At nine p.m. on a beautiful night two summers ago, I found myself paralyzed against a cliff that was a good 130 feet above a winding canyon road. A head lamp bounced sporadically around my neck, and bats swarmed around me, nicking my helmet with their wings and feet. My hands were soaked in sweat, making it difficult to grip, and my legs rattled, making it just as difficult to keep climbing. To gain a breather, sites like 선시티카지노 might be more than helpful.
Under normal conditions, climbing that wall would be a dream. A beautiful view of the canyon, challenging cracks, and a whole lot of self-congratulations would be the reward of pushing through it. That night, however, it was dark. The holds were impossible to see without a lamp, and sometimes, I had to blindly feel around for them. Bats and birds flapped around the cliffs, my friends seemed miles below me, and to top it all off, that cliff was on top of an even steeper cliff that made you dizzy to look down. The weird thing was that I’d climbed walls of equal height before. I’d bouldered in the dark without much pause and climbed up off-trail sites that were extremely sketchy. For the first time in a long time, however, stuck on that wall, I completely choked. I made it up and I made it back down in one piece, but not without serious trepidation and anxiety.
“Isn’t clinging a good thing?” Dwelling on that experience has given me good insight about life and the challenges we often face in life. Unexpectedly, it’s also given me valuable insight into my scripture study, particularly a few scriptures in Lehi’s account of the Tree of Life that I have never been able to fully understand. They read as follows:
“And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed…and after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (1 Nephi 8: 24-25, 28).
I don’t know about you, but for most of my life, I’ve been so confused as to why those who clung to the rod fell away. Isn’t clinging a good thing? I’d asked myself. Isn’t desperately relying on the strength of the iron rod okay?
After spending a harrowing night on that rock wall, I realized why it might not be okay. In the context of rock climbing, “clinging” is very obviously a bad thing, and I think it applies in these scriptures the same way.
In spite of how many times I have climbed high walls, that climb two years ago completely derailed me. Hanging in the darkness of the canyon, I lost trust in both my tether and my harness. I found myself clinging to the rock face and even (needlessly) my rope, terrified that if I wasn’t clinging, I would fall. I somehow managed to convince myself that the rope wasn’t strong enough for me and that my harness wouldn’t hold me, and instead of having faith in my gear, I relied on my own strength.
I imagine that those who clung to the iron rod did so because they, like me, were terrified, not because they had faith in it. Lost in the mist of darkness at the edge of a precipice with nothing to direct them except the roar of the water, the uproarious mocking of those in the great and spacious building, and the iron rod, they chose what was most reliable, but they still remained “…instead of having faith in my gear, I relied on my own strength.” unconvinced that it was reliable. They weren’t there to reach the top triumphantly; they were there because the rod was there, and, consumed with their surroundings instead of their destination, they were propelled by fear. They weren’t actually relying on the strength of the rod when they clung to it, but on their own grip, their own understanding.
Relying on your own grip, I can attest, makes the climb harder. Instead of moving forward with faith and peace, you’re driven slowly and haltingly, your body unbending and weak. On most rock walls, having faith in the rope allows you to be flexible, to focus on where you’re going and how you’re going to get there instead of whether or not you’ll fall. With faith, falling does not seem like much of an obstacle. With fear, it’s major.
Because I let fear direct my climb that night, I didn’t enjoy my journey much, neither did I appreciate reaching the end of it like I would have if I’d just been confident. Like the clingers, I was a bit ashamed of myself. I was embarrassed because I lost faith in my equipment mid-climb. Those who clung may have been embarrassed because they never had faith in the rod to begin with. I’d imagine the sweetness of the fruit was overwhelmed by the bitterness of realizing that they were never really in it for the fruit to begin with.
The basic truth is that the Iron Rod (the Word of God) only helps us when we consistently and faithfully seek it. If we only read the scriptures and watch Conference because we’ve been told to or because everybody else is, we miss true progression. We don’t rely on truth and doctrine so much as we cling to routine and others’ opinions. We miss the Lord’s limitless love, because instead of focusing on how His words can direct us, we focus on getting our reading over with and we maybe focus on how dire and directionless our present situation seems. We care too much about what misdirected sources tell us and care too little about what the Savior promises us. He doesn’t want us to cling. He wants us to have faith. He wants us to hold onto that rod because we trust him, not because we’re blinded by fear or doubt.
The Savior is the rock of our salvation, the stumbling block to those who don’t seek or trust him, but also the glorious way to the top of the mountains and a divine view we can get in no other way. We must only have faith in our capacity to climb and in the equipment he’s given us to help get us there. The way might be steep and narrow, our environment dark and confusing, but with the scriptures, with the prophets, and with our faith, we will always reach the top. And let me tell you, the moon and the streets and the hills and the trees are stunningly beautiful up there.
Comments
11 responses to “The Danger of Clinging to the Iron Rod”
Maybe this is just semantics, but I think one can metaphorically “cling” to the Rod without being oblivious to their surroundings, or totally inflexible. I like the point being made, it is important to be open, aware, and faithful. I thought the point of seeing those that fell away after tasting the fruit was that the test is never over in mortality. Just because you have a rock-solid testimony doesn’t mean your agency is taken away from you. You can still choose to give up your knowledge if you feel “ashamed, because of those that were scoffing…” or for a number of other reasons.
I still hold to the rod of iron, which means my scriptures. When I hold on to them by reading and following their council, I then am free to live my agency in life. The rod of iron helps to feel and hear the Holy Ghost, which gives me the wisdom of how to live my life. I have had many a time where I, my husband, and my children have met adversity. I must confess that I didn’t know when I was going to be confronted with these challenges. But, when I was faced with them, it was because of holding on to my rod of iron (meaning reading, studying my scriptures, and obeying the Spirit) that has helped me and my family through some difficult times. So for me letting go of my rod of iron would not be wisdom. Rather to use them to make heathy choices helps me to not being alone when adversity and good times occur in my life.
I have grown accustomed to your refined writing; this article is no different -as to style- and thus I find it equally mesmerizing
I must say, however, that your titles remain forever enshrined in duplicity. I get it, one must play the attraction game. I think I remember making a comment like that before. I do not mean to be annoying, although I am afraid I must be, at least, forthcoming: clinging is only bad when one clings to bad things. The scripture you quote makes it clear that those who fell did so due to the embarrassment they felt ‘after’ they had let go of the bar to approach the tree, not before. Now, I get your metaphor: if one hangs on to the bar all of his/her life and then lets go, even if it is to enjoy the fruits, that someone is at risk from falling. Yet again, it was the mockery and the lack of resolve that did them in, not their clinging. It remains true that no one can hang on to the iron bar forever, yet it remains equally true that far less from those who clung to the bar that from amongst those who didn’t hang at all fell in the end. When you say “dangers” you imply possibility rather than fact, plausibility rather than inevitability. If that is the case we must trust that clinging to the bar will lead us to the best possible outcome.
I don’t know. The iron bar must remain sacred in our eyes as a tool for the salvation of humanity, not the degradation of it.
Mari, JUAN CABALLERO & Amie — I believe the reason all 3 of you disagree or were disappointed with this piece was because you missed the contrast that the author was trying to point out. That contrast was between the desperate grasping implied by the word “cling” and the confident “holding” to the rod that is done by faith. She never advocates letting go of the iron rod, but just points out the folly of the kind of hold the word “cling” implies — desperation, fear and lack of faith. I quote some of her words here as evidence — “He wants us to hold onto that rod because we trust him …”
I think her main point was all about semantics, Dan. And about her admiration for the specificity of the exact word “clinging.” That it was specifically chosen for all the understory that it implies. That one word holds a whole page’s worth of implications. She’s pointing out those implications, not advising us to ignore, degrade or let go of the iron rod.
I agree with Dan’s comment. I don’t agree with the idea being portrayed here. I think it’s a simple misinterpretation, but I don’t think it’s helpful.
I’m not a climber so it’s not easy to identify with the feelings experienced on that cliff. I can however identify with scoffers (in the great and spacious building) who make light of my LDS faith and the things I believe. Personally I think clinging to the scriptures is quite advisable and if I were to listen to those who don’t believe as I do and adopt their viewpoints and opinions, I could certainly see where I could let loose of the iron rod and lose my testimony and fall away into forbidden paths. In over twenty years i have seen it happen several times with new converts and particularly with investigators just before baptism time. Over time, clinging to the Rod will strengthen one’s testimony and understanding of the mysteries of God.
I have to respectfully disagree with the previous comments on this article. I don’t know if the title influenced their interpretation negatively or if it’s just that I interpreted the piece with an attitude that it was intended to be one towards faith building but I came away with just that. No where does the author imply to let go of “the rod” but rather (to me) she is addressing the attitudes and reasons in following the faith. That we can go through the motions out of fear, or habit, or a multitude of other mixed motivations but if we don’t pursue and develop an abiding and overall faith in the Savior and God’s plan of happiness then we run the very real risk of failing even after sampling the fruit.
To me the header for this piece should have had the word “clinging” in italics. Interestingly enough we were discussing this very thing in a council meeting and comparing the scripture in the article with 1 Nephi 8:30 which relates about the more successful group that did not fall away. They were not described as “clinging” to the rod. They “held fast” to the rod. What’s the difference, is there a difference? In our ponderings we came up with some concepts that seemed to resonate later with this article.
That the word “clinging” has an large connotation of fear, even perhaps desperation, while “holding fast” does not have any of those connotations but rather suggests a steadfast and confident determination. Are we confident? Do we “know” that the Word of God will sustain us and bring us home to bask in His Love? Our musings led us to feel that that is what we must strive for. To study and do those things that build our testimonies and our personal relationship with the Savior and Heavenly Father to enable us to “Hold Fast to the rod” and press forward with confidence in God’s word and steadfast determination to persevere through whatever may come until we can again with them. Perhaps a tall order but doable if we keep our eyes on the Savior.
So you see my reading of the above article resonated along similar lines and I found it uplifting.
Arianna
Interesting article. Thanks. Something else you may want to consider. We should not try to understand the Book of Mormon using current definitions. We must go back to the meanings of words at the time of Joseph. One way to do that is to use Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, available here: http://webstersdictionary1828.com/.
If you look up the word cling you will find that when the Book of Mormon was translated it meant: “To adhere closely; to stick to; to hold fast upon, especially by winding round or embracing.”
When we study Lehi’s dream we learn that there were two groups that made it all the way to the tree and ate the fruit. The two groups are nearly identical, with one key difference. The first group abandoned the tree and its fruit, but the second group did not. Why? We can easily discover this by breaking down two verses of 1 Ne 8 – verses 24 and 30. Verse 24 describes the actions of the group that fell away, and verse 30 describes the actions of the group that remained. Here is a breakdown of those two verses:
Verse 24
1. pressing forward,
2. caught hold of the end of the rod of iron;
3. did press forward through the mist of darkness,
4. clinging [holding fast] to the rod of iron,
5. did come forth
6. partake of the fruit of the tree.
Verse 30
1. pressing forward;
2. caught hold of the end of the rod of iron;
3. did press their way forward,
4. continually holding fast to the rod of iron,
5. came forth
6. fell down
7. partook of the fruit of the tree.
You can see that the two groups are nearly identical. Remember that “to cling” meant “to hold fast.” The only difference is that the second group, the one that remained at the tree, “fell down” when they arrived at the tree while the first group did not. Webster can enlighten us here also. Webster gave the following for “fall down”: 1. To fall down, to prostrate one’s self in worship.
So, the second group “prostrated themselves in worship” when they reached the tree while the first group did not. They understand that the tree represented Jesus Christ (this can be shown through a chain of scriptures). They humbled themselves before him. The first group, on the other hand, did not “fall down.” They are what I would call “mechanical Mormons.” They possess all of the outward acts of discipleship but lack the inward conversion. They do not truly worship at the tree – they merely go through the motions. And, that is why they ultimately fell away – because they failed to fall down and worship at the tree.
I think everything written above is an example of how scripture yields personal revelation to each of us. I have so enjoyed the original article and every comment and learned from everyone. There is power in the Book of Mormon and much to be learned by supping from it’s pages.
I can relate to this post. SO much. Because it’s how my now ex-wife felt about the Lord and our marriage.
Quote: ” Those who clung may have been embarrassed because they never had faith in the rod to begin with. I’d imagine the sweetness of the fruit was overwhelmed by the bitterness of realizing that they were never really in it for the fruit to begin with.”
My lovely ex came from an abusive family, and many abusive relationships and used the Church…and me…as an escape.
Sure she had some mental and emotional issues. People can be plagued by such trials and still have wonderful celestial marriages.
The main stumbling block was that she never actually loved me. Every other guy (including some members she dated) only wanted her for sex. I showed her respect. She saw me as spiritually strong and faithful (she had been cheated on in the past) and loving with an eye single to the glory of God.
I looked good on paper…and I “looked” good enough. And everybody told her that I was exactly what she needed.
Quote: “We don’t rely on truth and doctrine so much as we cling to routine and others’ opinions. ”
So she thought she SHOULD love me. Never happened.
I kind of clued in on that when during the first week of our marriage she said: “Well, I got your virtue…that’s all I really wanted anyway.”
She pushed and she pushed to make me give up on her.
Because then SHE wouldn’t be the one to blame. She wouldn’t be the one giving
up.
And if she gave up on our marriage, she was giving up on God as well. And it scared her.
Then there was her father who said: “I will give you money to leave that Indian.”
Quote: “We care too much about what misdirected sources tell us and care too little about what the Savior promises us. He doesn’t want us to cling. He wants us to have faith. He wants us to hold onto that rod because we trust him, not because we’re blinded by fear or doubt.”
A few months later…she stopped clinging. She left God first…then she left me, abducting my children to parts unknown. The divorce went through…
And through it all I have held to the rod.
Not in desperation or fear…but because I have faith and because I trust the Lord.
(The Lord saved my life while I was climbing a mountain in the dark. Without the ropes or harness. I hadn’t planned it that way…I just started late and got caught in the dark because it was Fall.)
I loved the article. Helped me to understand the concept that we must become one with the Savior. When we internalize the word of God, when we love, live and breathe the words and council of the scriptures then we no longer cling. They are us and we are them. In a similar way a rock climber or any athlete becomes one with his sport, it becomes instinctive.