By MIKE SOUTHWORTH
The gospel of Jesus Christ provides a road map to successfully navigate though “the super highway of life”, said Tuesday’s Devotional speaker.
Sister Mary Ellen Smoot, president of the General Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “Because our Father in Heaven has compassion upon us and desires the best for each of us, he has given us gifts in the way of travel plans to help us travel the super highway of life.”
In choosing which direction to go, students are confronted with a world of information and choices, she said. With making the right choice, “Our visibility increases as you travel in the right direction, enabling you to see and understand that which you cannot comprehend today. And your vehicle, while requiring continued care and maintenance, does not give into the wear and tear of the world but undergoes continual renewal.”
Sister Smoot focused on three elements of life’s travels: the vehicle of travel, or the family; the visibility, or spiritual perceptions; and the road signs, or truths and fallacies.
“Families, in whatever form, are critical to your experience here in mortality. Families bolster you in times of need, humble you when you are overtaken with pride. The members of your family often see the worst side of us, yet still love and accept us. They help you maintain perspective and help you to see your own weakness that you may not otherwise recognize,” she said.
“We need strong families. The family unit is not a nicety, nut a necessity. It is an essential element of our Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness. Your Father in Heaven did not set you off on life’s highway alone, he gave you a family,” she said.
President Smoot said the traditional family is under political and social siege, a front line battle that has been raging now for several decades.
“Government cannot save our families. Lawmakers would be pleased if they could even define what a family is anymore. The salvation of our families depends upon our obedience to the words of the prophets,” she said.
“Do not let convenience be the determining factor regarding the person you choose as your eternal companion, the time and number of children you bring into the world, and any career decision either you or your spouse makes that adversely would impact your primary role as parents,” President Smooth said.
The second element of our travel in life is “visibility”, our ability to clearly discern between right from wrong, she said.
“The Gift of the Holy Ghost helps you to see through the fog of this world and find our way to your heavenly home. The holy Ghost helps you recognize distractions for what they are, strength to resist temptation, and peace when you are faced with difficult conditions. All in all, it clears the window of your soul and gives you the visibility needed to avoid life-threatening accidents and destructive detour,” President Smoot said.
She said that upon learning to recognize and follow the prompting of the Spirit, the way will become clear, darkness will be dispelled, fog will be lifted and visibility will increase.
The final element of our travel to consider are the “road signs”, or the truths and fallacies that confront us, she said.
“The information age is in full swing. We have access to incredible tools for research, discovery and communication. We now have access to massive sources of information on the Internet and elsewhere,” she said.
“You’re bombarded with advertisements, enticements, directions, and choices. And yet, all of the different road signs present you with only two classes of information: truth and fallacy. Truth endures and liberates, while fallacy falters and imprisons. Truth carries with it power, while falsehood yields only unfulfilled expectations,” President Smoot said.
The challenge lies in recognizing the difference and seeing a road sign for what it really is, she said.
