Hiking in Zion's Canyon in southern Utah, a small family — father, mother and 2-year-old — had stopped for a breather.

Up to then, the toddler had been riding in a "Kid Carrier," a kind of pack frame designed to enable a young child to be carried comfortably while facing forward on an adult's back. Now, during this rest break, the child was lifted from the carrier so he could stretch his legs.

The eager boy immediately proceeded on up the trail. Instead of calling him back, the parents decided to give him his head.

Father remained with him, never more than a pace or two behind. Whenever the toddler encountered a large rock, fallen log, stream or steep place that he could not traverse on his own, the father would lift him over the obstacle and set him gently back on the path.

A time or two, in his haste, the boy stumbled over a tree root or some other obstruction and fell forward. On these occasions, the father set him on his feet, brushed the dirt and sticks from his hands and trousers, dried his tears and encouraged him to continue.

At length, the family arrived at the destination at the end of the trail, a placid mountain pool fed by a beautiful waterfall. The experience had given the little boy the confidence and ability that come with practice. One day, he would be an accomplished hiker.

While admiring the red-rock beauty of the canyon, the father pondered what had just occurred. Situations in nature and life can be so instructive, as the Master frequently demonstrated through His use of parables to teach eternal truths.

In this case, the interaction between father and son could be likened to the way in which the Savior deals with us. As we proceed along the path of mortality, He is ever with us, helping us past obstacles that we cannot overcome by ourselves, doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

The difficulty of the path far exceeds our native ability. Without His capacity to save, and without fervent faith in Him, we will never reach the destination. But in His infinite wisdom, He expects us to do as much as we can on our own, "for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23.) The efforts we expend bring us knowledge and ability we can gain in no other way.

In the premortal existence, a loving Father carried us as far as we could progress in that state. We came to a point where, to go farther, we would need to pass through a mortal probation. Like the toddler setting out on the mountain trail, we were eager to do so. In fact, scripture records that we "shouted for joy" at the prospect. (See Job 38:7.)

The trail of mortality is strewn with hazards. Occasionally, we will stumble and fall. But we are promised: "Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; . . . All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8; 122: 7.)

If we look to God, if we refuse to rebel or to resist His commandments and tender mercies, He will pick us up, heal our bruises and dry our tears. All along the path, we can have the sense of security and peace that come from knowing He is always there for us.

That, in fact, is the message of the gospel.

"Building upon the foundation of the atonement of Christ, all men must work out their salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord," President Joseph Fielding Smith said. "We proclaim that to gain salvation men must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by immersion by one who has authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and then press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, keeping the commandments and enduring to the end." (Conference Report, April 1971, page 5, or Ensign, June 1971, page 4.)

Those who so endure will reach the destination, the ever-flowing fountain of joy and glory that is promised to the faithful. No, we will never get there on our own; it will require the saving grace of our Redeemer along with our own best efforts.