GRAB SOME IRON
by Clark Smith <[email protected]>, EFY speaker, ESPN cameraman
If you have ever been hiking or backpacking in the mountains you'll know
what it feels like to discover a fresh water stream, dipping in your cup
and taking a thirst quenching drink. As the cool water runs down your
throat you can feel it soothe the entire soul. The higher you go, the
closer you get to the source and the better it tastes. Recently during
an assignment in the islands of Tahiti, a local fisherman took me on a
private tour of his world. The tour was filled with plenty of
spectacular sights, mostly of water. I saw clear blue lagoons with pure
white sand beaches, unspoiled by human development. Standing underneath
200-foot waterfalls surrounded by deep green foliage really takes your
breath away. But the most thrilling of all was the hike back into the
jungle to discover a fresh water spring on this tiny little island in the
middle of the Pacific Ocean. Water is so pure and delicious when you find
it at its source.
I liken this pure source of water to the scriptures. Drinking the pure
word of God from its origin each and every day is the highest and best
use of our solitaire time. By doing this we will get closer to God and
further away from the evil influences of the world. There are many good
books and magazines on our library shelves that serve as great
supplements to the scriptures. Even though they may come from the same
source, they are like drinking way downstream from the actual pure
source.
In the 4th Chapter of John, the Savior refers to "Living Water" as he
speaks to the woman drawing water at Jacob's well. He said, "Whosoever
drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the
water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I
shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life". The Savior's promise to this woman extends to all of
us. By going to the well daily and searching the scriptures, we will
develop within ourselves a living spring that will quench eternally our
thirst for happiness, peace, and everlasting life. (Joseph B. Wirthlin.
Ensign, May 1995)
Elder Wirthlin continues: "These latter days are a time of great
spiritual thirst. Many in the world are searching, often intensely, for
a source of refreshment that will quench their yearning for meaning and
direction in their lives. They crave a cool, satisfying drink of insight
and knowledge that will soothe their parched souls".
The world has cleverly disguised its water into many different packages.
There are just as many bottled waters on the shelves as there are
Christian churches. All claiming to be from the purest of sources, but
I'll bet a few of them are being filled and in some downtown suburban
warehouse and packaged with a "pure mountain water" label. Spell Evian
backwards and you'll know what I mean. Don't be fooled by clever
packaging. There is only one true source of living water and you
probably have it sitting right next to your bed on the nightstand.
Rand Packer taught me the difference between the law of increasing
returns and decreasing returns. Decreasing returns says that even though
your effort increases your return decreases. Like mowing your lawn or
shaving. After the first cut it really won't get any closer even though
you still apply all the extra effort. I could shave all day long and I
wouldn't get any more out if it than the first 5 minutes. With the law of
increasing returns as your effort increases so does your return. Like
pumping iron in the weight room or reading your scriptures, the more
effort you put into it, the more you get out of it. Each year as you get
older you add more experiences to your life. So reading Alma 32 may take
on a whole new understanding at age 18 than it did at age 12.
Our bishop, under the direction of a newly formed Stake Presidency, has
been strongly encouraging all of us to read daily from our scriptures.
During my son's interview for baptism with our bishop, he was challenged
to read his scriptures every day for the rest of his life. He committed
to follow this wise counsel. By doing this one small thing, all the other
big things will naturally fall into place. You'll say more meaningful
prayers, you'll deny the temptations of Satan, you'll go to the temple
more often, you'll hold your Family Home Evenings, you'll serve your
fellow man more willingly, you'll attend church regularly, you'll be able
to endure your trials, you'll treat your family with respect and honor,
and you will prosper.
Gatorade asks "Is it in you?" and Sprite tells us to "Obey your thirst".
Millions of dollars were spent on ad campaigns to get us to drink their
products. The Lord just uses the quiet humble voice of his servants,
the prophets to ask us to drink. Nephi called it the iron rod. Something
to hold on to as you walk steadfastly on that straight and narrow path
back to Heavenly Father. I know you probably have it sitting next to
your bed. You see it there daily when you wake up, and when you go to
bed. If it is not there in plain sight, put it there today. But more
importantly grab hold of the iron rod, open it up, start reading and
quench your spiritual thirst. (And reading this article doesn't count
because it's downstream from the source)