To that someone: I love you. I love you tons. Keep your chin up. You can do hard things.
"The Pathway on the Top."
In the popular (OLD version) of the Disney movie Alice in Wonderland, Alice finds herself not knowing which path she should take, which direction she should go. Soon, the Cheshire Cat shows up and starts talking to her. She asks the Cheshire Cat which way she should go.
In response, the Cheshire Cat says,
"That depends...on where you want to get to.."
Alice then says,
"Well, it really doesn't matter bu..."
Interrupting Alice, the Cheshire Cat says,
"Well then it really doesn't matter.. which way... you go!"
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I LOVE this movie. So I've seen it millions and millions of times. Often, when it comes to that part of the movie, I don't find myself thinking of it in terms of the movie for entertainment purposes, but rather in the eternal perspective.
Alice doesn't know which way to go. Obviously, if you've seen the movie, she has multiple choices. She asks the Cheshire Cat for advice, on which path she should take, stating that it doesn't matter where she gets to..
What I love is what the Cheshire Cat says.
"Well then it really doesn't matter..which way... you go."
If you don't know where you want to get to in life, it doesn't matter where you go. If it doesn't matter where you are getting to, then it doesn't matter how you get there.. so do whatever. do what you want.
However.
If you DO know where you want to get to in life, and even in the next life*.. It DOES matter, very. much. how you get there.
(*Didn't know there was a next life? Better read this before you go on or this post won't make sense:) Click Here:))
say you are on a path.
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(yeah. that's a person.)
and you are walkin a long, and your goal is to get to the stars. ***.
But the path splits.
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now.., use your smarts. WHICH PATHWAY DO YOU TAKE?
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The correct answer is the pathway on the top.
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Simple, right?
Well, that's how it is with life.
If we hold the desire in our heart to once again live with God in the Celestial Kingdom, (Highest degree of Heaven) it does, in fact, matter how we get there. There is a specific pathway laid out for us. If we were raised in the church we know exactly what those guidelines are. We KNOW what pathway we have to take. Why then.. do we insist on choosing to go down the pathway on the bottom, when so CLEARLY we know that we need to take the pathway on the top?
Elder Jeffery R. Holland says this, "... let me mix in an athletic analogy. This is a life-and-death contest we are in...so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior... as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked."
But listen, I've obviously been on both sides of the fence here. I know why we sometimes choose to take the pathway on the bottom.
It's easier.
It can seem less stressful.
You don't have to try as hard.
One less thing you have to worry about.
It can be more fun, more gratifying.
And when you get caught up in it enough- you stop feeling bad about it.
But guess what? When it comes down to it, and you are faced with the big stuff (missions. temple marriage. death.) and you know that worthiness is MANDATORY... you're gonna start to wish that you had taken the high road. Trust me. I know.
"...we need you... already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work. No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or pornographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can’t do that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths”5 and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow”6 one—it can’t be done."
Same applies for temple marriage-
I like to think of it like this..
say you are on a team. basketball, volleyball, soccer, drill team, cheer, football, tennis-whatever. take your pick. whichever is your absolute favorite. So say you are on that team, and you know you are gonna compete for a State Title at the end of the year, a Championship, or whatever you wanna call it. and you want to win. What are you gonna do? You're gonna practice. You are gonna practice hard. and you are going to practice all year, and every day, for as much as you can. So that when that day comes, you are going to be ready to win.
Can one expect to win in the end, if they start practicing months, or sometimes maybe only weeks before the big game? the big competition? mmm?
The correct answer.. is no. absolutely not. they can not.
You won't be ready.
It won't be okay.
You will not win.
...
you will lose.
Temple Marriage is the big one. The championship. The State Title. The final game. You have to be ready. You have to practice. You have to work at it now. You need to start getting ready NOW. Can you expect to make it to the temple, with that PERFECT guy or girl, if you don't start practicing now?
The correct answer.. is no. absolutely not. you can not.
You won't be ready.
It won't be okay.
You will lose out on blessings.
...
and if you aren't completely worthy..
you will lose.
of course- some people do cheat. and go through unworthily.
Have you ever cheated before? on a test? ... or anything? When you cheat your way to the top, it doesn't feel anywhere as good as it would feel if you had WORKED your way there. Plus, it won't feel good at all if you cheat your way to the temple.. I mean that's just asking for it...
of course- some people do cheat. and go through unworthily.
Have you ever cheated before? on a test? ... or anything? When you cheat your way to the top, it doesn't feel anywhere as good as it would feel if you had WORKED your way there. Plus, it won't feel good at all if you cheat your way to the temple.. I mean that's just asking for it...
Same thing applies for death-
Say that you die. unexpectedly. Because you know- most of the time. just kidding. actually, ALL of the time. We don't know for sure the moment or the hour when we are going to die.
Alma 11
37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in theirasins; ...he hath said that bno unclean thing can inherit the ckingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved,...ye cannot be saved in your sins.
Alma 12
14 For our awords will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the bmountains to fall upon us to chide us from his presence.
15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting ashame...__________________________________________________"
Now verse 14 is what I was talking about when I said you are gonna start to wish you had taken the pathway on the top... if you are gonna wish that you could command a mountain and all of it's rocks to fall on you to hide you from God-well. If that doesn't say regret, I don't know what else does.
I took off the last part of verse 15 to save it for the end. Save the best for last.
We aren't perfect.
Nobody is.
Everyone is going to make mistakes-and.. God knew that.
He didn't send us here to fail- He sent His Son, Jesus Christ.. to die and suffer for all of our sins.
You know, being home for the Holidays, I have been playing lots of video games like Mario. Mario 64. Here's what I have found. When you play, you've got 4 lives. 4 chances. So.. the goal is like TOTAL perfection so that you don't die. Cause when you die- you're like done. So, yeah.
Our life is like a video game- but it's like, some of us know this really REALLY awesome cheat. Every time we mess up, we've got this cheat called repentance that just erases our mistake- so that we can keep going. This cheat is awesome because it is Infinite. and Eternal..
Infinite-however many times you need it.
Eternal- for however long it takes.
:)
here is the end of that scripture..
"...that all hisbjudgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance."
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if you find yourself on the pathway on the bottom, there is a way back to the top. Repentance. The atonement. Repentance lets you turn around, go back, erase your mistake like you were never there, and then choose the right one. Repentance is real. and it is necessary. but.. listen- it's like.. awesome. For reals. It's the best feeling. And it is all because you're loved.
"...the invitation to repent is an expression of love. When the Savior “began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), it was a message of love... If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves..... Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring"
(great talk by the way)
I know that the atonement is real. I know that our sins can be erased, as if they were never there, if we take the proper steps to repent. I know that repentance is scary- because I have had to do it. Talking to your bishop can turn your pants brown, but I promise that the feeling you have afterward is just indescribable, and so worth the uncomfort you undergo to get there. I know that Jesus and Heavenly Father are patiently waiting for us to repent, so that they can bless us.
I know that life is hard, I know that the BEST people make mistakes, everyone does. But the pathway at the top is better. Don't let yourself be unhappy. Don't let yourself waste away to destruction. Turn around. Wake up. Let yourself experience the wonderful, divine gift of the atonement. Become that person that you've always dreamed of being-- because it is possible, and repentance is the way!
"...Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain. Suffering for sin does not by itself change anything for the better.."
"... repentance means striving to change.... Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving."
If you have goals and dreams for yourself, and where you want to be in life and in the life hereafter- It does matter which way you go. So go that way! It may be hard, but at the same time it is simple. You just have to do it! :)
I love you.
lots. . .
and lots.
Carmina Joy.
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