Sailing or Swimming to Salvation

After Elder Ballard spoke about the truths found in the gospel, he shared this profound application of his analogy:

Now, as we ponder just these few truths that exist within the Old Ship Zion, let us stay on board and remember that, by definition, a ship is a vehicle, and the purpose of a vehicle is to take us to a destination.

Our ship’s destination is the full blessings of the gospel, the kingdom of heaven, the celestial glory, and the presence of God!

God’s plan is in place. He is at the helm, and His great and powerful ship flows toward salvation and exaltation. Remember that we cannot get there by jumping out of the boat and trying to swim there by ourselves.

 The purpose of the Gospel is to lead us to salvation and exaltation, and following the plan of the Gospel is the only way we can reach that goal. We need the saving ordinances and the gospel's teachings. Without them, we'd have about as much chance of reaching our eternal destination as a swimmer would have trying to cross an ocean. It's not completely impossible, and I'm sure some saintly people have done it (once their ordinances had been done for them in the temple), but it's not as easy as it looks, and it's certainly not as good a plan as getting and staying in the boat.

The goal of exaltation is an eternity away, but that's where the Good Ship Zion is headed. It's too risky to swim for it -- We'll likely wear ourselves out and drown if we try -- but we will get there eventually, as long as we stay on the boat.