Gold And Me

Posted by Daniel on Sunday, March 1st, 2009

I was reading in the scriptures today and came across this verse in 1 Peter  1:7.  I wondered a little bit about refining gold, so I did some research.  Here are some parallels that I have learned about gold and ourselves, moreso for us to become "gold-like" to the Lord:

  • Gold has been considered valuable since the beginning of documented human history.  We are precious and valuable in the eyes of God.
  • Gold is the most malleable and ductile pure metal known to man.  You can beat a single ounce of gold into a sheet of metal 300 feet square.  The Lord would have us be soft and pliable to fit his purposes in bringing about his work.  The Lord can mold us to become like He is.
  • Unlike silver and other metals, Gold does not dissolve in hydrochloric, nitric, or sulphuric acid.  The last one, Sulphuric Acid, intrigued me.  Those that are not "gold" are to be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone.  I understand Brimstone to be sulphur... those that are pure gold do not dissolve by those elements.
  • People in history have tested metals to see if they really were gold by putting nitric acid on the metal.  This is where the term "acid test" comes from.  Likewise, we are tested in life to show that we are true and pure gold before the Lord.
  • Gold has great antioxidant characteristics, that's why it's used in dentistry and electronics and other applications.  Oxygen is like the world around us in a sense -- the more "gold" we are, the less we allow the influence around the world to corrupt and tarnish us.
  • Gold conducts heat and electricity very well.  May we conduct the spirit and influence of the Lord well to others.
  • Gold is very dense, even more dense than lead.  Dense things to me mean heavy, unshakable, and immovable.  May we be unshakable and immovable in our faith.
  • For a while, our country's paper money was backed by gold.  This was called the Gold Standard.  Likewise, the more "gold" we become, we live up to certain standards.
  • Gold was one of the gifts given to Jesus by the Magi.  May we be worthy gifts for the Lord.

Categories: Book Of Mormon, Religious, Daniel

Comments

  • That is very insightful. Thanks for taking the time to educate the rest of us.
    by Jessica Pace on 04 March 2009 at 9:22 p.m.