Saturday, August 25, 2007

I love the lesson taught in this story... by Elder Glenn L. Pace

Many of us take the blessings of the gospel for granted. It is as if we are passengers on the train of the Church, which has been moving forward gradually and methodically. Sometimes we have looked out the window and thought, "That looks kind of fun out there. This train is so restrictive." So we have jumped off and gone and played in the woods for a while. Sooner or later we find it isn't as much fun as Lucifer makes it appear or we get critically injured, so we work our way back to the tracks and see the train ahead. With a determined sprint we catch up to it, breathlessly wipe the perspiration from our forehead, and thank the Lord for repentance.

While on the train we can see the world and some of our own members outside laughing and having a great time. They taunt us and coax us to get off. Some throw logs and rocks on the tracks to try and derail it. Other members run alongside the tracks, and while they may never go play in the woods they just can't seem to get on the train. Others try to run ahead and too often take the wrong turn.

I would propose that the luxury of getting on and off the train as we please is fading. The speed of the train is increasing. The woods are getting much too dangerous, and the fog and the darkness are moving in.

Although our detractors might as well "stretch forth their puny arms to stop the Missouri River in it's decreed course, or to turn it up stream" (D&C 121:33 ) as try to derail this train, they are occasionally successful in coaxing individuals off . With all the prophecies we have seen fulfilled, what great event are we awaiting prior to saying, "Count me in"? What more do we need to see or experience before we get on that train and stay on it until we reach our destination? It is time to dig down deep within ourselves and rekindle our own light.

2 comments:

Sarah's Nonsense said...

That is a good lesson. Did you use it for your talk today? How did it go?

Texas Country Girl said...

i just want to stay on the train and sleep . . . that must mean i am getting old.

What have we been up to?