Tape Measure Living

We have been taught to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and to walk on the path that leads to eternal life. But, this path is not a broad or wide path, but it is a straight and narrow one. Jesus teaches us in the Book of Mormon, "because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (3 Nephi 14). He said that there are FEW that find the end of this path and the reward that awaits, which is eternal life. Why don't very many people make it to the end? Well, it's because they push the boundaries that have been established by God and try to "measure" how far they can stray from the path.

Shouldn't we try to walk right down the middle of the path? There is even an iron rod to hold on to (1 Nephi 8) that will lead us directly to our reward at the end. If we just held fast to this iron rod (which is the word of God) then we would be perfectly fine and be able to walk in Jesus' footsteps all the way to eternal life. But, because we are human, we like to push the limits. Why? Well, it's too hard to live God's commandments, we're lazy, we like to rebel, and there are many more. We will not receive the fullness of joy that comes from living the gospel if we are using a tape measure to see how far from the middle of the path we can stray. God's laws are never-changing, and in a world where morals are ever-changing, it can be hard to stay in the middle of the path. Are we expected to be perfect? No. BUT, we are expected to try the best that we can and aim for the middle of the path. We cannot change the commandments of God, neither can we bend them. Those that live that way hurt themselves every time that they try to measure how far from the middle of the path they can stray, and eventually Satan will "[lead] them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever" (2 Nephi 22).

Stay in the middle of the path, follow the Savior's example because He will not lead us astray. If we hold fast to His teachings, and if we obey the commandments that we have been given, we will receieve eternal life. I know that to be true with all my heart.

With love,
Elder Brennan Edwards

Roads Through the Fog

Up here in the beautiful city of Fortuna, and the wonderful surrounding areas, we are right next to the coast. Along with the weather up here, and being right next to the coast, the area up here tends to get a lot of fog. The fog settles in and at times it can get quite heavy. I've driven through this fog many times on some back roads and main roads. There is something that I have learned though, the way to make it through the fog without driving off the road into a massive redwood tree, is to look at the lines on the road. The lines on the road would let me know if the road was curving or straight, and then I could handle the car in such a way that would keep my companion and myself from flying off the road. Such as is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The dream that the Prophet Lehi had explains a similar experience; "and there arose a mist of darkness; yea even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost" (1 Nephi 8:23). There are many of us who are "on the path" but when this fog settles over us, we lose our way. How are we to stay on the path, and fight through all the fog? It has to end sometime right? Well, again, in Lehi's dream he saw, "others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mists of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, until they did come forth..." (1 Nephi 8:24). These these that "clung to the rod of iron" were essentially pushing through the fog looking at the lines on the road. It guided them towards their destination. We must hold to this iron rod, which is the word of God so that we can be led towards salvation and eternal life. It will not lead us astray, just as if we are driving on a road and a heavy fog sets in, if we look at the lines in the road, we will not be lost. I know these things to be true; I know that if we hearken to the word of God, he will lead us towards lasting peace and happiness in this life and for eternity.

With love,

Elder Brennan Edwards