WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN

I could easily have searched almost any decade and found an article like the one written by Stephen Ford in the Mesa Tribune, dated 6 February 1975, ‘The mascara-ringed and shoulder-length hair now believed to be worth approximately $17 million and only 27 years old, he is a pop deity. But despite what at first appears to be a pampered life … and all the money needed to support any life style, the rock star’s life emerges as a pathetic and pointless existence. He is a very lonely and confused person. He agreed to do almost anything to ‘make it’ and now that he has done that,, he’s frantically running around trying to get out of the image he’s locked himself into.”

If this were an isolated case it would be sad enough, but we know that throughout history earth’s inhabitants have repeatedly placed their feet on a path they thought would lead them to the pot of gold and everlasting happiness, only to arrive in the place of their dreams and then realize a tragic finish at the end of their often self-shortened trail.

I am grateful to have had instilled into my psyche the importance of knowing well the path you are going to trod before taking the first step. I am not sure I really appreciated those oft repeated hints which indicated the importance of knowing where the steps I was about to take would surely lead me.

Make sure the grass is really greener before you climb over the fence!

Make sure the ladder is leaning against the right wall before you start to climb!

Make sure there is a safe place to land before you jump!

Make sure you understand what constitutes gain before laboring in a field!

Make sure you understand what constitutes happiness before going to the circus!

The Lord’s warning about ‘ever seeking and never finding’ applies to so many paths we may choose to walk upon during our lives.

We jump from the path of faith in God onto a path of imagined security in the arm of flesh.

We wander from the doorway of the Temple and stumble among greater and greater towers of confusion.

We ignore the simple directions of the Plan of Happiness and collect complicated maps leading to misery.

We find it difficult to walk with those who are trying to walk toward the Light and find solace with those who try to hide from the light in dingy domains.

We forget for whose glory we toil and shamefully seek the accolades and honors from the deceivers of the world’s.

When will we ever learn – when will we ever learn?

There is no better way – there is no other way.

There was, is and ever will be only one way, wherein the children of God can find the joy they so desperately seek and desire.

He has marked the path and He has shown the way.

His commandments have been given to bring salvation to the children of men.

His doctrines have given to prepare the children of men for Eternal Life.

When will we ever learn – when will we ever learn?

No matter how high we are able to pile our accumulated stuff and no matter how many of our brothers and sisters we are able to enlist into serving us, we cannot, we will not, gain happiness until we absolutely and finally decide to go and do the things the Lord has commanded. (1Nephi 3:7) For behold he is mightier than all the earth. (l Nephi 4:1) Therefore, inasmuch as we keep His commandments, we shall prosper in the land. (1 Nephi 4:14

Indeed, we really are left to choose liberty and eternal life by adhering to the teachings of a loving God … or to choose captivity and death from him who seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. (2 Nephi 2:27)

And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until one hundred and ten years had passed away, and there were no contentions in all the land. (4 Nephi 1: 15-18)

When will we ever learn – when will we ever learn?

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY