More Precious than Rubies

Ever wondered what the most precious gem in the world is? It is not a question I'd ever thought to ask before I stumbled on the answer yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I find gemstones very beautiful, particularly when artistically set in precious metal. It's just, that- well- they are, after all just rocks, and I react to most metals, and it costs so much to own them. I've never been independently wealthy, and what resources I do have seemed better spend on books, travel, chocolate, and people. But, as it turns out, throughout recorded history the "most valuable gem known to man" has been the same type, and if I wanted to pursue this "king of precious stones," I would seek to acquire a naturally made "clear, transparent, and faultless ruby of uniform color."  http://www.addmorecolortoyourlife.com/gemstones/ruby.asp

Seriously, did you know that in the 13th century Marco Polo wrote that Kublai Khan once offered and entire city for a ruby the size of a man's finger. And it wasn't just about rarity and prestige, anciently up through the middle ages, it was believed that possessing a ruby would bring good fortune, wealth, lasting love, and health. Yes, I have learned a lot about rubies, and it all began with my thinking about why Eve decided to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

It has been many years since an article by Beverly Campbell about Eve came into my hands, and I first entertained the thought that the confusion and negativity with which her choice has been regarded was largely read into the text. It was one of those "exaltation" moments.(See "My How to Book") There was no curse placed on Adam and Eve, it is simply not in the text, but after they decided to partake, they were blessed with clothing, protection, and important information about what to expect as they embarked on this eternally pivotal mortal experience. (See MOTHER EVE, Mentor for Today Woman: A Heritage of Honor, http://www.kenningtons.com/kennington/campbell.htm)

This time, as I read the account of the fall, two words jumped out at me. Words that have been jumping out of the scriptures frequently over the last year or so; as if crying out for me to take notice of the Lord's repeated use, and come to better understand their significance.

And the woman saw that the tree was good for food…desired to make her wise. (Moses 1:12, Genesis 3:6)

First, "desired." The phrase "according to (your) desires" popped into my mind. Like, I wrote above, it (or similar phrasing) seems to have popped up repeatedly, so I did a scripture search and came up with 45 times in the standard works that exact phrase is used, and if you expand the search to include other phrases that use "desire" and/or talk about how important our desires are to the Lord- well there are hundreds of scriptures. No wonder it seemed to keep jumping out! To me, this quote perfectly summarizes the message of these scriptures:

What we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity.( Neal A. Maxwell, “‘According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts’,” Ensign, Nov 1996, 21)

The scriptures frequently use a phrase I think equates to Elder Maxwell's "insistently desire" when it speaks of "desires of (the) heart." I think the point is we are not talking about fleeting thoughts or wishes, but the things we build our lives around, the things we are willing to sacrifice and even suffer discomfort to obtain. The type of thing that a person, living in comfortable circumstances, would willingly make a choice to obtain even if it meant exile from that comfortable state, estrangement from a father she loved, and even death. That is the choice Eve made.  And the thing she so insistently desired- to be wise.

This is where rubies came in. According to Proverbs 8:11:
Wisdom is better than rubies; and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."

Which made me wonder about where the ruby fell in the hierarchy of precious worldly goods- and as I explained above it is tops! Not only because it is rare and beautiful, but because it was thought to bring with it all the factors for a happy life. Which means that Eve- that wonderful courageous pioneer- chose the most valuable thing in eternity when she chose that which would give her the opportunity to learn wisdom. Eve showed what an insistent, deep desire it was for her by the way she, with Adam, was "obedient to the commandments of the Lord." This after what must have been a grievous shock of losing her comfortable life, being exiled from the Father, and suffering pain and sorrow. After her eyes were open and she could discern for herself between good and evil, she chose to hearken to the Lord as her source to learn wisdom. She exemplified the eternal pattern, described by Nephi, that we all must follow to gain that which is more precious than rubies:
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (2 Nephi 28:30)
Oh how I love Eve's words- the sense of wonder and joy she conveyed as she comprehended that the Lord was indeed giving to her "according to her desires!" (Alma 29:5, D&C 137:9)

And Eve…heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient. (Moses 5:11)

It is only a few verses after that verse that we are told of the tragic loss and heartache Eve's family suffered because of her son's choices. I've thought how important it was for her in the most intense moments of grief to remember what she had learned. It has been during some of those inescapable moments of grief in my own life when I've pondered her words, tested my own heart to see if I really believed them, and finding I did, thought about what words I would write. Though there have been slight variations and additions over the years it goes something like this:

I know that what Heavenly Father has in mind for me is so, so much more than I can imagine. If the veil could be peeled back and for just one moment and I could see the plan He has for me, I would catch my breath in wonder and with gratitude and amazement say, "yes, I stand with you- I stand for your plan."

And then I realize I don't have to have the veil removed to act upon this understanding. I can hope, and allow the warmth of the spirit and the joy of my redemption to fill me now. And that hope and joy testify that it is worth it and I will not only get through it, but be infinitely better for it. And that understanding, which I trust is the beginning of wisdom, is truly is more precious than rubies.