Hold to the Rod

A new commitment I've made is to solidify my institute experience.

Part of this, is by actually studying the chapters that will be in the institute class the coming Wednesday night, and accompany that study with the study of the respective student manual.

So, I am repenting. And it feels good. =D

One question posed in the student manual for the Book of Mormon class is this:

In what ways are you progressing toward the tree of life?

For my personal reflection, I collected some of my understanding and knowledge (without appropriate references) on this topic, and logically building my understanding. Then, as I typed my thoughts and feelings on the topic, I pondered what it means to me, and how well I am doing.

I only record here in this blog post, the doctrine and teachings of the topic at hand.

Here it is:

One progresses to the tree of life through holding on to the iron rod, no matter what mists of uncertainty or temptation or trial besets us. Not even prosperity, wherein many fall into forgetfulness of the One who blessed them with prosperity.

So, what does it mean to hold to the rod? What does it mean to press forward? Am I doing these two things?

The iron rod is the word of God, analogous to the sword of the Spirit in the armor of God.

Elders Bednar and Packer taught that the iron rod is not necessarily a thick, solid rod that one may hold to as one ascends a stair, but they suggested that the iron rod consists of three interwoven cords of great strength.

These three cords are:

1. Personal Revelation.
2. The Word of God as spoken by prophets of the past.
3. The Word of God as spoken by living prophets.

So, my holding on to the iron rod to make it to the tree is about my holding on to these three channels by which the Lord communicates to me.

I notice that 1 Nephi 8-15 talks about not only about receiving revelation - analogous to seeing the rod, and seeing that the rod leads to the tree. It is about action - do we HOLD to the rod?

Do I hold on to the personal revelation that the Lord gives me? Or do I just receive it? Do I record it, and put it away? Or do I organize it in orderly fashion, showing the Lord’s its sacredness to me? Do I search through it often?

Do I know that life’s problems recur over the history of mankind? Do I know that my issues have been faced by someone else, somewhere, sometime in the past? If I do know so, how diligent am I in searching the words of past prophets? How much do I value and follow the example of Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Peter, Paul, Joseph Smith? They are the words of Christ, for Christ spoke through to them. Indeed, we have Christ’s personal life, ministry, and words.

How do I feel for the prophets today? How earnestly do I pray for them? How much value do I find in their teachings? Do I live in their example and words? Do I hold dear to the revelation I received through them, as I attended general conference?

Now, even as the scriptures teach us to walk in the words of God, holding to the rod, it seems that there is a variable quality in the way we hold to the word of God.

“And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

“And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.”

- 1 Nephi 8:24-25.

These individuals made it to the tree! I had never seen this: Elder Bednar pointed out that these people were merely “clinging to the rod of iron.” They held to the rod. These people saw the importance of making it to the tree, and holding on to the word of God, and the prophets.

Yet, they feel away. Why?

Elder Bednar points out another group of people that made it to the tree, and outlines the difference.

“[Lehi] saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.”

- 1 Nephi 8:30.

These people were not “clinging”, but instead they were “continually holding fast to the rod of iron.” Now, what does that mean?

Dictionary.com helps us here. Let’s compare the two phrases.

verb (used without object), clung, clinging.

1. to adhere closely; stick to:

The wet paper clings to the glass.

This indicates a loyalty of some degree. Though, I feel it is easy to remove the wet paper from the glass. Would it be easy to remove someone from the iron rod when that person is merely clinging? I think so.

2. to hold tight, as by grasping or embracing; cleave:

The children clung to each other in the dark.

This indicates a level of loyalty as well - even positive. We most definitely want to embrace the gospel. Though, because those who were merely clinging - and therefore embracing - the rod of iron didn’t stay at the tree, we see that we need something more than just merely to stick to and passionately embracing the gospel.

3. to be or remain close:

The child clung to her mother's side.

This sounds like someone who might run off, and come back every now and then. Someone who runs off in rebellion to join the world, then when convenient, returns to the gospel, and repeats this pattern frequently throughout life.

4. to remain attached, as to an idea, hope, memory, etc.:

Despite the predictions, the candidate clung to the belief that he would be elected.

A wise friend of mine once shared her father’s words with me: “hope leads to happiness, whereas expectation leads to disappointment” (paraphrased). Is eternal life an expectation for me to achieve? or is it a hope?

I may need to clarify the two definitions of hope I think we find in the world. Worldly hope is demonstrated in perspectives such as, “I hope I win the lottery”, “I hope it rains tomorrow”, “I hope I get good marks in this test” (when I haven’t studied much, except having crammed the night before). Godly hope is in something that is sure and definite, but by true faith in Christ, such as “I hope to be resurrected someday”, which confession is equivalent to the faithful saying, “I know I will be resurrected someday” when one doesn’t know out of pure knowledge, but only by faith, through the witness of the Spirit. “I hope the Book of Mormon will guide me through life” which is equivalent to “I know the Book of Mormon is true, and God guides me through it.”

5. to cohere.

Dictionary.com defines cohere as to stick together; be united; hold fast, as parts of the same mass: The particles of wet flour cohered to form a paste.

So we do see some overlaps between holding fast and clinging.

Let us observe the definitions of the words in the phrase, continually holding fast. Thanks to dictionary.com.

Continually

adverb

1.

very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually.

2.

without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; always.

Hold

verb (used with object), held; held or (Archaic) holden; holding.

1.

to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp:

She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his.

2.

to set aside; reserve or retain:

to hold merchandise until called for; to hold a reservation.

3.

to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means.

Fast

adverb, faster, fastest.

18.

quickly, swiftly, or rapidly.

19.

in quick succession:

Events followed fast upon one another to the crisis.

20.

tightly; firmly:

to hold fast.

I leave it to the reader to join the dots.

I want to note that those that were continually holding fast to the iron rod, when they arrived at the tree, they fell down. Why would they fall down? Was holding to the rod continually - as an experience - harder, than occasionally letting go of the rod when convenient? I think so.

The reward of continually holding fast? When we get to the tree, we actually desire to stay. We have developed a complete and unreserved love for the Lord - as opposed to a partial love for God, and a partial love for worldliness.

The clingers of the rod were ashamed because they had that love of the world in their hearts. The world mocked them, and they felt ashamed.

So don't feel silly when you are mocked - even by church members - for being too Mormon, or too serious about the gospel, or over emphatic about living the gospel. But don't judge them to be clingers of the rod - that would make you a clinger to, through your unrighteous and non-omniscient judgment. They have their own stories as to why they may be mocking you. Yet, they need your light. Instead of replying to their mockery with "I'll stay at the tree when we get there, and you'll fall away" just say "I love you too!" In future, I may very well find in them a testimony and conversion to the gospel in certain areas that are stronger than my own.

I pray we continually hold fast, assist others along the way, and identify when we get casual in our gospel living.

I testify that those times in my life when I have continually held fast to the iron rod, I have felt the constant companionship of the Spirit in greater measure. I have tasted of the sweet fruit of the Atonement many times in life, and it has only been after my wholehearted and enduring commitment to eternal principles.