The Iron Rod

One of my favorite things that we talked about in my Book of Mormon class, we actually talked about a while ago. It was about Lehis dream of the Tree of Life, and we were talking about the iron rod and about the river flowing down to hell that was right next to it. Brother Griffen asked us why we thought that God would put the river that would take us down to hell right next to the iron rod. Why make it so easy for us to fall in? We didn't really know, maybe it was to encourage us to stay on the path. Any wrong move will take us out, and that obviously wouldn't be beneficial. However, we were wrong. Brother Griffen said, "Let me submit this to you." He said that he thought that the iron rod was right next to the river not for the detriment of those hanging onto the rod, but for the benefit of those stuck in the river. At any time if someone stuck in the river being dragged down to hell wanted to get out of the river, they could easily reach out their hand and take hold of the iron rod, and those on the iron rod can help pull them out. I thought that was so interesting. God doesn't want us to be stuck in the river looking for a way out, only to pull ourselves onto the bank of the river and then have to wander around in mists of darkness for days searching for the iron rod. He put the iron rod right next to the river, so that at any time if we decide that we want out, we know right were to go and where to grab onto. I absolutely loved that.