Recently, I was driving to my friend Jasmine’s house. I had never been to her house before and when she gave me her address, she told me that the GPS would try to send me one way, but that way didn’t exist and to take another road instead. I love my GPS, I use it frequently, and even though it tells me to do weird things sometimes, I trust it more than I probably should. This trip to my friend’s house was a good test for myself.

The drive to Jasmine’s house was quite an adventure. I had never driven on this road before and there were very sharp turns, uneven roads, narrow lanes, and even some deer to avoid. At one point on the trip, we lost all cell phone service and eventually the GPS as well. I began to panic. How would I know where to turn? I settled into the driver’s seat with more alertness than before and began to pay attention to the road signs, hoping to be able to figure things out.

After several minutes, I had enough cell service for the GPS to begin working again. We eventually found our way to my sweet friend’s house and got to visit with her for a short time. The drive back home was not as stressful and I was able to get home with no concerns, I didn’t even need to use the GPS.

I was kind of surprised by how even though I knew that the GPS was wrong, it was still tempting to turn off onto the road she told me not to turn onto. I had to say the name of the road that I was supposed to turn onto over and over again so that I would keep in my mind not to follow the GPS.

This reminded me of a few things. One, is the story found in 1 Nephi of the Book of Mormon. Lehi and his family leave Jerusalem because Lehi is told that it will be destroyed. He packs his family up and they leave into the wilderness.

Lehi is then told to send his sons back to Jerusalem to recover the brass plates which hold a history of their ancestors, the five books of Moses, and prophecies of various prophets. His sons go back to obtain the plates. His two older sons, Laman and Lemuel, are having a really hard time believing and following their Father into the wilderness. They obtain the plates through great difficulty. You should read about it in the Book of Mormon, it is the most amazing story!

Once they have obtained the plates and taken them back to their father in the wilderness, they are told to go back again into Jerusalem and ask their friend, Ismael to come with their family. Laman and Lemuel are happy to return because Ismael has several beautiful daughters. However, going back this second time and seeing that all is well and their home is not destroyed, it becomes harder to leave again.

On the way back into the wilderness, Laman, Lemuel, two daughters and two sons of Ishmael rebelled against the others and wanted to return to Jerusalem. Nephi, Laman and Lemuel’s younger brother, sternly reminds them of why they had to leave. His rebuke was not welcome and his brothers grabbed Nephi and bound him with cords and sought to kill him and leave him in the wilderness to be devoured by animals.

Nephi prayed saying, “Oh Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I my burst these bands with which I am bound.

And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.” (1 Nephi 7:17-18)

Eventually, they all return to Lehi in the wilderness and never return to Jerusalem again. They never saw the destruction that came to their home by the Babylonians that left not even a stone left from their beautiful temple. They never understood the fate that would have been theirs if they had succeeded in going back that day.

I know that if I had foolishly turned onto the wrong road and not followed Jasmine’s very specific instructions, I would have only had to turn around and get on the right road. Most likely shaking my head and laughing at my stubbornness.

Laman and Lemuel never understood the destruction and misery that their father prevented them from enduring by listening to God and doing something really difficult and completely unexpected. We, having the history of what happened to Jerusalem and all of its inhabitants, know what Laman and Lemuel were saved from.

I love the story of this family. It is one of my favorite stories of the Book of Mormon. I’ve read it many times. I am always fascinated with Laman and Lemuel’s anger, frustration, and dislike of their younger brother Nephi. Nephi is courageous and always finds a way to do what is right. He has great faith and trusts his father. He eventually becomes the leader of this group because of his righteousness.

I want to be like Nephi, but some days, I find myself being more like Laman and Lemuel. I think that it is normal to be more like the two brothers that struggle to find faith in the hardships of life. Nephi is exceptional. It takes a lot of effort for me to be like Nephi. My goal is to keep working hard to have faith like him until it just becomes natural for me.

The other thing this trip to Jasmine’s house reminds me of is the Plan of Salvation. I am a little obsessed with this loving Plan that our Father in Heaven created for us. It brings me great Joy and comfort in my life to know the Plan. In this plan, we have the opportunity to come to earth, and to make our own choices in this life. Every choice we make will lead us on our path back home to Heavenly Father.

There will be voices of the world (GPS) that will tell us to go a certain way, but we are told by the Spirit (Jasmine’s directions) that we should not take that road, it will not get us to our desired destination. We get to choose. We always get to choose which way to go. Do we choose to come closer to God, and return home to Him, or do we choose to follow the ways of the world?

I promise you that the ways of the world will never bring the happiness and joy that God will provide to us. It just isn’t possible. I lived in the way of the world long enough to know for myself of this truth. God’s ways are always filled with love, compassion, understanding; and His ultimate goal is to bring you home to Him.

Trust in the Plan. Find Jesus Christ in your journey. He is standing close to you waiting.

**Each of these words Plan has a link that will take you to several different blog posts about the Plan of Salvation. They are all amazing insights that I have found about the Plan and different ways that I have come to understand it. I hope you enjoy all of the reading today.