The Bridge of Obedience
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor
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President Monson, at the Sunday morning session of General Conference in 2003, retold a great little story about a conversation that Mark Twain once had with a friend. Apparently, this wealthy friend told Mr. Twain that before he died, he meant to “make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb to the top of Mount Sinai and read the Ten Commandment aloud.”
Mark Twain replied, “Why don’t you just stay home and keep them?!”
With his sense of humor, accompanied by sound thinking and a forthright ability to communicate, Mr. Twain has left behind many humorous anecdotes for us to enjoy. Included in some of them — like this one shared by President Monson — are seeds of brilliant truth.
Is it possible that we are sometimes so enamored of the journey to a distant land, the exotic situation that would take us out of the ordinary routine, or some experience that is larger than life, that we fail to see the proverbial forest for the trees? How profound is Mr. Twain’s suggestion that his friend forego the exotic trip where he could recite the Ten Commandments, choosing instead to simply stay home and incorporate them into his everyday (more humdrum) life!
The Savior’s life seems, on the surface, to be one of relative simplicity. He never traveled far from his place of birth. He did not enjoy the trappings of earthly power, glory and riches. He did not choose a larger-than-life platform on which to teach the principles of eternal salvation. (Well, excepting the glorious principle of the Resurrection.)
He was, in a word, obedient. He was obedient to Heavenly Father’s will, to the eternal plan, and to His life’s mission. He understood that through his example, his work, and his love, he could bridge the way for us to return to our Heavenly Home.
In his General conference address, President Monson taught that Christ was the Master Bridge Builder. Jesus’ life’s work was one of building bridges of righteous direction and strength that — if we chose to follow — would get us across the wide chasms of sin, fear, and earthly woes so that we may enjoy spiritual peace.
Paramount was what President Monson called the Bridge of Obedience.
Included in the New Testament gospel accounts, we read about the experience of our Savior being tempted of Satan.
Although hungry, he did not fall for the offer of food from the adversary. (“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4.)
When Satan tempted him with power, Jesus clearly had his eye on a higher power than anything offered on this earth. (“It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matt. 4:7).
When Satan offered up the riches and honors of the earth, He said, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt.4:10.)
I have been hungry before. Really hungry. I have had visions of Oreos dancing in my head on Fast Sunday. It has been a process to learn about prayerfully offering up an obedient spirit so that my physical body does not dominate that period of fasting. Then I think of the Savior’s example of humble obedience in the wilderness while under extreme physical duress. Surely I can obediently honor the Law of the Fast, working to more fully incorporate the physical and spiritual portions of more closely following Him.
As a student at BYU, I remember thinking how cool it would be to go directly to Broadway, as a performer in a musical I had been offered. I was lured by how this work would look so dandy in my earthly resume. The “lights, audience, action” routine sounded pretty exciting to a young person who enjoyed musical theater.
For me, it was not the right option. Foregoing some immediate honors of the world was something with which I had not yet wrestled. While a tempting offer, compliance to that still, small voice was necessary in order for me to complete a different — and for me, better — life’s mission. And it was a small and pitiful temptation when considered next to the temptations Jesus easily shut down when in the wilderness.
I have wished I had listened, and obediently followed, in every situation I have encountered. I have come to so dearly love President Howard W. Hunter's words: "Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel" (October General Conference, 1982).
Our lives are full of decisions to be made as we are faced with chasms, gaps, and occasional detours. Obedience is essential if we wish to move safely forward. Christ provided the bridges. All we have to do is walk across them.
It would be nice to travel to the top of Mt. Sinai and read the Commandments aloud. But it is more expedient for us to “stay home” and keep them. As we are obedient to the commandments, building faith in every footstep, we are bound to walk more sure-footedly across those bridges provided by the Master Himself!