Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Power of the Word - Staying on Course


We often hear some Christians and Christian groups proclaim the need for people to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and to come unto Him to receive salvation. What they usually do not define or describe is the way a person actually comes unto Christ.How is it done? One of the significant contributions of the Book of Mormon is its clear and unmistakable explanation of the process by which a person may come unto Christ.From the book, we learn that there is a path leading to Christ. Consider this story told by Donald Stokes:


[1] Donald Stokes, “Off Course,” New Era, Feb. 1991, 12

“My[1] father was a professional pilot and also served in the armed forces in World War II instructing pilots…On one occasion, a friend of his from California asked him if he would fly his newly built plane back from the East for him. On this particular trip he asked me to accompany him as his copilot. To me, a boy of 12, my father was a hero. I was so elated that he had asked me to be his copilot. I felt that he trusted and had confidence in me.
It was on the second day of our flight that my father, having done all of the flying so far, started to feel the fatigue of the trip. My dad had been giving me flying lessons for quite a while. He decided that I could navigate the plane while he slept for a few minutes.
As a wise parent, and one knowing the dangers involved, he gave me some instructions which were plain and easy to understand. He pointed the way along a straight path in which I should fly the plane. He said that I should never vary from that path. Off in the horizon was my goal, a big rugged yet majestic mountain.
My dad showed me compass and map bearings and even pointed out Omni beacons, which aided pilots when they flew at night or in stormy weather. Then before going to sleep, he reassured me that if anything should happen he would be nearby so I wasn’t to hesitate to wake him.
In like manner, for our life’s journey Nephi emphasized the need to “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Ne. 32:3; emphasis added).
As he began to drift asleep, the excitement of being able to navigate the plane equaled the great responsibility that was placed in my hands. I took comfort in the fact that my father wasn’t too far away if I needed his help.
I wanted to do a good job so that he would be proud of me and let me fly again. My eyes were constantly scanning the horizon for other planes and evaluating the many instruments that decorated the front panel of the cockpit.
About 30 minutes had gone by, and my father still slept. I felt so sure of my ability to navigate the plane that I decided not to wake him.
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, … Ye shall have eternal life.
“… And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ” (2 Ne. 31:18-21; emphasis added).
The mountain that he gave me as a goal had long since passed. I then discovered a roadway some 10,000 feet below. The road appeared to be going in the same direction so I decided to follow it. This was fine for a little while, but then I became bored with following the road and decided to do some experimenting.
I began by turning the plane from side to side, then moving the rudder back and forth causing the tail of the plane to go from side to side. I was completely engrossed in my experimenting when I began to realize that I did not know where I was or in which direction I should be going.
If we are not being strengthened regularly by the Lord’s doctrine, what influence is affecting our thinking and feelings and determining our behavior?
There is hardly a famine of worldly things of which we can partake, nor is there a scarcity of satanic inspiration to permeate our minds.
From what sources do we and our families receive our nourishment?
I was anxious to get back on the proper course and feared being caught in my mistake. I tried to use the map and compass but could not find my bearings because of my lack of knowledge of that area. I tried to recollect my father’s instructions, but I couldn’t remember.
While in the dilemma, I was confronted with another problem.
Seemingly out of nowhere two United States Air Force jet fighters flew up and positioned themselves on either side of me.
The predicament I was in now was so desperate it caused me to lay aside my guilt and embarrassment.
I quickly woke my father up to this awful situation feeling a great need for his help. He took immediate control of the plane, quickly got our bearings and guided the plane back to the proper course.
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course [path] across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
“And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven” (Hel. 3:29-30).
He chastised me for not obeying his instructions and told me that I had been flying over a restricted zone, the site of an underground test launch area for missiles. The jets had been sent up to check us and escort us out of the area.
President David O. McKay declared, “Men may yearn for peace, cry for peace, and work for peace, but there will be no peace until they follow the path pointed out by the Living Christ”
Donald’s experience in the plane is like the plan of salvation and progression that Heavenly Father has given us.
He prepared a plan whereby his children could progress and become like him.
We came into this world through the process known as birth.
Within a short time we found ourselves in control of the craft, having our agency to choose right or wrong.
His flight plans or instructions for our lives are plain and easy to understand.
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, … which shall … lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls … at the right hand of God” (Hel. 3:28-30).
In the Book of Mormon, we read the Savior’s repeated invitations to come unto Him as well as His instructions on how to do that, which constitute His word and His doctrine.
Nephi describes the path as a symbolic representation of applying or living the doctrine of Christ (2 Ne. 31-33). After teaching that we should enter through the gate of repentance and baptism, he says, “And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life. …
“… After ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Groups of people have already flown past their original goal and are held in need of finding another majestic mountain along the path to which they could fly.
And still other groups are experimenting and tampering with the controls.
These people generally find themselves entering the restricted zones and in need of reformation.
Boredom brings with it many forms of temptation which end up in the restricted zones of life.
We need not wait until servants of the Lord in their various callings have to come and escort us out of that area.
I have found times, much to my regret, that I’ve had to let my Father in Heaven awake in my life and guide me back.
We all constantly are in need of his guidance and forgiveness.
No one who will walk the path that leads to Christ is denied access to Him. Alma reminded his erring son that “the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved” (Alma 41:8).
We are not deceived by satanic suggestions when the Lord’s word is used as the standard by which decisions are made and behavior is determined.
May each of us come to know and love the scriptures and live according to what we know, remembering that “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105).
In doing this, we will be moving steadfastly forward on the only path to Christ. We will become what we must to dwell with Him in eternity.

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