The Gospel in Words: 'Sojourn'

"By faith (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country." (Hebrews 11:9)While the word "sojourn" is not particularly etymologically interesting, the concept plays a significant role in the scriptures.Sojourn means to spend a day or to dwell for a time. It is not the same as simply being a tourist or traveling through a place, but to actually occupy or dwell in a place for some period of time. Though, importantly, that place is simply a temporary residence.For example, the children of Israel were carried away captive into Babylon. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. ... For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion." Poignantly, the children of Israel responded, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Psalm 137:1-4)Interestingly, the prophet Jeremiah specifically answers the Israelites' question. In a letter to the captives of Babylon, Jeremiah writes, "Build ye houses and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them ... seek the peace of the city ... and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace" (Jeremiah 29:5-7).Like Abraham and the children of Israel, we are all strangers and sojourners in a strange land (see Acts 7:6) or, "strangers and pilgrims on the earth ..." But like Abraham, we look "for a city which hath (eternal) foundations, whose builder and maker is God." We yearn for such a "country" which is our true homeland and native place "from whence (we) came out." In short, we hope for "a better country, that is, and heavenly (place): for (God) hath prepared for (us) a city" (Hebrews 11:9-16).When Alma was teaching his son Helaman, he used the image of a journey and gave us guidance as to how we can get through our sojourn in this life. When Lehi and his family fled Jerusalem, the Lord prepared a ball or director called the Liahona to guide them. When Lehi's family exercised faith, the Liahona showed them the direction, but when "they were slothful and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence ... they did not progress in their journey ... or travel a direct course. ... Is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise ..." (Alma 37:38-47).