PROVO, UTAH
“Through the Father’s plan, the covenant path and the life, example and Atonement of Jesus Christ, we will find our way back home to our heavenly home,” said Sister Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, during Brigham Young University’s Women’s Conference. “As we continue along the path [to eternal life] one faith-filled step at a time, He will be with us,” she continued.
Sister Stephens addressed women in the Marriott Center in the afternoon session on April 28. She discussed the need for members of the Church to take the counsel and correction that will lead, protect and help them. She compared the mortal journey to a recent visit to Arches National Park that she enjoyed with her husband.
During this visit, Sister Stephens and her husband started on a primitive trail that was marked only by stacks of red rocks. Sister Stephens said, “We watched carefully for these markers. They set our course and guided us along the path.” Sister Stephens gave three “markers” that Heavenly Father has provided to help guide members along the path to eternal life. “These markers help us stay on the path, get back on the path and provide directions and needed course corrections,” she said.
The first marker Sister Stephens mentioned was covenants and ordinances. “Our pathway back to our heavenly home is … well marked by covenants,” she said. These covenants and ordinances will provide “safety, direction, and protection on the path home and prepare us to enter into God’s presence when we reach the end of our journey,” she said.
Sister Stephens mentioned the ordinance of baptism that is followed by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost as the starting point for leaving the world’s influence behind.
She said that the ordinance of the sacrament and the covenants that are made with it serve as a reminder that Christ’s hand is still stretched out. “Through the Atonement, Jesus Christ provides an arm and a hand to reach for, to rely on every day especially when the path back home seems primitive and challenges seem overwhelming,” she said.
Living prophets that guide the Church are the second marker along the path. “They see the way ahead and warn us of danger on the path,” Sister Stephens said. “There is safety in witnesses. There is safety in the teachings of those called to be His special witnesses.”
Sister Stephens asked the women to reflect on where they sought counsel, truth and guidance. “Do we seek for truth while Googling great and spacious buildings? Or do we turn to the word of the Lord given through His special witnesses.” Truth and safety is found by following the word of the Lord that is spoken by His prophets. They will always warn of dangers that are in the path ahead.
The final marker is Jesus Christ. “Our Savior Jesus Christ not only marked the path, but He led the way,” taught Sister Stephens. Christ is the way that leads to eternal life. “He has prepared the way for us to be successful and to reach our divine destiny — eternal life,” she said.
While she was hiking with her husband, Sister Stephens said that the path became difficult and it was hard to progress to the next marker. They soon came to a place where they had to descend a smooth rock face. She said that she was frozen with fear, and couldn’t let go of the rock until her husband climbed back up the rock and extended his arm towards her.
Just as her husband extended his arm to help Sister Stephens down the difficult path, Jesus Christ is there to extend His arm. When Peter started to sink below the surface of the water, he cried out, “Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14: 30-31). Sister Stephens taught, “with this gentle, but profound, counsel and correction He reminded Peter, and us, that His arm is stretched out still.” Sister Stephens said that Christ’s arm is reaching for those who let go of their pride and humble themselves before Him.
Sister Stephens closed by asking the audience to think about their personal path.
Part of mortal life is to experience disappointment, trials and opposition, she said, but if the counsel of the prophets is followed, members are true to their covenants and stay close to Jesus Christ, “He will be with us. He will guide us in the way we should go.”
