Once upon a time there lived a kind, wise king who
loved his subjects very much. The people of this great kingdom loved their king
back. As most great Kings, he wanted his subject to be happy & healthy. But
this King was not like any ordinary King, for he knew a great secret that would
ensure great wealth and protection for the all in the kingdom from any outside
threats or diseases; they need only drink from the fountain on the top of the
highest mountain just outside the kingdom. Once there, they had to set up camp
and continue to drink from the fountain until the King sent his men for them.
As
wonderful and easy as it sounded, the King warned his loyal subject that the
path would not be easy. They would find wild beasts, poisonous flowers, and
treacherous terrain. Eager to stay protected and follow the will of their king,
the embarked on their journey. At first
the people felt confident and excited about their trip, since the terrain was
easy and the hills were lush and beautiful at the foot of the mountain. But as
time passed, small rocks turned to big boulders and appeared in their path
while the beautiful grass had turned to sagebrush and hid massive potholes in
the ground, causing much grief and physical pain. As they slept at night, wild
beasts were heard echoing throughout the vast canyon. The perfect weather they
had experience had quickly turned to scorching days followed by freezing
nights. The King, knowing the people would become discouraged, sent simple, yet
elegant doves that carried messages of encouragement.
As their journey progressed, the mountain became steeper and the path up the hill became very narrow, with only a few feet between the side of the mountain and the violent, rushing river in the deep valley below. The people were grateful for the messages from the doves and found the strength to press forward. However the doves were not the only birds in the sky.
Occasionally beautiful eagles were seen gliding pass. With such
beauty, confidence, and strength, their mere presence made it easy for the
people to become distracted and slip closer to the edge of the steep path. But
the King was aware that his subjects might unknowingly follow the eagles so he
provided a each person with a harness made of steel that attached to steel
railing on the inside of the path. As long as the people wore their harness and
made sure it was attached correctly to the railing, nothing could remove them
from the path—not even a hurricane.
Besides the doves and eagles, big, ugly, black ravens were found in the sky.
With such confidence, the ravens would fly so close to the people and open
their wings, trying knock them off the cliff, even though still had their
harnesses on. The people knew the ravens did not want them to make it to the
top, and most avoided them and pressed forward. However, the elegant eagles
began spreading messages of their own, encouraging the people to take off their
harnesses. Many of the people believed the eagles when they said they were
strong and could carry them on their backs to the top of the mountain, saving
them much time and energy.
Against the wishes and pleading of the others, these people removed their safety harnesses and went with the eagles. However, instead of making it to the top of the mountain, they somehow ended up at the bottom of the river, or across the valley stuck on a ledge in another kingdom that was not under the great Kings providence. And although the people firmly attached to the steel railing saw and heard of those falling from the eagles, many were still deceived by the eagles when they offered excuses on why the people hadn’t made it, and promising that their journey would be successful if they would only believe them and come for a ride on their back. Not only did the eagle’s messages confuse the people, but also they often brought messages from those in the other kingdom telling wonderful tales of how fabulous their lives were in this new kingdom.
As
wonderful and easy as it sounded, the King warned his loyal subject that the
path would not be easy. They would find wild beasts, poisonous flowers, and
treacherous terrain. Eager to stay protected and follow the will of their king,
the embarked on their journey. At first
the people felt confident and excited about their trip, since the terrain was
easy and the hills were lush and beautiful at the foot of the mountain. But as
time passed, small rocks turned to big boulders and appeared in their path
while the beautiful grass had turned to sagebrush and hid massive potholes in
the ground, causing much grief and physical pain. As they slept at night, wild
beasts were heard echoing throughout the vast canyon. The perfect weather they
had experience had quickly turned to scorching days followed by freezing
nights. The King, knowing the people would become discouraged, sent simple, yet
elegant doves that carried messages of encouragement. 
As their journey progressed, the mountain became steeper and the path up the hill became very narrow, with only a few feet between the side of the mountain and the violent, rushing river in the deep valley below. The people were grateful for the messages from the doves and found the strength to press forward. However the doves were not the only birds in the sky.
Besides the doves and eagles, big, ugly, black ravens were found in the sky.
Against the wishes and pleading of the others, these people removed their safety harnesses and went with the eagles. However, instead of making it to the top of the mountain, they somehow ended up at the bottom of the river, or across the valley stuck on a ledge in another kingdom that was not under the great Kings providence. And although the people firmly attached to the steel railing saw and heard of those falling from the eagles, many were still deceived by the eagles when they offered excuses on why the people hadn’t made it, and promising that their journey would be successful if they would only believe them and come for a ride on their back. Not only did the eagle’s messages confuse the people, but also they often brought messages from those in the other kingdom telling wonderful tales of how fabulous their lives were in this new kingdom.
Many people eventually made it to the top of the
mountain and drank from the magic fountain. While waiting for the Kings men,
these people were happier than they ever imagined and felt confident in a
journey well fought. They felt stronger
than ever. However, the beautiful eagles
somehow made their way up to the top of the mountain and began spreading their
message. Although all were happily
drinking for the fountain, and saw the blessing that came from the magic water,
many became tired of the eagles pestering them to listen to their message and
decided that no harm would come from them if they tried to subdue the eagles by
just letting them tell their message.
Eventually those who listened to the eagles forgot to drink from the fountain and their bodies became weak along with their will. Over time, these people forgot how wonderful the magic fountain made them feel and they soon believed the eagles and took flight away with them from the top of the mountain—believing that the great king might never come.
--Erin Apelu
Eventually those who listened to the eagles forgot to drink from the fountain and their bodies became weak along with their will. Over time, these people forgot how wonderful the magic fountain made them feel and they soon believed the eagles and took flight away with them from the top of the mountain—believing that the great king might never come.
--Erin Apelu
What can we learn from this story?
Who are the doves? The ravens? The eagles?
Elder Kevin W. Pearson’s talk in the April 2015 LDS Conference entitled Stay By the Tree was one of my favorites. He taught that “Enduring to the end is a hallmark of true discipleship and is essential to eternal life.” To “hang in there" is not a principle of the gospel. Enduring to the end means constantly coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him. If enduring to the end is essential to eternal life, why do we struggle to be faithful? We struggle when we are caught between competing priorities. Casual obedience and lukewarm commitment weaken faith. Enduring to the end requires total commitment to the Savior and to our covenants.”
I love how he explained that Average is the enemy of Excellence, and the average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end. Stay by the tree and stay awake. There is so much truth in his words.
He also taught deception and distraction are the "vain imaginations and pride of the world", or other words, the "Great and Spacious Building".
One of the most interesting things I've heard was a recording made in 1964 by Paul Harvey, a famous American Radio Broadcaster for ABC. He explained how he
would destroy us [America] if he were Satan…
“If I were the devil, the Prince of Darkness, I would engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of it's real-estate and four-fifths of it's population. If I were the devil, I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’ And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors on how to lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches that war that themselves, and nations that war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flame. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, and neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography—soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and then the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle. If I were the devil I’d take from those, and who have, and give to those wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would question against extremes and hard work, and Patriotism, and moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were to devil I’d keep on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”
Those are our problems in our society today.
“If I were the devil, the Prince of Darkness, I would engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of it's real-estate and four-fifths of it's population. If I were the devil, I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’ And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors on how to lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches that war that themselves, and nations that war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flame. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, and neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door. Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography—soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and then the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle. If I were the devil I’d take from those, and who have, and give to those wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would question against extremes and hard work, and Patriotism, and moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were to devil I’d keep on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”
Those are our problems in our society today.
Elder Pearson gave us some great tools to help us STAY BY THE TREE and away from the snares of the great deceiver--Lucifer.
#1 Don’t forget to pray!
Each of us experiences periods of darkness and loneliness. “When life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray.”
The tree represents Christ, who is the clear manifestation of the love of God. The fruit is His infinite Atonement and is great evidence of God’s love. Eternal life with our loved ones is sweeter and more desirable than any other thing. To realize this gift, we must “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.”4 He is “the way, the truth, and the life.”5 We can fill our lives with accomplishment and well-doing, but in the end, if we do not enter into sacred covenants to follow Christ and faithfully keep them, we will have utterly and completely missed the mark.
#3 Press forward with faith.
Obedience builds faith in Christ. Faith is a principle of action and power. Consistently following the Savior’s example produces spiritual power and capacity. Without the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement, it’s impossible to stay on the path and endure.
#4 The BOM is key to spiritual survival.
Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Unless we are “continually holding fast”7 to the word of God and living it, we will become spiritually blinded rather than spiritually minded. Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost.
#5 Don’t be distracted and deceived.
Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge will not lead you to truth. It’s not posted there. Only the Savior has “the words of eternal life.”8 Everything else is just words.
#6 Stay by the tree
Lehi’s message is to stay by the tree. We stay because we are converted unto the Lord. Alma taught, “Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.”11 As we yield our hearts to God, the Holy Ghost changes our very natures, we become deeply converted unto the Lord, and we no longer seek the spacious building. If we stop doing those things that bring about deepening conversion, we regress spiritually. Apostasy is the reverse of conversion.
Many don’t want to hear the message when Elder Pearson said To all missionaries past and present: "Elders and sisters, you simply cannot return from your mission, do a swan dive back into Babylon, and spend endless hours scoring meaningless points on pointless video games without falling into a deep spiritual sleep. Nor can you indulge in online pornography and ignore virtue and chastity without dire spiritual consequences. If you lose the Spirit, you are lost.
Don’t be distracted and deceived."
Don’t be distracted and deceived."
STAY BY THE TREE!
