In the Lord of the Rings, Boromir, whose people have been fighting and losing a slow war of attrition for generations, was seduced by the ring, tempted by the prospect of ridding him and his people of the hated enemy who had caused so much grief and chaos in their lives. He attempted to take by force the ring from Frodo, his friend and one whom he had sworn to protect. Frodo escaped from Boromir’s frenzied pursuit, and Boromir at last came to his senses and realized the magnitude of his betrayal. He turned away from the path of ruin and folly. Rather than continue his efforts to destroy one friend, he rather laid down his life in an attempt to save the lives of his friends. As he lay dying, he admitted to Aragorn that he had attempted to take the ring from Frodo. “I have failed,” he said in anguish and despair. “‘No!’ said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. ‘You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace!’” Boromir had given into temptation. Had that been the end of his tale, it would have meant that he had failed. But it was not the end. He repented. He came back. He abandoned his doubts and his fears and his despair and he turned again towards duty and loyalty and friendship and hope. And in this he conquered. Indeed, few had gained such a victory. “If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.” (Mary Pickford). I know that thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, even if we occasionally fall down and fail, we do not have to stay down. We can conquer. We can despite our failures gain victory. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Whatever our failure, it does not have to be the end. We can turn back from the path of destruction and find peace and joy and victory as we make our way back to our Savior.
