THE HARDEST ROAD

 

When, following much suffering in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith begged God for deliverance in March of 1839, The Lord offered him peace and comforted him by telling him his afflictions would be but a small moment.

I don’t know what comfort that was to Joseph who was in the thick of things but I know it gave him hope and I believe it came via this promise:

“If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren, if thou art in perils among robbers, if thou art in perils by land or by sea; if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations, if thine enemies fall upon thee….and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb….

“And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee, if thou be cast into the deep, if the billowing surge conspire against thee, if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:5-7)

The hope would have been based on this one promise: “…if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high….” (D&C 121:8). This is the ultimate reward. Joseph had many revelations. The heavens were opened to him on a number of occasions. He might have known what that promise really looked like.

We, on the other hand, don’t have a proper concept of exaltation in this earthly life. We cannot conceive what it is like. We don’t see it or understand it…and we can’t imagine it. We are in the telestial world. What we do know is that exaltation comes at a price. A hard road has to be travelled to earn it. Joseph proved this.

I do know one thing. When we were in the realms of heaven, we had the picture of exaltation before us and we understood well what it would take to qualify for it. I do not believe everyone wanted it because of the hard road that led to it. I think some of us chose easier roads that led to lower kingdoms (see D&C 88:28-32).

Those of us who wanted exaltation were willing to risk a perilous journey “by land or by sea”. In fact, I am sure we covenanted we would travel it and that we would endure for the reward…and for one reason…..the Saviour would pay the price of suffering, greater than any of us can begin to imagine, ensuring our ability to endure….(D&C 122:8)

Now that we are here travelling, may we always remember the promised reward which Joseph himself received: “For I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even until the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father…..” (D&C 132:49)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Lord and Master by Greg Collins)