Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity

A type and shadow is a symbol or representation of something that is to come. Types and shadows are found throughout scripture. Examples include the binding of Isaac by his father Abraham for sacrifice. This is a type and shadow of our Heavenly Father sending his son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Christ’s atonement we are able to return to live with our Heavenly Father. Another example found in the Old Testament is the manna that was sent down to the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. This “bread of life” is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ, for it is through him that we can obtain eternal life.


The reason I discuss this theme of scripture is because this past week I had the opportunity to attend an exhibit in Brigham Young University’s Museum of Art titled "Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity". Each work of art is meant to exhibit some type or shadow of Christ or a gospel principle in general. Each of the works is beautiful in their own right. But the fact that each alludes to the divine in some way adds to their character. I appreciated this exhibit very much and was grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend the museum.


One of the first paintings that we viewed was a painting that most Latter-day Saints are familiar with. It is of Lehi and his family aboard a great ship. In the background we see numerous birds that signal the approaching land mass. Although the painting may seem like an ordinary painting the tour guide reminded us of a scripture found in 1 Nephi 17:8 which reads, “Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.” When the painting is viewed with this reference in mind I believe that it takes on an even greater meaning. Not only did the Lord provide a way for them to sail across the sea but he was constantly by their side helping to metaphorically “carry” them across the water.


I was deeply impressed by another painting in the museum. It is a painting of the prodigal son returning home to meet his father. There is a grand stair case that leads to a great house. The father has descended the stairs to meet the son even before the son can take two steps up the stairs. The son is clothed is rags which seem to tell of his struggles, while the father is in extravagant apparel. In this painting I found a very important type and shadow of Christ and our Heavenly Father. No one is perfect, we know this to be true, but even though we often go astray and make the wrong choices the minute we decide to turn our life around and continue in a path of righteousness our Heavenly Father will be waiting with open arms to greet us. He loves each and every one of us and wants us to succeed and return to live with him.


I have enjoyed the many opportunities that I have to visit the Museum of Art and am grateful that we were given time to attend this particular exhibit as we learn about our nations history. This is because I believe that the divine influence helped create this country. To quote George Washington, “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand… more than the People of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced…to an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

Amistad

In my American Government class I recently had the opportunity to watch the film Amistad, staring Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, and directed by Steven Spielberg. This gripping adaptation of a miraculous true story, tells of a group of slaves bound for Cuba who revolted and took control over the ship La Amistad. The slaves were armed with cane knives and were able to overthrow the crew and hold the Captain hostage. They demanded that the Captain sail for Africa. The captain was deceiving and lied to the slaves about which direction they were sailing. The boat ended up traveling north towards the continental United States. They reached Long Island and were captured by the United States Navy. The salves were captured and sent to Connecticut where they were to be sold as slaves. A court battle ensued about the true origins of the slaves. There were many claims as to who should reap the profits of the slaves should they be sold. In the movie ownership is claimed on behalf of Queen Isabella of Spain (ironically the slave trade had been outlawed in Spain but not Cuba), two Cuban merchants, and the leaders of the American ship who captured La Amistad. There was also some question as to the origins of the ship. Eventually the lead attorney on the case discovers a manifest that shows that the salves are actually from Africa and were transported to Cuba and then arrived in America which violated current laws that outlawed the Atlantic slave trade in the United States. The case has national ramifications and is repealed to the Supreme Court by the current President Martin Van Buren. Because Van Buren was currently on the campaign trail any act of anti-slavery could have damaged his possibilities of re-election. In the end of the film they are able to reprove their case again and the slaves are able to return home.

As I reflect on the movie I am amazed by the historical significance that this event had. Not only was it an important victory for abolitionists but it was also was another step towards increased sectionalism between North and South. The film repeatedly speaks about the coming war, although the Civil War would not take place for another 20 years the grounds for it were set long in advance. The film addresses important points about the nature of slavery. In Africa salves were not captured by the merchants who transported them across the sea but rather by their neighboring villagers. In exchange the capturing tribe received guns; in order to protect themselves from slavery other tribes needed guns, so they in turn engaged in slavery. Another important point addressed is the absolutely appalling nature of the slave trade. As we have often discussed in class there are three themes of slavery, violence, terror, and death. All three of these themes were addressed in the movie. Some of the first scenes we observe are of the awful conditions of the slave ships. The slaves are chained together in cramped conditions. It is difficult to imagine being aboard a salve ship. Later we observe the meager rations that were given to slaves while being transported. In the movie only a select few are given a mess of a meal that looks awful to eat. The captains of the ship also dump some of the salves overboard when they realize that they do not have enough rations for all. This practice is truly appalling. The final element that shocked me was the fact that although the salve trade had been outlawed in most countries. But the salve trade continued to occur even though great efforts were employed to stop it. The film as a whole was deeply moving and I would recommend it to all.

The Wealth of Nations

I recently read a selection from Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations which is often known by its abbreviated name, The Wealth of Nations. This document was the inspiration of our market system today and was one of the documents studied by our founding fathers during the establishment of our country. Smith was a radical who revolutionized the way in which we think about our economies and market systems in general.

Before Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations, the economies of most nations were based on a mercantilism system. This system described how wealthy nations were by how much treasure or gold the country had. The wealth was accumulated through trade regulation and encouraging exports. This system benefited the kings and rulers greatly. While the population as a whole remained poor and without a good quality of life the upper ruling class lived in luxury.

In his book Adam Smith questions this great disparity of wealth. He argued that wealth of a nation was determined by the lifestyle of the people. He believed that the wealth of a nation was determined by the quality of life that its citizens enjoyed. His idea greatly changed the ideas of how a market system functions. He believed that nations should encourage production and consumption of goods. Under the old mercantile system citizens had very few choices of what they could buy. Under Smith’s system their was a great expansion of liberty. People were allowed to choose between goods. This choice was very beneficial in a number of ways, it encourages price competition and increased quality as groups compete for buyers. The mercantilism system does not encourage efficiency, quality, and profits for investors. However it did depend on personal relationships with high ranking government officials. This system was unfair to the consumers as they were often forced to purchase over priced goods, as no other options were available. Smith’s market system is not perfect, as we are currently experiencing. There are expected ups and downs of the economy, but under this system citizens experience more liberty that they otherwise could under any other system. The market system is also beneficial in another way. Under the mercantilism system usually one party won while the other lost. Under Smith’s market system both parties benefit. Although one party may benefit more than the other the consumer has the right to decide whether a decision, such as the purchasing of a product, is beneficial. This was not the case under the mercantilism system.

Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations contributed to the overall freedom and liberty of Americans. The constitution provides that Americans will enjoy freedoms and liberties but outlines no economic system. It is Adam Smith’s book that is the basis for our capitalistic system today. His free market system increases quality and decreases price. It is under this system that the founding fathers established our nation. It is under this system by which we have become one of the most powerful nations in the world. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations should be considered one of the most influential books concerning the founding of our nation including Common Sense, and the writings of Voltaire, John Locke and others.