The iron rod and me

You are all familiar with the story of Lehi's dream and the iron rod that led to the tree of life. The fruit of the tree was the love of God. There were mists of darkness along the way so that the traveler had to hold on to the rod of iron or loose his way. We are told that the iron rod was the word of God. We sing, “it will safely guide us through.” 

I would like to tell you of my experience with the iron rod. 

When I was growing up, I do not remember ever having family scripture reading. We had family prayers and very occasionally some gospel discussions. We went to church and when we were old enough we went to MIA. We occasionally read Bible stories. 

Then some time after we moved to Lander, when I was about 15, we started to read the Book of Mormon. We read at the dinner table at night before we cleared the table and did the dishes. My parents found it stimulating, but I don't remember that my brothers and I were ever that impressed in a spiritual way. 

Although we lived in a small town and the people there were generally good people, they were in some measure worldly. The friends that I associated with did not usually keep the word of wisdom and their speech was often crude. I knew better, but the crowd had an influence on my thinking. Although I did not tip over outhouses or shoot out streetlights or do some of the other things that my friends did, I often was in their company. A thing that I now regret.

When I went to Weber College I attended the institute and read the assigned scriptures, but I do not remember ever reading by myself. I went to church and to MIA. It was a habit that I enjoyed. 

I graduated from the institute of religion and attended the graduation where Joseph Fielding Smith spoke. I was in the habit of saying my prayers at night, but I do not remember if I ever read the scriptures on a daily basis. The fraternity life was less than spiritual even though most of the members were LDS. My church attendance kept me from going through the mists of darkness and loosing my way. 

When I was working in the summer I know I did not read them, because I did not have my own set of scriptures until I bought them when I was in the mission home in June of 1954.  This may seem a little strange to you, but at that time it was not the practice for every member to have their own set of scriptures and very few people brought them to church meetings with them, as is now the practice. 

Once I was in Germany on my mission we had companion study and read the Book of Mormon every day. We would read five verses in German and then translate into English while the companion would check the translation using the English scriptures. Then we would reverse the process. I did this throughout my whole mission. In addition I read the Luther translation of the Bible including the apocrypha. I had a firm grasp on the iron rod.  

Unfortunately after I got home from my mission I did not keep up with the daily scripture reading. It was not stressed at that time. 

I took some religion classes when I was at BYU. It was a requirement and I filled it by taking classes from Hugh Nibley. This required outside reading, but not the Bible or the Book of Mormon. Thus, I was not holding on to the iron rod at that time. I was still very active in the church and taught a Sunday school class. The lessons were doctrinal, but did not require scriptures. 

Although I was active in the church, I was not holding onto the iron rod. Fortunately I met my wife and I remember getting my recommend to be married in the temple. The member of the stake presidency said something that I didn't agree with. He said it was not necessary to pray with my wife frequently before we were married. I guess that was the trend at that time. I decided that we would kneel and pray twice daily and say a blessing on the food every time we ate. We have continued this practice until today. 

During my years of medical school I do not remember that we read the scriptures together on a regular basis. It was not stressed at that time either. We were very active in the church and never missed any meeting or activity. We also went to the temple on a regular basis. 

We went to Ogden for an internship and I was not given an assignment in the church. We were not reading the scriptures as a family. It was a period of spiritual indolence for me.   As I look at this time in retrospect I did not realize what was happening. It was as if the mists of darkness shrouded me. 

We moved back to Salt Lake and that was when the church came out with the family home evening manual. We started having family home evening every week. I was given a calling in the ward. Although we were not reading the scriptures every day we were studying the gospel. 

We continued having prayers and family home evening in California. I was given a calling in the ward, which required me to study the gospel in depth in order to teach it and answer questions. 

After our return from California I was soon called to serve as the stake president. I felt the need to be well informed in the doctrine of the church and the principles of the gospel. I read the entire standard works at night while waiting for my wife to take her shower and get ready for bed. I memorized passages of scripture so that I could quote them at appropriate times.  We started reading the scriptures as a family as well as holding family home evening. We have continued to read on a somewhat regular basis since. I read the Book of Mormon in German as well.

The Book of Mormon is written for our time. It presents answers and helps for the problems of our lives. By reading it we can increase our spiritual sensitivity. 

Now my grandchildren hold on to the iron rod so that you can taste of the love of God and not be lured into the great and spacious building or wander into forbidden paths and lose your eternal soul. 

     

Love,

Grandpa