The Wrong Road

After watching the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQC-_srxH8

It's short, and worth watching more than once to understand the first sentence. I was struck by the fact that God allows us to take the wrong road at times to instruct us in certain ways.

I now see how the Lord warned me, but allowed me to go down the wrong road so that I would be assured of the right road. I know now what the right road is. I have no doubt in my mind or heart that salvation only comes in and through the Lord, Jesus Christ Omnipotent. I know that love comes from Him. I know that all gifts come from Him. I know that everything good comes from Him.

I know these things because I was on the wrong road and had to leave it to get on the right road. I spent many years wandering around the wilderness of the world:

I know the intellectual prowess of men.
I know the philosophies of men.
I know the religions of men.
I know the psychology of men.
I know the honors of men.
I know the business of men.
I know the scientists.
I know the riches of the world.
I was "married and given in marriage."
I've been from the Ranchitos in Caracas to private yachts on the Mediterranean.
I've been in the halls of the best universities in the world.
I've been with powerful decision-makers.

I've been there. I've seen them all. I know them all intimately. I've participated in everything the world has to offer. I've been in the "great and spacious building" -- all the way in and through it and back several times. I know it. There is no foundation. There is no intelligence. There is no lasting value of anything. All is vanity. Everything that is sought of the world gives, at best, only temporary relief of symptoms. It doesn't fill the need. There in no cure, no lasting value, no help, no heart, no spirit.  Every one of those is a dead-end.

I am grateful to the Lord for teaching me in this manner, allowing me to traipse through everything the world has to offer, to experience every dead-end, before allowing me on the straight and narrow path that leads to Eternal Life. I know me. I would always be second-guessing myself, wondering what the other road possessed. Had I not known and experienced all the dead-ends of the "great and spacious building" that is the pride of the world, I would assume, as Thoreau, that each lies equally good, equally happy, equally sad -- equal in all ways. I would have thought that "all roads lead to Rome." However, because of my experiences I know that there is only one road, only one way, and that way is through the Lord, Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Everything else is a deception, looking equal until you come to the dead-end.

I have caught hold of the Iron Rod, and pressed forward clinging to it. I have come to the Tree of Life and tasted of the fruit. It is most sweet above all other fruit, and brings true joy to the soul. It has substance, filling body and spirit with love. It is fulfilling to the greatest degree. There is a sure foundation, a knowledge of permanence. There is love to an infinite depth that nothing of the world can give. It is solid and sure -- bedrock. Knowing this, I cannot fall for anything the world has to offer. There is no temptation for me because there is nothing left in the world that I want. I know the difference.

I have hope.
I know faith.
I know charity.
I know the love of God.
I know priesthood power.
I know the tender mercies of God.
I have spoken the word of the Lord properly in His name.
I know the Lord, Jesus Christ.
I understand happiness.
I have intelligence.
I see Eternal Life.
I know joy.

Allowing me to travel down the wrong road for so many years has given me a perspective and strength of knowledge that I could not have gotten otherwise. Blessed be His holy Name!