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Is Strait
and Narrow Confining?
by H. Wallace
Goddard
Strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life —Matthew
7:14
The scriptural
observation that the way is strait and narrow is not very encouraging
for people who love to roam and explore the mortal landscape. I
wonder if God would endorse a re-write for the latter-day frontiersmen:
"The possibilities are many and the gates are varied. Have a great
time wherever you go."? Strait and narrow just seems so confining.
Possibly most
people have a few scriptures that they would be glad to excise from
sacred writ. When I was a college student, I was quite irritated
by King Benjamin's dated view of human nature: less than the dust
of the earth, worthless, fallen, enemy to God, carnal . . .. Why
didn't the Lord teach him about self-esteem and its central role
in human well-being? Why did the Lord allow such nonsense to be
included in the Book of Mormon?
It is amazing
how a few decades of experience combined with some earnest study
of a subject can modify a person's notions. When I first started
reading the solid, negative research about self-esteem (dating back
to 1983), I was surprised. Later I discovered the Lord's remarkable
program of gifts (D&C 46). Now that I have found great strength
in humble dependence, I have a very different view of the whole
matter. I now celebrate King Benjamin's insight. I cherish his wisdom
and inspiration. In fact I have carved one of his phrases in oak
and hung it on our wall: "Are we not all beggars?"
So what is
to be done with the strait and narrow? Should it be set aside as
provincial? My life course has seemed to be painfully different
from the paths of some people I revere the most: David O. McKay,
Jae R. Baliff, Andy Gardner, Irvin Haws, Orson Goddard. My life
is not like theirs, therefore I must be off the Path.
A few years
ago it occurred to me that the strait and narrow may not be a single
path that is the same for all disciples; the path could be strait
and narrow but still be customized for each of us. It makes sense
that the individualized curriculum would be tailored to fit each
unique disciple.
The scriptural
words "strait" and "narrow" mean approximately the same thing: constricted,
or tight. (See "Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.3, "Strait and narrow.")
Yet the "strait and narrow" does not have to be any more confining
that a carefully-tailored suit or a warm and heavenly embrace.
An important
step in my understanding of the strait path came on a recent 165
mile journey to the Memphis Temple. I'm not a guy who automatically
thinks it is fun to drive three hours, sit for two, then drive another
three hours to come home and do chores. I have been blessed many
times by temple attendance. Yet I also go because something inside
of me says it is right.
So, going to
the temple with Nancy and two missionaries from our area, it suddenly
seemed clear, so clear that I wondered how I ever missed it.
And now, my
beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow
path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for
ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with
unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him
who is mighty to save. (2 Nephi 31:19, emphasis added)
On the road
to Memphis it seem clear that the gate is nothing more than turning
our lives over to Christ. Maybe the strait and narrow path is that
customized, personalized, and divinely-designed curriculum that
He has developed for each person who is serious about being stretched
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. To go through
the gate onto the path entails a commitment to be piloted by Christ.
What could
be more breathtaking than touring mortality in company with He Who
created heavens, earth, and all the inhabitants thereof? What could
be a greater adventure than searching truth with Alpha and Omega?
What could be sweeter than being filled with the charity that comes
from Him whose name is Love? Who could we better trust with our
hours and eternities than He who coordinates the orbits of electrons,
planets and galaxies in beautiful harmony?
When we think
about finding our way along the path, we naturally think of the
iron rod. Yet for those of us who are more attracted by the loops
and jerks of a roller coaster, the iron rod does not sound like
the right guide for an adventure trail. We are in for a ferrous
surprise. Nephi tells us that the iron rod is the word of God (1
Nephi 11:25). In our earliest days of spiritual discovery, the "word
of God" may mean the scriptures. What a blessing! Where would we
be without those blessed words?
Yet even for
Laman and Lemuel the word of God had a broader meaning which included
all instruction from a perfect and loving Father (1 Nephi 15:24).
Consider the rich load of truth delivered by heavenly messengers
to earthlings since Adam and Eve stepped across the threshold into
mortality. "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay
the bottles of heaven"? (Job 38:37).
There is yet
another sacred meaning for the word of God. (It is just like God
to provide a sacred truth with multiple layers of discovery fitted
to our maturity!)
In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In him was
life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1, 4)
When Nephi
teaches that the iron rod is the word of God, my favorite interpretation
is that the word of God is Jesus who is the only true guide for
getting us to truth, glory, happiness, and home. He is the Way.
He is as solid and reliable as iron. To keep company with Him is
as breathtakingly exciting as designing and creating worlds.
Alma provides
confirming counsel about depending on God even as he provides another
physical symbol.
Yea, and cry
unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the
Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let
all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections
of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. (Alma 37:36)
After giving
this instruction, Alma turns naturally to illustrating his point
by telling about the Liahona, that remarkable brass ball of curious
workmanship that guided them in the wilderness.
For behold,
it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point
to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for
our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto
them a straight course to the promised land. (Alma 37:44, emphasis
added)
I wonder if
straight should here be understood in a way different from an unvarying
and tedious highway across Nevada; maybe straight means direct.
Maybe God will not waste a minute of our lives if we are willing
to take Jesus as our guide. Maybe every twist and turn in the strait
and narrow will minister to our eternal well-being. In inviting
us to travel the strait and narrow, God is not mandating a single,
uniform, standard personal history; He is inviting a single-minded
covenant.
And if your
eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with
light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which
is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88:67)
It is truly
cause to rejoice that the God of the universe would reach across
eternity both to guide and to sanctify our experience. Should we
be surprised that the greatest mystery of all time is also the simplest
truth? He aims to redeem us. He will do it if we will turn our lives
over to Him. To fail to take Him as our guide is to miss the only
journey with a heavenly view.
For strait
is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation
and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because
ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me. (D&C
132:22, emphasis added)
When He invites
each of us to relinquish our stranglehold on our puny lives, may
we turn to Him in earnest if fearful resolve. Only He can get us
to the arms of Heaven.
Yea, we see
that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is
quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and
the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ
in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery
which is prepared to engulf the wicked--
And land their
souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the
kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with
Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out. (Helaman
3:29-30)
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