CAUGHT IN THE NET

In the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference, Elder Oaks spoke about commandments, explaining that there are two types: Permanent and Temporary. He also talked about the importance of the phrase, "Follow our Perfect Role Model and His prophet."

He began his talk with, "This year, millions have been inspired by the gospel study plan known as the Savior’s invitation, ‘Come, follow me.’ Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places."

As we watched, I recorded his talk and noticed something unusual. When President Oaks mentioned "Following Christ," a photo of President Nelson was shown instead of the Lord. I found this intriguing and wondered if it could be perceived as a subliminal message suggesting that following Christ equates to following President Nelson—or even implying that Christ = Nelson. I truly hope it was an oversight and that they intended to show an image of Christ. Unfortunately, this was broadcast to the millions of members who watched the conference that morning.

Below is the my video recording:  VIDEO LINK

Yes, we should look to Jesus Christ as the Perfect Role Model. However, I often struggle with the command to follow any man, no matter how righteous. A better approach might be to "give heed" or "listen," but never to simply follow.

Research indicates that relying on others for information, and worse, just following them can affect our cognitive processes. Studies suggest that when we offload our thinking and adopt the LDS slogan, "When the prophet speaks, the thinking is done," we diminish our own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

I share this context to illustrate an experience I had during a hike last week.

The past year or so, I would hike almost weekly with friends, following a predetermined trail  by one person in our group.  When you can simply follow the person in front of you, you tend to pay less attention than if you were hiking alone. Unfortunately, due to some circumstances, we no longer continue these weekly hikes. However, as a group, we managed to go on one last hike last week to a beautiful mountain summit where you can see both Salt Lake City and Utah County Valleys It was crucial to stay together, as there were many different trails, and it would have been easy to get lost or separated from the group.

I wanted to hike back up to the summit last Saturday evening before sunset, observing Yom Kippur. I knew how to reach the trailhead and believed I had paid enough attention to remember the correct path. I recalled that we veered off the main road after about a quarter mile, and when I spotted a sign that read "Designated Hiking Loop," I assumed it was the trail I should take.

As I hiked, I noticed I wasn’t climbing as I expected and felt uncertain about the direction. I encountered another hiker and asked, “Is this the trail to the summit?” They replied, “Oh no, this is just a loop trail. It won’t take you to the top.”

So, I turned back, left the "Designated" Trail, and found the steep path that would take me to the peak. Since I had simply followed someone on the previous hike, I wasn’t familiar with the route on my own. I had lost precious time and had to run most of the way, despite the pain in my body. It was important for me to experience the end of Yom Kippur by witnessing the sunset.

Here is an aerial view of the two trails. The green trail represents the "Designated Trail" I was on, while the gold trail shows the steep path I had to navigate to reach the tower at the summit.

This hike was very important to me, much like the hike I took ten years ago to Lake Mary, which I briefly mentioned in this blog post.. LINK TO THE REST OF THE STORY

Symbolically, this hike resonates with the constellation of Pisces, represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions. One large fish is caught in a net, endlessly looping and circling the equator, while the smaller fish has broken free from this stagnating cycle. This smaller fish is heading north in search of God.

The best part of the hike was reaching the top just minutes before sunset. At the summit stands a spiral rock formation. The spiral is a powerful symbol found in various cultures, often representing growth, evolution, and the journey of life. In many spiritual traditions, it signifies the path of enlightenment and personal development, suggesting a continual unfolding of understanding.

In some Native American cultures, including the Navajo and Hopi, spiral formations are considered sacred, symbolizing the connection between the earth and the cosmos. They represent the journey of life, spiritual growth, and the cycles of nature.

To remember this hike, I paired some of the photos I took with words from the soundtrack of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a short book written by Richard Bach in the year I was born. The story follows a seagull named Jonathan who seeks to master the art of flight. He yearns to understand the nature of flying and the exhilaration it brings. Ultimately banished from his flock, he perseveres in his passion, transcending his physical limitations and becoming something greater than an ordinary seagull.

VIDEO LINK