Play on Words or Not?

Greetings all!

It has been an incredible week of milestones.  Tall Man started school. Puddin went over the summit.  SnackPack completed his last first term at Cyprus.  The Professor went off track.  Grizzly Adams joined the ranks of Snape, both whom passed away this week.

Besides that, it has just been a normal, run of the mill, winter week in January.

This week I have been pondering word usage and wondering about the true intent.  As a background, we took the opportunity to go downtown last weekend and visit the newly remodeled Church History Museum.  It was fun. We will have to go back when we have more time to see everything in greater detail, but one thing that I did see that has stuck with me is a sheet of paper with the actual writings of Oliver Cowdery as he was acting as scribe for Joseph Smith.  The sheet of paper was about 18 inches long and about 6 inches wide.  The penmanship was impeccable.  The lines were straight, evenly spaced, and elegant looking.  But most interesting to me was the fact that there were no mistakes.  Firstly, I cannot imagine how challenging it would have been to write with an ink or quell pen in the first place.  Secondly, I cannot imagine being scribe and hearing these strange names, descriptions of strange lands, and never making a mistake that would have to be lined out and the correct word or spelling written next to or over the word in error.  It was flawless.

Then this week, I came upon one of my favorite passages/phrases in the Book of Mormon.  I have read it several times and still stop and ponder if it was intentional.  After visiting the museum, I am sure now that it was.  2 Nephi 31:18.  The very first line says, "...then are ye in the STRAIT and NARROW path...".  This has always bothered me.  When people draw their depictions of this path, it is always STRAIGHT, but that is not how Oliver wrote it.  He wrote STRAIT.  Some would thing that it is just a play one words that he did was using.  However, when describing other paths or things as he scribed, he did used the words differently.  He writes the word STRAIGHT 14 times and the word STRAIT 14 times.  

So what is the difference.

STRAIGHT is not bending or curved.  The most direct route between two points.  

STRAIT is usually a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water.  Or it means narrow or restricted.  Strict as in requirements or principles.

Each are used to describe a pathway or course, but when used, they are describing something completely different entirely.

In this verse, Nephi is describing the path or gateway that will lead eternal life.  There are requirements around it.  It is not just something or someplace you can go.  In order to have eternal life you must be willing to meet those requirements.

This thought has been in my head all week.  I keep rehearsing in my mind the talk by President Uchtdorf in last October conference, "It Works Wonderfully".  Here he talks about how many Christians are good with God's Grace.  This Grace that saves us.  But as Latter-day Saints we aspire to something more.  We don't just want to be SAVED, we want EXALTATION or ETERNAL LIFE.  The verse we just read tells us that to have Eternal Life, we must meet certain requirements.

This same phrase is used by both Lehi and Nephi as they describe the path that leads to the Tree of Life.  It is STRAIT and NARROW.  It does not say that it is STRAIGHT.  It is beside a river.  To help you along the way, there is a Rod of Iron.

When I read of this path, this rod, this tree, I see the Tree of Life.  It is where the flowing love of God rolls forth.  This love is represented by a river.  When I think of a river, I think of water flowing down hill.  It is not STRAIGHT.  The path it creates curves, bends, dips, falls, and divides at times.  The same river can have many outlets as it seeks to connect the source to another down the line.  Therefore, for me the Tree is up.  At the top of a hill or mountain.

The rod is representing the Word of God.  What or Who is the WORD of God?  Jesus Christ.  He is there to help us, protect us, and show us the way.  When I see this rod, I see in my mind a narrow strip of land down in canyon lands.  On either side of the strip is an iron hand rail.  It is there to protect those who cross from falling over the cliff that surrounds the narrow strip of land. Protecting us from falling in to a great gulf of misery.

Hopefully now, you see my vision.  My question:  How do you cross the STRAIT?  Do you hold tight to the ROD?  Do you tempt fate let go, walk on the outside instead of the inside, or say that you don't need that ROD, but only your own talent and ability that HE has given you? 

I am sure that many of you may see it differently, but I just wanted to share my imagery.  I hope and pray you will hold to the ROD.

There's my thought, here is our week.

Tall Man has been hot and heavy into school, work, homework, and musical.  It has been busy for him and some what of an adjustment.  We enjoyed the performance last night.  For those of you who have not been, it is wonderfully entertaining.

The Professor repeatedly said that this week was never going to end.  She woke up each morning hoping that it was Friday and she was tracking off.  It took several days, but in the end, she tracked off.

SnackPack ended another term.  He swam in two meets.  He worked a couple of times.  And he still managed to find time to sleep.

The Queen also counted the days this week.  She was excited about participating in a training project that is forth coming.  She boarded a plane this afternoon and headed down south for a few days to prepare for the project.

Everything else was pretty normal.  We all went to work or school.  We all  found sufficient food for our bodies.  We all slept at night.  And we all started it over the next day.  

Oh, I forgot, SnackPack not only played B-Ball with the boys, but coached at the same time.  The whamped on the Fifth boys, and managed to let Sam score.  We will have to make the next game.  

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Stay safe.  Stay warm.  Stay dry.