Let us take the RIGHT way!

Justin and I spoke in church today. I really like speaking in church because it gives me the opportunity to learn more about the gospel and apply it in my life as I prepare to teach others about what I have learned. So, for your reading pleasure, here's my talk!

One thing that you need to know about me is that I am terrible with directions. It’s even worse when I move to a new, unfamiliar place. Since moving here, I have learned to rely heavily on my google maps app. The other day I was trying to get to the church. It wasn’t long before I found myself going around in cirles and the church was nowhere to be seen. I had thought, the church is close enough. I don’t need to plug it in my phone. I know how to get there. But it was obvious after I had passed Browning multiple times that I had no idea where I was going. I had taken the wrong way. So what else do you do in these situations but call your husband who knows the way really well because he’s the one who usually drives us to church. I was on 13^th and 9^th. Justin was a little surprised at how lost I had gotten but he stayed on the phone with me, giving me step by step directions until the church was in sight.

Where are we headed in life? What’s our end destination?

Nephi taught 2 Nephi 31:18

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son , unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hat made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

By being baptized, we have entered the way and we are all headed for Eternal Life. That’s the whole reason that we are here on the earth. We want to return to live with God again.

A desperate Thomas asks the savior, John 14:5

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not wither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus responds John 14:6

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ, our Savior is the way. He came here to be a perfect example and we are to follow him and his ways if we want to have Eternal Life.

It isn’t always easy to stay on the right path. Lehi makes this clear when he shares the account of the tree of life. There will always be great and spacious buildings full of people trying to distract our attention from the Tree of Life, from the Love of God. Fortunately, Heavenly Father did not send us here to earth to walk in darkness with no direction. Much like my google maps app, He has inspired the prophets to record the scriptures as our spiritual maps. They give us direction and show us the right way.

In Lehi’s dream, the people are described as 1 Nephi 8:24 clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

Nephi interpreted the meaning of the rod of iron for his brothers. He said that the rod of iron 1 Nephi 15:24

was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

In my story, I had thought that I knew the way. I thought that I could do it all by myself. I didn’t seek direction from my google maps app. How often do we do that in life? How often do we decide that we don’t need direction. We try to do it alone. When we go our own way, it is easy to get lost.

The scriptures are not the only source of guidance Heavenly Father has given us, we  can also communicate with him directly through prayer. Luke 11:9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

When I was lost, I eventually ended up calling Justin to get directions. He knew where I was and was able to help me get to the church easily. He led me back to the correct path and stayed on the phone with me until the goal was in sight. Heavenly Father wants to give us direction and all we have to do is ask. He will lead us back to the right path if we depart.

There was once a girl who joined the church as a teenager. She loved going to church. It made her feel good and she loved the things she was learning. With time she gained a desire to serve a mission and was called to serve in a place not too far from where she lived. She loved her mission. She loved sharing the gospel with those around her. When it was time to come home, she felt that she had done her best and was excited to continue to apply the things she had learned and taught on her mission. She came home and things went well, for a little while. But eventually, sin led her away from the church. She went to college, she graduated and she even got married. Time passed and a little voice in her head kept tugging at her to go back to church. But she wondered if the sins she had committed were too bad for the atonement to fix, she wondered if God would even accept her back after all she had done wrong. She started reading the scriptures again, she started praying again and those led to her having a desire to return to church. She met with the bishop and began the process of repentance. It was a hard road for her but she knew it would be worth it. She is now an active member of the church and it continues to bless her life.

I know that there is NEVER a point when we are too far gone for the atonement of Jesus Christ to have an effect on our lives. There is yet hope for all of us sinners. Christ told the Nephites: 3 Nephi 9:13

Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted that I may heal you?

Christ stands with open arms, ready to take our burdens and heal our hearts. He loves you. His love is unconditional. It is all encompassing.

Satan would have you believe that there is no hope. He wants to bind you and take you with him to everlasting death. 2 Nephi 10:23

Cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

2 Nephi 25:28

…for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not

I know that God loves His children. I know that he wants us to follow him. I know that he will accept us back with open arms if we repent. We are never too far away to return to His path.