This week we talked about the Iron Rod.(1Nephi 8-12ish) Someone mentioned that iron would not have been the easiest material to work with in ancient times. They would have been more likely to use wood to make a rod. Iron must have been chosen as a symbol for a reason. It is strong, hard and unyielding. One cannot hold to the iron rod and reach out to embrace things of the world. The rod will not bend to allow that. In order to go for worldly things, one must let go of the rod.
The rod of iron in Lehi's dream represents the Word of God. In the confusing world we live in it is so necessary that we cling to the word of God as the standard by which we measure the philosophies of the world. God's laws never change. The rod is unyielding.
The next day I was reading and came across 1 Nephi 12:17. Here an angel tells Nephi about those who let go of the rod and get confused by the mists of darkness and are led away to travel on broad roads.
So, what is wrong with a broad path? Why must the way to eternal happiness be a straight and narrow path. It is because the only way to exaltation is by holding on to the iron rod which is the word of God. The path is only an arm's length width from the rod. Like the rod, it is straight and unyielding. Our paths become broad when we let go and wander too far from the rod.
I love the scriptures.
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