded. I could do this thing. Rather, God could do this thing.

We came to a cluster of four huts, Leahla’s family’s huts. Alma gestured towards them with his arm. I squinted in the darkness and saw that they were surrounded by a small fence made of woven sticks, with a gate. Several children ran about the muddy yard, slipping and sliding. There was a large cooking fire, a grinding stone, and several looms that hung from the rafters of the huts. A few goats were tied in one corner of the yard. The huts had woven blankets hanging inside the doors, and were much like the huts of the poor in Antionum that I had served in and lived in for years. Why did it seem so strange that Aaron’s family stayed in one?

As Alma and I stood outside the fence watching the children, they stopped running and stared back at us. Then the oldest Lamanite boy came to the gate. ‘What do you want?’ he asked.

‘I am Alma. I seek Leahla, the wife of Aaron,’ he replied.

The boy straightened up and looked warningly at the children behind him. They quieted. ‘Enter,’ he told us, and gestured to the nearest hut on the left.

I entered the yard, my hand trembling.

Alma stepped forward and clapped his hands at the door. ‘Enter,’ a feeble female voice called out.

We went inside and blinked in the darkness. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I saw a bed with a woman lying on it. Beside her sat two children and a baby was snuggled into the crook of her arm, sleeping. And she was large with child.

She was young looking, and exquisitely beautiful, with long dark hair and dramatic eyes. No wonder that Aaron loved and married her. How blessed he had been to be spared marriage with me! I was old, and weather beaten, and weary. This girl was gentle and lovely.

Leahla had a soft smile which she turned inquiringly to me, and then to Alma. He walked over to her and softly took her hand in his. ‘Leahla, I have brought somebody to look after you in Aaron’s absence,’ he said tenderly. Leahla was the type that one would only speak to gently.

Her large eyes widened and turned to me. She knew who I was. Then she bit her trembling lip.

Was I hurting her by my presence? I could see that she was not well. Could she bear me? I did not wish to hurt her. Should I leave?

Then she held out her other hand to me, bidding me to take it.

I did. I reached out and placed her thin fingers in my old worn ones.

‘You have come,’ she stated simply, blinking back tears.

I nodded and glanced towards Alma, questioningly.

‘You have come,’ she repeated and swallowed. Then she squeezed my fingers with feeling.

Had she been expecting me? How? How did she know?

She read the questions in my eyes. ‘I have prayed you here,’ she explained softly, ‘and now I shall die.’