The old Cherokee Nation is known for having an interesting way of making their sons into men. Legend tells that a young man, aged twelve or thirteen, would be taken by his father far into the wilderness forest, far from anyone or anything. There, his father would blindfold him and sit him on a stump. The father would then instruct his young son that no matter what he heard or what he felt throughout the night, he was forbidden to remove the blindfold and under no circumstances permitted to leave the stump. He was to sit and endure whatever might come until he felt the warmth of the morning sunshine through his blindfold. Then his father would be back to get him. The father would leave, and the night would soon fall.
The wilderness, especially a dark forest, can be a frightening place, especially for a young boy. Throughout the night, the boys would hear stirring critters, animal calls, rustling winds, and other frightening things in the dark woods — things that toy with the senses behind a blindfold. The simple fear of the unknown was what often perturbed them the most. But finally, when the night ceased and the sunlight penetrated the blindfold, upon removing it, the young man would invariably find that his father had been seated near him —silently— guarding him attentively all the night long. They were then instructed not to tell any of the younger boys what had happened. It is from this experience that the young men would not only learn the importance of bravery and perseverance, but also the true meaning of manhood and the protective essence of fatherhood.
This profound analogy is a perfect example of the love and watchful care our Heavenly Father has for us.
When we were spirit children in the pre-mortal life, the time came for us to undergo a test to prove ourselves men and women of faith and strength. Though I’m sure we had an idea of what this wilderness called Earth would be like, we didn’t quite know exactly what to expect — only that it would be a challenge. As we passed through the veil, we were given a blindfold. It is then life itself, compared to the night in the Cherokee wilderness, that constitutes our test. And through all the turmoil, fear, unknowing, discomfort, pain, and darkness; when the inevitable ushers us back through the veil and the proverbial sun shines on our faces through our blindfolds, I believe we will remove it only to discover that our Heavenly Father was right there watching over us at every moment, guarding us attentively in the same fashion as the Cherokee elders of old.
The love that God the Father and Jesus Christ have for us is infinite and perfect, and because of this test, our earthly experience, we can learn the true meaning of our earthly experience in an eternal sense, and the absolute care that our Father has for us.
Dillon Boss 