Day 27: June 28, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verses 19-20

Lehi describes a rod of iron and a strait and narrow path that leads to the tree and its fruit. Its interesting to me the need for an iron road when the path is already straight. It is usually fairly easy to walk in a straight path. But later, as Lehi continues to describe his vision we find out that along this path are mists of darkness, there is a great and spacious building with people luring them off the path. Heavenly Father knew that we wouldn’t be able to stay on that path straight and narrow all the time. We come across bumps in the road that throws us off just a little. But with the Iron rod, the word of God as we are taught by Nephi, is there to anchor us on this path and to help us as we do walk through that mists of darkness that come up in our life or as we feel the influence of others trying to get us to step off that path. I need the iron rod in my life. Sometimes, even with the Iron rod, I get off the path. Sometimes I make mistakes that keep me from moving forward. How grateful I am to know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is there to get me back on the path again where I can cling to the iron rod again. It’s a great blessing.

Verse 21

Lehi sees many numbers of people along the path. He said that they pressed forward. They didn’t just mosey along without purpose, but they PRESSED forward. Sometimes I get too lax with the essential things that will help me on my journey to that tree of life. I forget to read my scriptures, or I do it without really thinking about what is being read. I forget to say my prayers, or I just ramble off a quick prayer so I can get to bed. There are many things I do that keep my progress along the path very slow and sometimes completely stopped or moving backwards. I need to take the example described my Lehi and strive to PRESS forward so that I make progress to that eternal gift.

Verse 23

A mist of darkness arose along the path to the tree of life. There are mists of darkness that cross my path towards that tree constantly. Heavenly Father allows us to be tried to teach us and so we can learn to trust in him. We have the tools we need to overcome the darkness. We have the scriptures, the road map, the iron rod. We have our church leaders, prophets, apostles. We have our family and good friends. We are blessed with many resources that will help us as we have to cross through those dark mists. If we don’t use these resources we will get lost along the path. We can return to the path through the atonement of course, but It is often a difficult and painful process. Heavenly Father loves us so much though. He will allow us many opportunities to find our way back to the iron rod along that path so we can continue our journey. He is constantly there at our aid.