THE STRAIT GATE AND THE NARROW WAY

After reading the words of the prophet Zenos to his people, Jacob makes some personal comments which are recorded in the sixth chapter of his book in the Book of Mormon. As I was preparing to write this week’s Thought the words in the eleventh verse of that chapter impacted me forcefully.

O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

In the Savior’s sermon which he pronounced on the mount near the Sea of Galilee and repeated to the decedents of Lehi gathered at the Temple in the land of Bountiful after His resurrection, He declared the goal of those who choose to enter at the strait gate and journey upon the narrow way.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. (3 Nephi 12:47)

I have often pondered upon the condition of perfection in which Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ find themselves. I am currently satisfied with the conclusion that it is because ‘they are’ the Attributes, Characteristics and Perfections of Godliness they
have the Omniscient qualities of Deity, not because they ‘act as if’ or are ‘striving to obtain’ or are ‘struggling to maintain’ them.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are kind-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are patient-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are mercy-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are loving-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are forgiving-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are truthful-ness.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are unchanging-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ ‘are inclusive-ness’.

Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus the Christ …

With the limited amount of understanding which I have gleaned during my mortal span it seems to me that the divisions of the Kingdoms of Heaven revealed to the Prophet Joseph and which are recorded in the 76th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, can also be indicators of the segments of the way which we must travel in order to eventually be obedient to the admonition the Savior gave us to become perfect.

I am choosing to leave the entering in at the strait gate part of the journey until another writing, but it is important to briefly acknowledge unless we have at least the beginnings of desire and a minute willingness to commit to the rigors of the trail we will make very little progress.

Another very important understanding we must have if we anticipate making any headway, is that we must be willing to admit to the need to rely on guides and mentors. Many of those mentors will come in the form of brothers and sisters who may have moved a bit ahead of us on the path, but the most reliable source will always come through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

The progressive segments along the narrow way we will call telestial, terrestrial and celestial using the names of the various kingdoms revealed to the Prophet Joseph.

Telestial steps along the narrow way

Since the Telestial being as identified by the revelation is one whose life is governed by the need for the flesh to be pleasured, pampered, pleased and proclaimed, our task along this segment of our journey will be mainly involved with changing our nature to such a degree that these binding influences are no longer part of who we are.

I probably won’t be making any insightful revelations by indicating that most of us revisit this portion of our passage periodically. In fact I have come to realize that there are periods of our lives that if we are doing no more than making fewer revisits to this segment and linger for less time we will probably be the recipients of some reassuring comfort from the Holy Spirit.

If the thought has not already come to you, let me be clear that it should be understood that at any time during our lives we will probably find ourselves in more than one segment of our journey at any given moment.

Terrestrial steps along the narrow way

The Lord revealed to Joseph that this Kingdom would be comprised of the good and honorable of the world. Therefore, in this segment of the journey we will be struggling not against our carnal natures, but with the challenge of ‘acting as if’ or ‘striving to obtain’ or ‘struggling to maintain’ a portion of the attributes and characteristics of Deity.

Just like our revisiting of steps in the telestial segment of our journey, I believe we will all be in a state of continually renewing our efforts to become more inclusive, universally loving, forgiving more quickly, broadening our understanding of others’ trials and every other neophyte-ish part of perfection we are striving to put upon ourselves at our current level of understanding.

Celestial steps along the narrow way

At the time of this writing and with the understanding I currently have, I feel that The Savior alone maximized His earthly journey to where He ‘was’ ready to be resurrected into Perfection.

My belief in the previous statement is founded on two self-deprecating ideas. First, I don’t believe I have sufficient knowledge or understanding of any of the Attributes, Characteristics and Perfections of Godliness to ‘become’ them during my mortal life. Second, I believe I will yet need a great deal of refining during the next phase of my existence to gain that knowledge and understanding and even more eons of time before they become who ‘I am’.

O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

I pray we will all put forth our efforts, while relying upon the gifts of God, to press forward wherever we might find ourselves along the narrow way. I likewise pray that we will continue in our personal efforts, until our Father has finished his glorifying work upon us.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY