Following The Prophet to the Promised Land

 Numbers 15:7-9 And they [Caleb and Joshua] spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land… their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

When our hearts are hardened to the words of God’s Apostles, we only hurt ourselves. Joshua was to be the next Prophet, he was a trusted servant of God.  The Israelites should have trusted his report of the Land, because they didn’t, they were cursed to live in the wilderness for 40 years.

If we obey the counsel of our prophets and apostles, we can be sure that “the Lord is with us” and we don’t need to fear. Our Heavenly Father gives us directions that are for our good and our protection.  The Land of Canaan would have been a perfect home for the Israelites, if only they would have had the faith to accept the words of Joshua and Caleb.  The Israelites let their fear rule them.

I have often felt like I am wandering in the wilderness and I long to be in the Promised Land.  My life is hard – everyone’s is. I know I won’t be spared all of my troubles and trials by listening to God’s prophets, but I can be sure that I won’t suffer from the consequences of not listening.

For example, our prophets have told us to stay away from pornography. The world doesn’t think looking at pornography is bad.  Researchers have told us of all the negative effects of pornography on individuals, families, and marriages.  If I do not view pornography at all, then I can be spared all of the negative consequences of it.

I am grateful for a living prophets guiding words.  I know that our prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, speaks the Word of God. He is a trusted servant of the Lord, and I trust him to lead me to the Promised Land.