(As an aside this week, I have been thinking about the Catholic's practice of baptizing children, and if in the Bible it talks about being baptized by immersion, why do they not do it that way, as adults. I have thought about asking my Catholic coworkers, but not sure I want to get into that discussion with them. So, that is something I am curious about. )
In verse 9 of chapter 31, it says "And again it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
We are then encouraged to repent, and be baptized, and do the things which Christ has done, keep the commandments and endure to the end. Then in verse 18, "And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, yea have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost."
So I started thinking about why is the way narrow and strait...
I searched the question and found something from Biblehub.com, where it said that "narrow is the way" means "Literally, pressed, or hemmed in between walls or rocks, like the pathway in a mountain gorge." I thought that was interesting - because that might suggest that it is easy to stay on that path, because the borders on each side would keep the traveller contained therein.
In the same commentary, the difference between "straight" and "strait" is addressed. Straight is meaning "not crooked" and strait means "pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered." So the choice of using "strait and narrow path" makes sense.
Here is a quote from the Biblehub site "This is the word used here, and it means that the way to heaven is "pent up, narrow, close," and not obviously entered. The way to death is open, broad, and thronged. The Saviour here referred probably to ancient cities. They were surrounded with walls and entered through gates. Some of those, connected with the great avenues to the city, were broad and admitted a throng; others, for more private purposes, were narrow, and few would be seen entering them. So, says Christ, is the path to heaven. It is narrow. It is not "the great highway" that people tread. Few go there. Here and there one may be seen - traveling in solitude and singularity. The way to death, on the other hand, is broad. Multitudes are in it. It is the great highway in which people go. They fall into it easily and without effort, and go without thought. If they wish to leave that and go by a narrow gate to the city, it would require effort and thought. So, says Christ, "diligence" is needed to enter life. "
I hadn't previously thought much about that symbolism. From another commentary on the page, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,.... And so, difficult to enter in at; and when entered, the way is unpleasant to the flesh to walk in, being hedged up on each side with afflictions and tribulations". At first I was thinking about the walls being there helping to guide us, in regards to the first definition of "narrow", but this gives a different insight, that suggests it is difficult an unpleasant to walk that strait and narrow way.
Being a member of the church all my life, it has been an easy path for me. I have not struggled in my faith, and have not ever had the temptation to go astray, there has not been anything that has caught my eye that would tempt me to leave the path. I have felt the blessings of the gospel throughout my life and will continue to stay.
In verse 19 of 2 Nephi 31, we are asked if that now that we are in the strait and narrow path, is that all? "Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save." I have felt this more in the last two years of my life. With Mark's illness and passing, I have come to more fully understand how we must rely on our Savior Jesus Christ. If not for the promise of the Atonement and eternal life, and the knowledge I will see my dear husband again, I don't know that I would have the desire to go on.
Verse 20:" Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." This is what I must do. I will not give up hope, I will live a righteuous life so that I may see him again. I am working on the "love of all men"... some days it is a challenge.
I am grateful for the strait and narrow path and for parents who taught me when I was young to follow it. I pray daily that we have instilled the same desire in our children to stay in the narrow path, for I know that is the way we can all find everlasting joy.
I will finish with this story entitled No Bulls in the Ditch (as told to Sheila R & Francis M Woodard)(from the Liahona, Oct 2001)
Every year my parents took me to visit Aunt Ruby and Uncle George, who lived on a farm. I enjoyed visiting them because there were so many things to see and do. I played in the barn, helped feed the animals, rode on the tractor, and explored their big red shed.
One time when I was nine years old, I was helping Uncle George feed the animals in the barn. “You sure are quiet this morning, Justin,” he said.
“I was thinking about what my Primary teacher said last week,” I told him.
“What did she say?” Uncle George asked as he threw some hay to one of the cows.
“She said making right choices will help me keep the promises I made to Heavenly Father when I was baptized. But it’s hard to alwaysmake the right choice.”
Uncle George nodded. “It is hard to always make correct choices. But when we live the gospel standards and follow the ‘strait and narrow path’ like the scriptures tell us to, the Lord will help us.”
I thought about the “strait and narrow path” for the rest of the morning. When we finished feeding the animals, Uncle George said, “Thanks for your help, Justin. What would you like to do now?”
“I’d like to go over to my friend Jeff’s, but Mom and Dad usually take me there.”
Tilting his hat back on his head, Uncle George said, “They’ve gone into town with Ruby. I can’t take you either, because I have to fix the tractor.”
He put his arm around my shoulders and led me to a big dry ditch. “If you get in this ditch,” he said, “you can follow it all the way to Jeff’s house. Can you do that?”
I told him I was sure I could. Before I left, he gave me two warnings. One, I was to stay in the ditch. If I got out, I could get hurt or lost. Two, I was to keep going, even if I got tired. Then he promised me that if I followed his instructions, I would have no trouble reaching my friend’s house.
At first I was nervous. The grass on both sides of the ditch was so tall I couldn’t see over it. But soon I began to see interesting things all around me, and I wasn’t afraid of being in the ditch. I found a small white snail shell and a lot of interesting plants. Then I found a pebble and put it in my pocket.
After a while, though, it wasn’t interesting anymore, and my legs were getting tired. My faith in Uncle George’s words began to waver. Maybe I had already passed Jeff’s house. Maybe I wasn’t even going in the right direction. My uncle’s warnings were still clear in my mind, but I carefully climbed to the top of the ditch so I could see over the tall grass and find out where I was.
Happily, I saw that only a fence and a large pasture stood between me and Jeff’s house. All I had to do was walk through the pasture, and I would be there. With my goal in sight, I forgot my uncle’s warnings.
I slipped through a hole in the fence and started across the pasture. All I thought about was the fun Jeff and I were going to have. I paid no attention to what was going on around me until I heard a loud snort and the snapping of breaking sticks. I turned around and saw a large bull charging toward me from the edge of the pasture.
Now I had a new goal—to reach the fence before the bull reached me. I knew the shortest distance between two points was a straight line, so I ran straight toward the hole in the fence I had climbed through earlier. I ran so fast I could hear the air whistling around my ears. All the time, I was silently praying that Heavenly Father would bless me to run faster than the bull.
The fence was getting closer, but so was the bull. I was sure I felt his hot breath on my neck as I dived through the fence to safety. He snorted loudly as he pushed his nose through the hole and realized he couldn’t reach me.
My life had been spared. Heavenly Father had answered my prayer. My heart was full of gratitude to Him.
Now all I wanted to do was return to the “strait and narrow path” and follow my uncle’s instructions. I knew there were no bulls in the ditch. It was a safe place.
I had learned that my Primary teacher and Uncle George were right. There is great safety in choosing the right and following the correct path. I realized Heavenly Father would always help me stay on the “strait and narrow path” if I would listen and obey.
