“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 ot the promised land. And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.” (Alma 37:44-47). It is a strange thing, but while it seems that most of our energy and effort is dedicated to making our lives easier, when we are offered an easier path, we often reject it. The children of Israel who had been bitten by serpents had only to look to be healed and saved, but because of the easiness of the way, they would not do it. Jesus Christ tells us over and over that His way is easy, but many of us have a hard time believing it. We might feel like we are cheating somehow. We might feel guilty that we are going down the easy path while others are struggling. It is true that following in the footsteps of the Savior is the hardest thing we could possibly do, that we will be tested and tried to the very limits of our faith and endurance, that we may have to drain the bitter cup to the dregs, but all of that being said, Jesus Christ’s way is easy. We can be healed by merely lifting up our eyes to look, or touching the hem of His robe, or being lowered through the ceiling by our friends. When we have chosen to repent, and our Savior has chosen to forgive us, we should let that be the end of it. We don’t have to keep rehashing our mistakes or looking for further ways to make amends. Our Savior’s grace is sufficient. If we put our lives in His hands, He will make our paths straight, and our way easy, and He will heal us and lift us up, giving us strength and hope that we will be able to endure all that we must to return to His presence. I know that it is tempting to grow lazy or disillusioned or distrustful of the easiness of the way, but if we can deny ourselves of all slothfulness and doubt, and simply look to our Savior, then we will live.
