Daily
Devotional

One day, some of my friends and I decided to go to Mount Hood for a drive. We were young and adventurous, so even though I was not dressed for snow, one of my friends and I decided to rent a saucer and have fun sliding down some hills. We chose to get away from the main hill where most people were sliding, and instead found a private place, away from the activity. Unfortunately, the snow there was soft and powdery and I could not seem to get the momentum I wanted. My friend suggested trying the slope below the one we were on. That sounded good to me, so I got on my saucer and gave a big push.

The next thing I knew, I was somersaulting down a cliff, holding on to my saucer for dear life! I had no idea how far I would go and was not sure I would end up alive. Thankfully, I came to a stop without injury. But then I was stuck. I could not climb up the steep cliff, and I only heard a shout from my friend once. Then all was still and quiet. It started to snow and a wind picked up. Wearing only light clothing, I became very cold, and panic started to seize me. I began to pray, and soon a peace came over me, but I was still in a dangerous position.

Eventually, my friends contacted mountain rescuers, who located me and helped me up the cliff with a rope. By that time, my mouth was numb from the cold and it was hard to talk, but I soon warmed up as we traveled home with the car heater on.

That day, I learned an important lesson: Do not attempt something new until you know it is safe. I was in untested territory, and my depth perception was poor because everything around me was white with snow. I put my life in danger by assuming a hill was safe, but for all I knew, the hundred-foot hill could have been a thousand-foot slope. Making thoughtless assumptions can be risky behavior!

The same principle is true in the Gospel. There are paths that are tried and true; they have taken many saints safely to Heaven. These paths are laid out simply in the Word of God and have not changed in about two millennia—nothing has been added or taken away. It is dangerous to question these old paths and assume that a new way will be safe. Many people who have tried “new ways” have found disaster in their spiritual lives, and even in their spiritual destiny. We want to stick with the solid, tested, sure principles that those who have gone before have proven and found to withstand the test of time.