DAY 151 -- We Heeded Them Not

I read Lehi's "Tree of Life" vision this morning.  It is just like being in the mission field.  When Lehi tasted of the fruit, he desired his loved ones partake of it also, since it was desirable to make one happy.  His wife and a couple of kids followed his direction and went to where he was to partake of the fruit.  But as we know, two did not.

I remember in Mexico a hundred years ago, we taught a young couple who excited about our message. They were excited about learning the gospel.  They knew that Joseph was a prophet and knew the Book of Mormon was true.  However...

They were those who tasted of the truth, the joys of the gospel but because of friends and others mocking them, laughing at their decision to be baptised into the truth, they fell away and were actually never baptised.  They started in their journey toward the tree, they tasted of the joy and happiness of the gospel, but because of others, they fell into the mists.

Though through my  mission, there were many who didn't fall away, but there were many that did fall away because of what is described in Lehi's vision. I remember like it was yesterday the pain and anguish we felt as we watched them choose their friends instead of the truth.

Lehi remarks, "...but we heeded them not."  How do young elders or senior missionaries convince their investigators to heed them not?  This young couple in Mexico chose to be accepted of friends, associates rather than taste of the beauties of the gospel. 

I am sure this happens in many places throughout the world daily.  As I was pondering this, I realized that this "choosing" happens within the church, the Kingdom every day also. Do we desire to be accepted by what we wear, whether we listen to the prophet and his counsel rather than follow the iron rod and partake of the fruit?  I am sure this is one thing we will be confronted with as we get to go and serve in the field. 

I am excited, but oh how painful it is to grow to love a brother or sister and see them choose the great and spacious building rather than the gospel of the Kingdom.  As you watch beloved one choose the path toward the building rather than baptism, it wrenched the heart.