The Greek philosopher Proclus wrote of the fascination that Ptolemy I, Egypt's pharaoh in 300 B.C., had with geometry. He invited Euclid, the Greek mathematician called "the father of geometry," to Alexandria to teach him. After a week or so, Ptolemy told Euclid that the process of studying geometry was too slow. He wasn't like Euclid's other students. He surmised that Euclid must have a quicker, shorter method for teaching geometry to a pharaoh.
In response, Euclid gave voice to a principle that has held through the centuries: "Your majesty, there is no royal road to geometry."Some of us share Ptolemy's desire for finding a "royal road" or short cut to a goal we hope to reach. In reality, there seldom is such a short cut. The road to any success is paved with exertions rather than intentions. Our efforts might be spurred by desires, dreams and hopes, but unless we take the proper actions, we will not make much progress along the road to our goals.
We have many goals, but the most important is to gain eternal life. The teachings of the Savior and His prophets and apostles bear this solemn message: There is no royal road to exaltation.
Through the Savior's atoning sacrifice and resurrection, we already have the gift of immortality; all of us will be resurrected from the grave. The journey from that point onward, however, depends on what we do in this life.
The road to exaltation - or life with our Heavenly Father - is strewn with trials. Along the way are tribulations, some brief and others prolonged. Temptations lie in wait at curves, forks and intersections. Whether we follow their enticements and stray from our course is determined by how firmly we are committed to reaching our goal.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior said: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:13-14.)
Repeatedly, the scriptures tell us there is only one way to eternal life. The Savior, in the Upper Room on the evening of the Last Supper, was bidding a tender farewell to His apostles when He told them that in His Father's house are many mansions. "I go to prepare a place for you," He said. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2-3.)
One of the apostles, Thomas, said, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5.)
The Savior's answer was simple and clear: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6.)
In 1955, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the Council of the Twelve, delivered a baccalaureate sermon to the graduates of Brigham Young University in which he spoke of the path set by the Savior:
"The road lies before us. It is clearly marked. The means to travel it are richly provided. We must follow the path set for us by the Son of God in all that we desire, think and do.
"We must imitate Him in our mental growth as we search for truth. Let us never fear truth, but only its misuse. On the contrary, let us love truth above all else - for God Himself is Truth." (Church News, June 11, 1955, p. 4.)
If the path is so clearly marked, why do so many stray from it? The Book of Mormon tells us about Lehi and the vision of life he saw. By holding to a rod of iron, people were able to reach the tree and taste its fruit, which was sweet and most desirable above all other fruit. Some became ashamed as they succumbed to the mocking of people who were dressed in fine clothes and who were "pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit." Many strayed and were drowned in the depths of a fountain, others were lost, wandering into strange roads. But Lehi and some others "heeded them not." (See 1 Ne. 8:1-33.)
If we hope to reach our destination on our journey to eternal life, we must learn to ignore the jibes and ridicule of so-called friends. We ought to turn a deaf ear to the suggestions of a so-called easier or more pleasant route that might be pointed out by those who profess to know more than the Lord's apostles and prophets. We can rely on our testimony and knowledge of the gospel to hold us secure on our way to exaltation.
