The Tree of Life and How We Can Get Back on Track

I just love reading the Book of Mormon so much. I always feel so much better and peaceful after I have read. It is such a marvelous book. I know it is from God, and like the iron rod described in 1 Nephi chapter 8, will lead us to the tree of life or in other words, the love of God, even Jesus Christ. And He is the way, the Truth and the Light.

I love this symbolism because we must press forward, clinging to the rod of iron, which we know to be the word of God. It's a journey/process. Many people are getting on and off the path. Many who make it to the end, leave.

So how did those people who made it, do it?

They prayed, clung to the rod of iron (read the scriptures), pressed forward even in the mists of darkness (couldn’t really see where they were going maybe) and came forth and fell upon the ground at the base of the Tree. And perhaps most importantly, did not give any heed to those other people who were pointing fingers and mocking them from the great and spacious building. They knew what was right and it did not matter what the perceived crowds or media was saying.

There is only one path to return and live with God and be ultimately happy for eternity and that is through the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The crazy thing is that even many of us who have it and cherish it still let it go and leave the path in pursuit of some fleeting thing or temptation, only to find that we have traded our birthright for a mess of potage or in other words, the spiritual and eternal blessings for instant carnal gratification.

However, all is not lost. There is still hope in Israel. And that hope is Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement.

No matter how far off the path we may have strayed, we can always admit the fact we have wondered and turn back. The path never moves, only we do. Thankfully there is no point at which we can not turn back as described in the wonderful talk "Point of Safe Return," by the apostle President Uchtdorf.

I know that the second we even start to turn back to the things that lead us back to Christ, He and angles are there to help. Just as the father of the prodigal son did not wait for his wayward son to walk all the back to him, but rather, when he saw his son a long way off, went and ran to him.

So it is with us. As we come back, the Good Shepard comes running to scoop us up in His arms of eternal love, placing us back in the safety of His fold, where we can find eternal pasture.