In his talk "To Whom Shall We Go?" Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke of the importance of staying on the path of discipleship. In his talk, he acknowledged that doing so is not always easy. He related life to hiking up "a steep and arduous trail." He acknowledged that it is sometimes necessary and wise to "pause on the path to catch our breath, to recalculate our bearings, and to reconsider our pace." He also noted that these rest breaks are especially helpful when we "refresh themselves with the living water of the gospel of Christ."
Life is tough, and living the Gospel presents us with a unique set of challenges and blessings that make life simultaneously harder and easier for us than it is for others. If we focus on the wrong things, it could seem like life would be easier if we abandoned the Gospel path and walked downhill instead. However, living the Gospel gives us access to the living water and the bread of life, which sustains us through the added difficulty of trying to maintain Gospel standards as we try to get through life.
This uphill hike is difficult, but we're not alone. Christ is walking with us, offering us help and support and guidance every step of the way. Following the Gospel path is difficult, but it's even more difficult to try to make our own paths without the strength and nourishment the Gospel provides. Jesus Christ is leading us to a great destination which we cannot reach by following any other path. Following Him may be harder in some ways, but it's also easier in others, so while we may need to pause on the path every now and again, this is definitely the right path to be on.
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