Lego

While I was growing up every year we would take out all of the Legos during General Conference and build all of the sets that had been dismantled over the year.  This was a pretty epic undertaking and the whole floor would usually be covered in the hundreds of sets of Legos that we had.  While we endeavored in this huge project, we needed three basic things to assemble each set.  We obviously needed the instructions to each set, all of the pieces to that set, and the ability to not become distracted.  These things relate to what we need on our journey through life back to our heavenly home.

Instructions

How could I know how to build the Lego if I didn't have the instructions for the set?  In this life we have been given instructions for us.  Scriptures provide a lot of direction in our lives.  Through them we are able to build our testimonies of Christ and better live His gospel.  “But these [things] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31.)  The scriptures should be of the greatest importance in our lives. Our spiritual survival during the stresses of our society and the temptations of our time is greatly dependent upon the strength that we will receive from searching the scriptures and listening to the words of the prophets, seers, and revelators.

All the Pieces

This was one of the biggest problems we had while assembling the Legos.  You couldn't continue to the next step if you didn't have the right piece.  It's the same with our gospel progression.  We start out with a desire to believe, and then continue on to faith.  We will want to exercise our faith and turn from sin.  Once we have repented we will want to make promises with God and we do this by being baptized by one holding the proper authority.  Baptism is incomplete without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  After we make these promises, is that all?  Nope, we have to continue on in our progression and endure to the end.  We constantly build our faith, repent, renew our promises with God, and continue to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  As we do this we become complete(Matt. 5:48), just like our Lego set.

Don't get Distracted

Along the way to completing the Lego set, we might become distracted.  There might be a nice shiny piece that we want to add, or an idea to change it a little.  I know that I would always want to start another project before I finished the one I was working on.  We can't allow ourselves to become distracted from our goal of following the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Just like in Lehi's vision, we need to hold to the rod of iron and keep on the straight and narrow path.  By doing this we will inherit the greatest gift of all, eternal life.

Each of us must strive to (1)follow the instructions given to us, (2)find 'peace' in life by having all the pieces of the gospel, and (3)not get distracted on the way.  By doing these simple things, I testify that we will find happiness not only in this life, but in the life to come as well.