Early in the first Book of Nephi, within The Book of Mormon, we read of a great and important vision, first recorded by Lehi, and later repeated for his son, Nephi.
This vision includes a symbolic representation of the journey we take through life, and the possibilities afforded to us if we are successful. At the end, we see a great tree, laden with delicious fruit. This fruit symbolizes eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God. The fruit grows out of the love of God, symbolized by the tree.
Between the time Lehi finds himself in a "dark and dreary waste," and then later reaching this tree to eat its fruit, there are complications, meant to portray some obstacles and other difficulties of navigating our mortal lives.
There is a narrow path that leads directly to the tree. Any who keep themselves on this path will end up at the tree, free to partake of the wonderful fruit. A rod of iron extends along this path, like a handrail. This iron rod allows travelers to keep themselves on the path in spite of dark mists that arise and blind their eyes.
Among the difficulties encountered is a huge building, beautifully constructed, which stands in the air on the opposite side of a filthy river of water.
This building, called "great and spacious," is filled with people wearing expensive clothing, apparently enjoying themselves in a perpetual party. They are laughing and pointing their fingers at those who are making their way towards the tree.
Many who stray from the path and wander towards the building fall into the river and are drowned. Some make it all the way to the tree, and take a bite of the fruit, but are ashamed and decide to continue their journey to join those mocking them from the building.
You can find this vision in 1 Nephi 8, and 1 Nephi 11-15.
There are many lessons to be taken from this rich vision. Now, I am focusing on what we can learn about focus.
What is common among all those who fall away into the forbidden paths to be lost? Notice how they all take their eyes off the path, in a search for things they assume to be missing. Many try to see what those in the building are doing and saying.
-----
Temptation is strong to spend most of our time looking around, instead of looking up.
When seeking direction, look up, not around. What does God think? What does He believe about ?
The world today creates lots of anxiety to seek what others are doing, saying, thinking, etc. I am puzzled by "reaction" videos, where the point is to observe someone else's reaction to something, instead of merely experiencing the thing for oneself.
We are increasingly encouraged not to think for ourselves, but to seek what another person has to say. Have you noticed how so much of what is labeled "news" today is not news at all, but an opinion? Sometimes, an opinion about an opinion. I once saw a "news" story that relayed a contentious exchange that took place on the website of a different "news" outlet, where two people heatedly discussed an event. There, I counted three layers between myself and the actual newsworthy event in question; an opinion about an opinion, about an opinion.
How are we to rise above such miry misrepresentations of things as they really are? A good first step may be learning to discern stories in the media that are mere opinions versus simple relaying of facts. These stories are usually worded in a way that implies (or openly claims) that some group is angry about something, or that the story confirms allegations or is part of a broader system of establishing some narrative or generally accepted supposition on a controversial "hot-button" topic. Instead of simply transmitting information, about which readers are encouraged to think for themselves, too often assumptions are made regarding which division of the populace the reader finds themself, and the writings are catered to that preconceived way of interpreting information.
Two stories about the same event can easily be spun in two opposite directions, creating cause for anxiety or even anger among members of one group or another.
Consider the following obviously opined contemporary comments on the state of the U.S. economy, both based on the same report. These are actual headlines from two different "news" media organizations:
1. "Inflation rate eases to 4.9% in April, less than expectations"
2. "Inflation jumped 0.4% in April as prices remain stubbornly high"
Can you feel how the wording is intending to make readers think a certain way, instead of informing them?
One says, in effect, "It's not as bad as they are saying."
Two says, "Don't listen to them, the economy is terrible."
Why not just publish the findings, and let people draw their own conclusions? Too much of our thinking is done for us by individuals and organizations that stand to gain a lot of money or power off our emotional responses to such prompts.
As long as people are constantly in a state of stirring, seething dissention, great power can be exercised over them, as they are distracted by manufactured anxiety in a media system that also just happens to offer the solution to their problems. Usually, these solutions are pleas for either a vote, or for money. "Vote for me," "increase your spending." Have you noticed this?
It's a racket. We are told to be always angry about the "others" out there, the mysterious, anonymous "They."
Then we're sold the very advertisements that fund these media outlets, as a way to alleviate our suffering. How convenient!
Step one: Convince people why they should be miserable, then give them the solution by way of consumption or donating their political power to someone else. When they still feel miserable, offer them more spending as a way to help them. Up the pressure for their support, to counter the mounting influence of the "other side."
It's a nasty cycle, that only spirals downward for those caught in this trap.
At the peril of seeming cynical, most of what I see in the world's mass media these days either has to do with gaining my vote, or my money. These seem to be the only things worth the time of those motivated to take part in this evil racket. Our emotions are bought and sold, by those who stand to gain much from an emotional knee-jerk response.
If you take the plunge away from the worldly mass media, and someone less courageous accuses you of being ill-informed on issues in the world, ask them to have you explain any one of those issues. Show them how you don't need to obsess over the latest example of the decay around you (the "news"). You can be perfectly informed on all you need to know about general patterns and the direction people are moving. Those who point the finger of blame for a "lack of information" are usually trying to console themselves for their indulgent obsession with things they know to be harmful, but must be maintained to feel relevant in the world and to the worldly.
Consider Nephi's words, which I use to guide much of my public writing, especially this blog:
"The things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." (1 Nephi 6: 5)
-----
We learn all we need to know about sin and the world by being righteous. We have no need to sin. Of course, we will make mistakes. The truths we gain by learning from mistakes can be easily twisted into an acceptance of sin, however. It's not the sin that teaches us through making mistakes, it's repentance. This idea bears repeating. We learn by repenting, not by sinning.
We have no need to obsess over the darkness creeping around in the world. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Don't add to the evil in the world by stewing over it continually. There is already plenty of garbage in the world without you adding to it by allowing it such an open stage as your precious attention. Get away from it. See the joy of letting go of your fascination with the evil that is in the world.
"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. Preoccupation with unworthy behavior can lead to unworthy behavior. That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel."
Boyd K. Packer
Those holding to the rod of iron in the great prophetic vision were just as blind as those who lost their way by letting go. We might not have all the answers. We might not have all the words to explain our convictions toward righteous living. But the promise is by holding fast to the word of God, we will make it through the dark mists.
We must never let go of the rod of iron, even to seek to help others in need.
We must give up our fascination with the world and the worldly. What is accomplished by keeping our eyes fixed on those who are clamoring for the world's attention?
What is accomplished by keeping ourselves fixed on the "great and spacious building?"
If you do manage to keep on the path that leads to eternal life, the only thing offered by a fixation on the evil in the world is a form of relativistic self-righteousness as might be summarized by saying, "At least I'm not like them!"
What does you not being like them have to do with you actually being like the Savior?
If you're going to compare yourself to someone else, compare yourself to Him. Look up, not around.
Let's look to Christ. Keep your eyes continually fixed upon the Son of God. What does He look like? What are His attributes? What can we do to be more like Him?
Imagine His determination to finish the work set before Him. Throughout His mortal life, into and through the Garden of Gethsemane, up to Calvary's battered brow, down through the world of disembodied spirits; how hard our Savior worked!
-----
A dear friend of mine who's had more influence on me than just about any other person in this world introduced me to this image some years ago:
What a clear picture of the kind of determined drive that leads to real progress! All four feet pressed hard to the ground, slowly, steadily pulling the burden along. The eyes are focused straight ahead on the next few steps along the labored way.
-----
Don't be afraid of the mocking of the world or of the worldly should you choose to wear spiritual blinders to help you keep yourself focused. These blinders are not external taskmasters limiting your freedom. In fact, they are guides that help you see more clearly.
In the words of that same friend who showed me the picture of hard labor, "Don't rush, but hurry."
And from the great king Benjamin,
"It is expedient that [we] should be diligent, that thereby [we] might win the prize." (Mosiah 4: 27)
Keep your eyes on the prize.
You'll get there.
See also:
But We Heeded Them Not, by David A. Bednar
“Settle This in Your Hearts” by Neal A. Maxwell
The Tugs and Pulls of the World, by Neal A. Maxwell
Welcome to the 24/7 Anxiety Machine, by William Wynne