Clinging to the word

     One day, I was going to one of my school's campus' to pick up an old pottery project I had left to be fired in the kiln. When I was walking across the scorching parking lot, I had noticed this really awesome looking tree frog. It was still in tact (in other words it wasn't flat as a pancake from being ran over by a car or anything), but it looked as if it had gotten lost in the parking lot. Seeing as how frogs absorb water through their skin (thank you Zoology), and the temperature that it was that day, the poor little guy (or gal) was probably baked by the non-forgiving sun.

     So where are we in the big parking lot of life? Are we lost and confused, being constantly hit by the sun, baking alive? Or do we have a guide that will help us through the unforgiving heat?
   In 1 Nephi Chapter 8, Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life. He is shrouded in a mist of darkness and can't see anything but the tree of life and a field that it's in. He is guided to the tree. He partakes of the fruit, and he describes it in verse 12, "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy... for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." He then goes on to mention how this fruit was so great that he wanted to share it with his family.
     He then casts his eyes round about until he sees his family, and once he does, he beckons them to come and partake of the fruit. They (with the exception of Laman and Lemuel) find him and partake of the fruit. He then continues to look around, to beckon others to partake of the fruit. He sees tons of folk, lost in the darkness; some just standing there, lost and confused, others wandering off into the darkness, but also some clinging to a rod of iron, pressing forward down a straight and narrow path to the tree. On the other side of the path is a dirty, harsh river, and on top of that, a whole entire building full of people laughing and pointing at those who were trying to make their way to the tree. But there were many who held onto the iron rod and made their way to that sweet fruit; the gospel.
     So what is meant by the rod of iron? How is it that we get to that delectable fruit? Has anyone started singing the primary song yet? The iron rod is the word of God! 'twill safely guide us through. So are we clinging to that iron rod? Are we clinging to the word of God? As we read our scriptures and draw in as much light as possible, that path isn't so narrow now is it? For "surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows (Mosiah 14:4)." He knows what we're going through because he himself has suffered those same sins and trials so that we might be saved at the last day. And as we keep his commandments and do what we're supposed to, He is "..bound when [we] do what [He] say[s]." But now there's a flip side: "..but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise (D&C 82:10)."
     I promise each and every one of you reading, that these blessings are available to you. As we cling to the iron rod and listen and obey, he will be our guiding light. As we struggle in our own parking lot of life, with challenges too many to number, we will not be confused. Rather than just standing in the mist of darkness or wandering off in the wrong direction, we will have a way to Him. As we go about our lives may we always look to Him for direction and help. May he be our guiding light, our way out of the darkness, the oasis in the desert. Listen to the spirit and let him guide you. I ask and pray for these things for all of us, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.