JESUS CHRIST-TRUE NORTH

Soon after I received the Aaronic Priesthood at 12 years of age, and was ordained a Deacon, my father was ordained a Bishop in the newly formed Sparks Fifth Ward. In his quest to better understand his calling he took our family to attend General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, held in the Tabernacle at that time. Between the sessions of conference we toured Temple Square and I noticed a large beautiful compass inlaid in the concrete between the Tabernacle and the Salt Lake Temple. I stood at the center of that compass, aligned myself to the brass pointer that was pointing north and stretched out my arms pointing east and west.

True North Compass Salt Lake City (photo © Ursula the Sea Witch)

It was almost as if I understood for the first time where True North was.

On our way home back to Sparks Nevada we traveled along desolate Highway 50 and visited Lehman Caves in far eastern Nevada. It was a beautiful experience to see all the stalactites, stalagmites and other natural formations. It was a maze of tunnels that twisted and turned in every direction. Eventually our group of about 150 visitors found ourselves in a very large cavern. Our tour guide then did an interesting thing; he turned off the lights! For the first time in my life, I experienced absolute complete darkness. I am sure it was the first time for several of the other attendees.

HE TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS WHILE WE WERE IN THE CAVE

In the midst of the darkness he asked us to point where we think true North was. He gave us about 15 seconds to get our bearings and turn the way that we thought it should be. I envisioned the inlaid compass on Temple Square where we had come from, turned around, and pointed in the direction I thought it would be. When our tour guide turned on the lights we noticed a very interesting thing: no one was pointing in the same direction, and the only one that was correct was me.

Everyone else had, in reality, just pointed directly in front of them.

I have never forgotten that experience which occurred almost 40 years ago. I have also never forgotten the lessons. Most people think that they’re going in the right direction and that they know the way to go. They think they’re doing the right thing and everyone else is either doing it wrong, or it doesn’t matter which way they go. It reminds me of the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants 1:16 where, “every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god.” As far as I could tell I was the only person that was pointing in the right direction because I had aligned myself to the compass on Temple Square first. In that way I knew which direction True North was.

There is also another powerful lesson. The words we hear delivered from the Prophet and leaders in Salt Lake City in the Tabernacle and now the new Conference Center are the words that will lead us in the right direction back to our Heavenly Father. They are the same words that Jesus Christ would speak to us today if were living among us.  While there are lots of voices in the world urging us to go one way or another, only the true words from our Prophet, Apostles and other general authorities will tell us the right way to go. This is also true of listening to our local leaders such as Bishops and Stake Presidents because they also receive their instructions from those same leaders.

When the prophet speaks we need to listen. He is speaking the words of Jesus Christ.

How many of us would be in better shape temporally or financially if we had heeded the words of President Hinckley in 1998 urging each of us to get out of debt? He said, “I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.” (1) He said this just before the spike and subsequent fall of the dot com era. The financial world has never been stable since. I wished I had listened better to his words.

How many of our families would be stronger in the Gospel if we had given heed to the words of the prophets to study our scriptures together and pray as a family every day? How about learning about Jesus Christ and trying to be more like him? How many of us are prepared for a future day when the guidance of obtaining a years supply of food, fuel and money has been given? How many of us are doing our part to warn our neighbor and share the gospel with them as requested by President Monson?

I have known many people over the years that, although they have been fairly faithful members of the church (in my limited vision), they have decided not to follow the advice of the prophets and leaders of the church and now find themselves in precarious positions. They have decided to follow after their own God and not Jesus Christ. 

• Some have not given heed to the urging of us to support governmental legislation limiting marriage between one Man and one Woman. We now face the very real threat of the destruction of the time honored tradition of the institution of marriage and that may destroy our country as noted in the Proclamation on the Family.

• Some people in the world who have become so intellectually entrenched in the teachings of the world that they have fallen victim to the ideas espoused by Korihor in the Book of Mormon and now find themselves outside the Church. Some have even claimed that they would do things differently than God has done, thereby saying that they know more than He does. Nephi warned, “When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.” (2 Ne 9:28)

• Some families have it as their entire goal was to have their children get college scholarships at any cost, including attendance at Church, Mutual, Scout Camp or service activities. If something got in the way of achieving their beloved scholarship, it was cast aside. The sad thing is that not only did their children not achieve the desired scholarships, none of them are active in the church today. We always need to keep Christ as the center of our lives and stay in the mainstream of the church. Once priorities are misplaced, severe problems can occur.

• Some people justify their addiction to a plethora of products promoted in the world today to eat and drink because they are not specifically mentioned in the word of wisdom. They have ignored the true meaning of that Scripture and feel that it is perfectly okay, not recognizing a loss of the spirit because of their actions. The obedience of all commandments will bring the promised blessings to those who desire them. They have replaced the spirit of Jesus Christ with temporary substances.

I’m sure you have seen examples in your own lives of similar experiences, each one directing his way from True North-type principles espoused by our prophets and leaders. In many ways this analogy is similar to the multitude or masses of people feeling there way towards the great and spacious building and away from the simple peace obtained by achieving the fruit from the love of God, the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the Tree of Life as mentioned in 1 Nephi Chapter 8.

Everyone in these groups are doing what they want and not what they have been directed to do.

In reality, peace and safety in a world of torment and confusion can only be found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus Christ that we may achieve true happiness and peace, forgiveness of our sins and weaknesses and obtaining hope and faith in a better world to come. While many of us may find ourselves in literal or spiritual darkness for a portion of our lives (similar to being in the large cavern in Lehman caves) if we will hold the iron rod, which is the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, including the words spoken by our prophets and leaders spoken from our local leaders and those in Salt Lake City, we will find our way back to live with our Heavenly Father.

Our Father and Our God-JESUS CHRIST

It is my testimony that Jesus Christ lives and that He is the only way whereby we may achieve salvation in the celestial world to come. It is my testimony that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, Thomas S. Monson is also a true prophet and if we will give heed to the words from all of the prophets and apostles of our day, we will be blessed to know we are heading in the right direction.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.