Sydney B. Sperry Symposium: The straight and narrow path
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PROVO, UTAH
Individuals can feel their way through difficult times as they hold to the iron rod and seek the Spirit, said BYU-Hawaii professor and religion department chairman Aaron Schade during the annual Sperry Sympsium at BYU on Oct. 28.
Presentations for the symposium followed this year's theme, "The Things which My Father Saw, Approaches to Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision."
Brother Schade spoke of the important path of discipleship that individuals must take to get to the tree of life mentioned in Lehi's dream. To partake of the fruit is to partake of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which in turn leads one to inherit eternal life. An important part of that process includes making and keeping covenants, he said.
Quoting from the words of the late apostle Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Brother Schade said, "Discipleship requires all of us to translate doctrines, covenants, ordinances and teachings into improved personal behavior. Otherwise we may be doctrinally rich but end up developmentally poor."
Individuals must decide to enter the path and then do everything in their power to stay on that path to be able to partake of the fruit of eternal life, he said.
"We need to see ourselves in this vision," he said. "When we traverse the path by staying obedient we can be assured of the final result, as long as we have done the requirements."
The concept of the tree of life is obtaining the presence of God, he said. With the fall of Adam and Eve, a separation took place, and from then on the goal to get back to the presence of God was set. For Adam and Eve the only way to begin to return was by entering the waters of baptism and pressing forward.
Just as with Adam and Eve, Lehi and his family had to enter the gate — the waters of baptism — to the path, and press forward. So do individuals today.
"Not everyone was on the path," he said. "It took great effort to get to the path, and then, once you are on the straight and narrow path ... a large [effort] is staying on the path once you are on the path. ...
"We are supposed to hear and see all of this process when we view the tree of life in the Book of Mormon because this is now about a path that will qualify one of partaking the tree of life," he said. "Adam and Eve had to, and it is a process we all have to go through."
Clinging to the rod helps individuals partake of the fruit, which is a symbol for the blessings of the Atonement, he said.
Scriptures are the word of God, he declared, and as individuals hold fast to the word of God delivered by living prophets they are able to hold fast to the iron rod, and stay on the path to eternal life. As they press forward, they are then able to access the Atonement in their lives.
"The Atonement can become fully efficacious in our lives," he said. "And the temple is the very essence of the Atonement."
It is through looking to and getting to the temple — where all of the most sacred ordinances take place — that individuals are able to stay on the path of discipleship.
"Be diligent and stay the course," he said. "After your baptism and confirmation... grasp the iron rod and do not let go. ... We can feel our way through difficult times through holding to the rod and seeking the Spirit."
