Let’s Not Take the Wrong Way
By Elder Claudio D. Zivic
Of the Seventy
"I pray that we will not lose sight of the way so that we may always be connected with the heavens.
By Elder Claudio D. Zivic
A little boy was practicing the piano, and a salesman, upon seeing him through the window, asked, “Is your mother home?”
To which the child replied, “And … what do you think?”
Our five dear children play the piano, thanks to the
motivation of my wife! When the teacher arrived at our home, our son
Adrián would run and hide in order to skip his lesson. But one day
something marvelous occurred! He began to love music so much that he
continued practicing on his own.
If we could reach that point in the process of our
conversion, it would be marvelous. It would be wonderful to have a
desire deep in our hearts to keep the commandments without anyone
constantly reminding us and to have a firm conviction that if we follow
the right path, we will have the blessings promised in the scriptures.
Several years ago I went to Arches National Park with my
wife; our daughter, Evelin; and a family friend. One of the most famous
arches there is called Delicate Arch. We decided to walk about 1.5 miles
(2 km), climbing the mountain in order to reach the arch.
We started off on our pathway with great enthusiasm, but
after walking a short stretch, the others needed to rest. Because of my
desire to get there, I decided to continue on alone. Without paying
attention to the path I ought to take, I followed a man in front of me
who seemed to be moving forward with great surety. The pathway became
more and more difficult, and I had to jump from one rock to another.
Because of the difficulty, I was sure the women in my group would never
make it. Suddenly I saw Delicate Arch, but to my great surprise, I saw
that it was in an area inaccessible to me.
With great frustration, I decided to go back. I waited
impatiently until we met up again. My immediate question was “Did you
reach Delicate Arch?” They happily told me that they had. They explained
that they had followed the signs showing the way, and with care and
effort, they had reached their destination.
Unfortunately, I had taken the wrong way. What a great lesson I learned that day!
How often do we make a mistake about the right way, letting
ourselves be led along by the trends of the world? We need to
continually ask ourselves if we are being doers of the words of Jesus
Christ.
A marvelous teaching is found in the book of John:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide
in me.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can
do nothing” (John 15:4–5).
Using this analogy, we can see the very close, transcendent
relationship we have with Jesus Christ and the importance He places on
each one of us. He is the root and the trunk that conducts the living
water to us, the sap that will allow us to be nourished so that we can
produce much fruit. Jesus Christ taught us in such a way that as
branches—or beings dependent upon Him—we would never underestimate the
value of His teachings.
There are some mistakes that may be serious, and if we do
not correct them in time, they can permanently lead us off the right
path. If we repent and accept correction, these experiences will allow
us to humble ourselves, change our actions, and once again draw closer
to our Heavenly Father.
I want to give an example of this concept by making
reference to one of the most dramatic moments that the Prophet Joseph
Smith experienced. Through this experience, the Savior has given us
invaluable teachings regarding principles that we ought to keep in mind
throughout our lives. It happened when Martin Harris lost the 116
translated pages of the first part of the Book of Mormon.
After repenting for not following God’s counsel, the Prophet received the revelation that is found in section 3 of the Doctrine and Covenants (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 69–71). From what is written in verses 1 to 10, I wish to highlight three principles that we should always remember:
The works and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated.
We must not fear man more than God.
There is a need of constant repentance.
In verse 13, the Lord teaches us four actions that we should never do:
Set at naught the counsels of God.
Break the most sacred promises made before God.
Depend upon our own judgment.
Boast in our own wisdom.
I pray that we will not lose sight of the way so that we
may always be connected with the heavens, so that the currents of the
world do not sweep us away.
If any one of you reaches the point of abandoning the
Lord’s way—at any point along that way—with great remorse you will feel
the bitterness of having set at naught the counsels of God, of having
broken the most sacred promises made before God, of having trusted in
your own judgment, or of having boasted in your own wisdom.
If this is the case, I exhort you to repent and come back to the right way.
One time a grandchild called his grandfather to wish him a
happy birthday. He asked him how old he was. He said that he had reached
70 years. His grandson thought for a moment and then asked, “Grandpa,
did you start all the way back at 1?”
During childhood and youth, people think they will never
become old; the idea of death never takes root—that is for very, very
old people—and reaching that point is still an eternity away. As time
goes on, months and seasons go by until the wrinkles begin to appear,
energy is reduced, the need for doctor visits becomes more frequent, and
so on.
The day will come in which we shall again meet up with our
Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ. I plead that on that sacred and
sublime occasion we can recognize Him because of the knowledge we have
of Him and because of having followed His teachings. He will show us the
marks in His hands and feet, and we will join together in a lasting
embrace, weeping for joy at having followed His way.
I testify to the four ends of the earth that Jesus Christ
lives. He exhorts us, “Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the
words of that God who made you” (D&C 43:23).
May we have the capacity to grasp, give heed to, comprehend, and
correctly interpret the message of “that God who made [us]” so as not to
stray from His way, I plead in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
I have also been praying every morning and evening that I may have a conversion during the Pioneer Trek in 5 days. I have experienced true conversion occur countless times when we are separated from the modern worldly ways and put through trials. I personally hope that I can be strengthened every day by my Savior, and that I can hold to the rod to safety. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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