Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. I appreciate the music and music that will continue to play a part in our devotional today.
When I first came to Ricks College nearly 26 years ago, I taught in the Animal Science department. I also went back to school to finish my doctorate degree at Utah State. While pursuing that degree, I did nutrition research with chickens. In more recent years while serving in the administration, I have taught church history courses. So by combining those two experiences, I felt it only appropriate to explore "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" from a Mormon culture perspective.
Laman: To usurp the authority of his older brother chickens and to take possession of their coop.
Lamoni's servants: We don't know why it crossed the road; all we know is its wings had been cut off.
Brigham Young: Because this is the right place in the road.
Lorenzo Snow: As the egg is, the chicken once was; as the chicken is, the egg may become.
Elder's Quorum President: It was the 31st and he had to get his Home Teaching done.
Relief Society President: That's where the refreshments were.
Gerald Lund: Not only did this chicken cross the road, but his whole Steed family crossed the road as well. The grand, panoramic story of this chicken's family will be told in my soon-to-be-released 36 volume set titled "The Cluck and the Glory."
President Kim B. Clark: I'm not so much concerned that the chicken crossed the road but that its feathers were not in compliance with dress and grooming standards.
I would like to talk to you today not about the road, but the path.
Several years ago I, along with some colleagues from campus, decided we would go for a hike in Yellowstone Park. It was a challenging hike; we had to ford three rivers that were very cold. It took almost all day, but we achieved our goal and witnessed Union Falls when large amounts of water were cascading over the crest of the mountain.
This was the beginning of a great series of adventures. Over the last few years, we have hiked several hundred miles together. Last summer we hiked from Old Faithful in West Yellowstone to the Bechler Ranger Station, over 30 miles in one day. But it isn't that hike I would like to talk about. Nearly three years ago in the fall, we decided to go cross country from the Island Park area into Yellowstone Park to Dunanda Falls, where several hot water pools form at the base of the falls. Two of my companions, Brother Bergstrom and Brother Packer accompanied me. We had been conditioned by many hikes throughout the summer. We had a GPS unit, so we knew the location of our destination and where we currently were. Since we were going cross-country, we were not on an established trail or path. A friend had told me about this route to the falls, and I thought I had understood where to begin. But I had misunderstood, and we were actually starting several miles away from the normal place to approach the falls.
It was an overcast day, not exactly warm but in the morning it was pleasant. Because we weren't on the path, we had to cross several canyons, ford several streams, climb over numerous deadfall areas in the forest, using muscles we normally do not use. On our journey, we came to marshy areas that we had to walk around to avoid getting mired in the mud and to try to avoid having our socks and shoes become too wet. We eventually arrived at the falls. We enjoyed a short soak in the pools, ate our lunch, and headed back. We decided that given the difficulty of crossing the rough terrain, we would go down the established trail until we reached the closest point to travel cross-country to our pickup truck. As we went down the trail, we noticed how much easier it was when you followed in the footsteps of those who had gone before. We made great time, and by early afternoon we were at the point where we needed to start going cross country. As we left the trail, it started to rain and eventually to snow. Remember, we still had our GPS unit and we had logged in the location of our truck to help us find our way back. We continued to go cross country, again being reminded of how difficult it is when you go on your own. We crossed a large meadow, climbed over several ridges, and went to numerous forests again with deadfall.
As we journeyed along and were within a half mile of our pickup, it started to get dark. Remember, we are now in Island Park. There are many trees and no real distinct mountain peaks to navigate by. Our destination was at the end of the road. If we missed getting to the truck by as much as 100 yards, we could not see it and would be wandering in the forest soaked to the bone, now snowing, and in a potentially dangerous situation. Our GPS unit still marked the way, and as we continued on the last 20 minutes, just as the last light of day was about to leave, we could look 75 yards in front of us and see our pickup truck.
It felt so good to shed our outer coats and sweaters that were soaking wet, climb into the truck, start it up, and have the heater dry us out.
Brother Bergstrom teased me by saying that someday there would be a good conference talk in our experience. In truth, that day we learned many things. Namely there are three:
- You must start at the right location.
- Having guidance from overhead is essential.
- Following the path is much easier than making your own way.
The parallels in our life are fairly obvious. Most of us here have started our journey at the right location. By participating in the ordinance of baptism, we have started on the pathway that brings eternal happiness. Without that GPS unit, we truly could have become lost. Although we never panicked or lost our focus on the goal, without that reassurance, fear could have replaced our faith and confidence, ending in disaster. In our lives, we must rely upon the Spirit many times to help bolster our confidence to strengthen our faith, to remind us of what we already know.
The third thing we learned was that following the path is much easier than making your own way. It's true when you're hiking in Yellowstone Park. It is eternally true as we journey through this mortal life.
As we read from 2 Nephi 31:18-20
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
One of the reasons this scripture has been on my mind is because of the words our current prophet, President Monson, gave when he was a very young apostle. He teaches a profound truth about the path and our journey on it. He says:
In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked, with His words on our lips, His spirit in our hearts, and His teachings in our lives, we journey through mortality. I would hope that we would walk as He walked--with confidence in the future, with an abiding faith in His Father, and with a genuine love for others.
Jesus walked the path of disappointment.
Can one appreciate His lament over the Holy City? "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets..."[1]
Jesus walked the path of temptation.
"That evil one, amassing his greatest strength, his most inviting sophistry, tempted Him ...."[2]
Jesus walked the path of pain.
Consider the agony of Gethsemane: ". . . And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."[3]
Yes, each of us will walk the path of disappointment, perhaps due to an opportunity lost, a power misused, or a loved one not taught. The path of temptation, too, will be the path of each.[4]
Likewise shall we walk the path of pain. We cannot go to heaven in a feather bed. The Savior of the world entered after great pain and suffering. We, as servants, can expect no more than the Master.
While we walk these paths which bring forth bitter sorrow, we can also walk those paths which yield eternal joy.
We, with Jesus, can walk the path of obedience.
It will not be easy. Let us remember that the end result of disobedience is captivity and death, while the reward for obedience is liberty and eternal life.
We, like Jesus, can walk the path of service.
Like a glowing searchlight of goodness is the life of Jesus as He ministered among men. He brought strength to the limbs of the cripple, sight to the eyes of the blind, hearing to the ears of the deaf, and life to the body of the dead.
His parables preach power. With the good Samaritan He taught: "Love thy neighbour."[5] Through His kindness to the woman taken in adultery, He taught compassionate understanding. In His parable of the talents, He taught each of us to improve himself and to strive for perfection. Well could He have been preparing us for our journey along His pathway.
Shall we have the faith, even the desire, to walk these pathways that Jesus walked?[6]
President Monson helps us understand that we need not go our own way where it is difficult and dangerous. We only need to walk where Jesus walked.
While serving in a stake presidency and interviewing many stake members and allowing them the opportunity to declare their worthiness to enter the Lord's holy house, a question is asked: "Do we consider ourselves to be worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?"
Many years ago that question had an additional phrase which said, "in every way." I have noticed as I interview members who remember that phrase that quite often they hesitate and sometimes give excuses for their lack of perfection. On several occasions, I have asked them if they have answered the other questions correctly. They always say they have, then it seems to me this question is asking you to verify or witness again of your worthiness to enter the Lord's house. It is not asking if you are perfect. I have personally been comforted by several quotes from the Brethren about our journey along the path and our destination to become perfect.
Marvin J Ashton has said:
We need to come to terms with our desire to reach perfection and our frustration when our accomplishments or behaviors are less than perfect. I believe that one of the great myths we would do well to dispel is that we have come to earth to perfect ourselves, and that nothing short of that will do. If I understand the teachings of the prophets of this dispensation correctly, we will not become perfect in this life, though we can make significant strides toward that goal.[7]
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith offered this counsel:
Salvation does not come all at once; we are commanded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be there that the faithful will overcome all things, and receive all things, even the fulness of the Father's glory.[8]
Elder Ashton concludes with this message:
I am also convinced that the speed with which we head along the straight and narrow path isn't as important as the direction in which we are traveling. That direction, if it is leading toward eternal goals, is the all-important factor.[9]
We must be wise and prayerful. For some who need to do more, it would be wrong to justify one's actions by suggesting that we are on the path and headed in the right direction. That rationalization is dangerous and will slow our progress or possibly even stop it altogether. For others, the words of Elder Ashton can provide great comfort as we try our best, our very best as President Hinckley invited us to do.
Another thought from President George Q. Cannon is helpful:
We humble people, we who feel ourselves sometimes so worthless, so good-for-nothing, we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are children of God and that He has actually given His angels . . . charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.[10]
At some point along the path when you face pain, discouragement, difficulty, and sorrow, you will be tempted to say "why" when it would be better to say "how." The verse in Alma 7:12 provides eternal healing for our bruised and tattered souls.
...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Elder Maxwell has explained this better than I could ever hope to. He has said:
This verse is the only place in Scriptures, to my knowledge, that it appears, there seems to have been yet another purpose of the atonement, speaking again of the Savior and his suffering, ... and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy. Have you ever thought that there was no way that Jesus could know the suffering which we undergo as result of our stupidity and because he was sinless except he bear those sins of ours in what I call the awful arithmetic of the atonement.[11]
I invited my Church History class, which I am teaching this semester, to help with an exercise that I would encourage each of you to consider. By using verses from the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, you can test many actions in your life to determine if they are following the world's pattern, or a telestial nature; or would your decision follow a terrestrial pattern, which will help you along the way, towards eventually living a celestial life. We looked at many characteristics and actions that we might be faced with, including honesty, chastity, studying, socializing, friendship, dating, home, prayer, work, and marriage.
I will share with you feedback from two of the patterns.
First, friendship:
Telestial Expression
"I'll be your friend because you are popular"; gossiping; parasite; back-stabbing; fake; unsupportive; leverage; "what can you do for me"; expendable; manipulative;
Terrestrial Expression
Be a friend because you like me; based on discrimination; fair-weather friends;
Celestial Expression
Charity; loyalty; service; "I'll be your friend because you are a child of God, and I Love you"; sacrificing for others on a moment's notice;
How about Marriage
Telestial Expression
Impure thoughts; always blame your spouse;
Terrestrial Expression
Love, but forget to serve and have charity; not #1 priority; secrets;
Celestial Expression
BFF (Best Friends Forever); charity; serve; work together; build testimonies together;
I constantly ask myself, "How can we know what is right and do what is wrong?" I appreciate you wonderful students. You know how to choose the right. JDI Just do it. You know the path of obedience, service, and sacrifice. JDI Just do it.
From studying church history, a prominent brother's story comes to mind that helps confirm these truths.
William Wines Phelps, commonly known as WW Phelps, was born in 1792 in New Jersey. After he married Sally Waterman in 1815, he began learning the printing and newspaper business. In this period of history, most newspapers were sponsored by political parties and Brother Phelps became associated with just such a paper. Because of his activity as an editor and printer with this particular political group called the Anti-Masonic, he sought nomination as New York's lieutenant governor in both 1828 and 1830. However, his career as a politician never came about because he was attracted to a new religious movement in the Finger Lakes district of New York.
Because of his editorial work, he was very familiar with many of the events surrounding the restoration of the gospel and early rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He read the Book of Mormon shortly after it was printed in E.B. Grandin's printing shop, and he was convinced that what was written in that book was the word of God. He spent several months in prayer and study before he finally went to Kirtland, Ohio, where he joined the Church.
Soon after joining the Church, he was asked along with his family to move to the western edge of Missouri, to a place called Independence where he was invited to establish a printing office.
In 1836 Brother Phelps was asked, with David and John Whitmer, to help relocate the Saints from Clay County where they had been driven to, out of Jackson County, into the newly formed Mormon County of Caldwell. He and John Whitmer had specific assignments to lay out the community called Farr West. They used considerable Church funds in setting up Farr West and probably profited personally from these transactions. Church leaders felt that they had abused their power, and so they were released from their positions in the stake presidency in 1838. This caused bitter feelings to develop, not only with WW Phelps but also the Whitmers and several others who banded together with other dissidents and worked together to undermine the work of Joseph Smith and the First Presidency.
It was in November of 1838 that Phelps' testimony against the Prophet Joseph contributed to Joseph's lengthy incarceration in Liberty Jail. Phelps was officially excommunicated from the Church in March of 1839. William W. Phelps had been a close, trusted associate of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Then in a time when the Prophet needed him more than any other, he turned against him and joined with other bitter men, and perhaps women, who were not only angry against Joseph but were seeking to take his life.
Shortly after the excommunication, he moved to Ohio and lost contact with the Church until sometime later. Several of the Apostles, while doing missionary work, visited his area and after consulting with Brother Phelps wrote a letter back to Joseph suggesting that Brother Phelps should be brought back into fellowship with the Saints. WW also wrote a letter that accompanied Elders Hyde and Page and in it he said, "I am as the prodigal son, though I never doubted or disbelieved the fullness of the gospel, I have been greatly abused and humbled."
After receiving the petitions and consulting with Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, Joseph wrote back to Phelps the following letter, in part:
Dear Brother Phelps: You may in some measure realize what my feelings, as well as Elder Rigdon's and Brother Hyrum's were, when we read your letter--truly our hearts were melted into tenderness and compassion when we ascertained your resolves, &c. I can assure you I feel a disposition to act on your case in a manner that will meet the approbation of Jehovah, (whose servant I am), and agreeable to the principles of truth and righteousness which have been revealed; ... It is true, that we have suffered much in consequence of your behavior--the cup of gall, already full enough for mortals to drink, was indeed filled to overflowing when you turned against us. One with whom we had oft taken sweet counsel together, and enjoyed many refreshing seasons from the Lord--"had it been an enemy we could have borne it.". . . Believing your confession to be real, and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal. . . "Come on, dear brother, since the war is past,For friends at first, are friends again at last." Yours as ever, Joseph Smith, Jun.
Because Joseph Smith forgave a brother who had made serious mistakes and yet repented, the Church was blessed with a very talented servant. Brother Phelps did return to full fellowship. When he arrived in Nauvoo, it was a great blessing to Joseph. There were very few projects in Nauvoo, other than the temple, that were more important to the Prophet than writing his and the Church's official history.
WW Phelps served as a city councilman in Nauvoo, and he played a key role in the destruction of the press of the slanderous "Nauvoo Expositor." Because of this, a warrant was issued for his arrest along with other city council members and Joseph. Phelps accompanied the Prophet to Carthage. He listened to Joseph as he recited his last dream and even offered to die for Joseph Smith.
When the Prophet was martyred, Brother Phelps gave the funeral address. The feeling of sorrow of the Saints cannot be described. Those who fought against the Church felt they had struck a serious blow that would cause the extermination of the Church.
Even though the enemies of the Church thought that they had surely destroyed this work, it lives today, stronger over time; in fact, it is eternal, because it is God's work.
WW Phelps wrote the hymn "Praise to the Man" one month following the Prophet Joseph's martyrdom. He labored in many Church positions, but probably his most significant one was when he served as the Prophet's clerk. He sustained the twelve as the transition occurred in leadership; he stayed for several months in Nauvoo to help complete the numerous business transactions on behalf of the Church; he made his way to Salt Lake; he remained on the Council of Fifty; he helped draft the constitution for the State of Deseret and served on the Utah Territorial Legislature; he was a practicing lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace; he remained faithful to the Church and died in full fellowship in Salt Lake City in 1872.
I have asked the men's Chorus to sing "Praise to the Man."
Thank you.
Phelps was a writer of hymns. The one we sang to open this meeting, "Redeemer of Israel" was written by Brother Phelps, as were "O God, the Eternal Father," "Now Let Us Rejoice," "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain," "The Spirit of God Like a Fire"--to mention but a few. He also wrote the closing hymn that we will sing today, "If You Could Hie to Kolob."
We recognize the tragedy that could have been WW's lot had he not come back into the Church. What a loss to the Saints if Brother Phelps had not written these beautiful hymns of praise and truth. Brother Phelps helps show how a struggling human, a son of God, can proceed along the path. He had great confidence in the Prophet Joseph Smith. We must develop that confidence in the Prophet Thomas S. Monson. Because of the relationship with Joseph, WW also developed a strong witness of the Savior.
WW Phelps understood the scripture that the Apostle John taught in John 14:4-6 as the Apostles conversed with the Savior about the way or the path.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
WW Phelps is not the best example to follow. For me his story demonstrates the importance of repenting and getting back on the path. Each time we sing one of the sacred hymns written by Brother Phelps, may we remember the path and be grateful for the way provided by the Savior.
Testimony.
Notes
[1] Luke 13:34
[2] Matthew 4:3-10
[3] Luke 22:42, 44
[4] D&C 29:39
[5] Luke 10:27
[6] Thomas S. Monson, Be Your Best Self [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 108.
[7] Marvin J. Ashton, The Measure of Our Hearts [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 10
[8] Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-56, 2:18-19
[9] Marvin J. Ashton, The Measure of Our Hearts [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 10
[10] Gospel Truths, Classics in Mormon Literature Series, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987, pp. 3-4
[11] A Symposium on the Old Testament, p. 17; quoted in Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, Institutes of Religion, 1986 & 2000 editions, p. 34-25
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