When I was growing up, my grandparents did not live close by, and we only got to visit them 2 or 3 times a year. When we did visit, my parents would pack up the station wagon with our suitcases, blankets and pillows, five kids, with a few things to keep us busy and occupied. Inevitably, we would make bathroom stops, car-sickness stops, and turn arounds because we missed the turn off. These trips were sometimes delayed with kids fighting for territory and our parents fighting for sanity. These delays though necessary at the time, slowed our progress to our destination.
During these road trips, it seems like each of the kids took turns asking, “are we there yet?”, or “when will we get there?” I didn’t always detect the irritation building in my parents as we constantly asked these questions as we were traveling. I remember one time my mother telling us, you’ll know when we’re close because we’ll be travelling on a “rocky road”. My grandparents lived on a farm in eastern Idaho and were on a rural farm road that was covered with gravel, so hitting the 12 miles of gravel was a landmark that we could eagerly look forward to.
When we got to the gravel road, myself and my siblings were so excited, we even made up a song that we would sing over and over, “we’re on our way to grandma’s house, rocky road, rocky road”. My parents weren’t the least bit irritated when we started chanting this song over and over. I think they were so happy that we were at the end of the journey that they joined in the elation of reaching our destination.
We are travelling on life’s journey, and as we move forward, we are reminded that we are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, we are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, after all. We know that there are prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes. We are blessed with directions to our destination including prayer, personal revelation, the scriptures, words of the living prophets, and the gift of the Holy Ghost to name a few. It is natural as we progress through life to ask “are we there yet?” or “am I there yet?” or “when will we get there?”
The key to completing this journey in this life, whether we meet Christ in life, or death, is the same. If we are prepared to meet Him in life, we will be prepared to meet him in death. In D&C 33:17-18, we read: “Be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom- For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly.”
We may be on the “rocky road” part of our journey. Filled with elation, yet still having to navigate the trials that lie ahead. Just as we prepared ourselves for our journey to this life from our premortal life, by choosing God’s plan, and Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can continue to choose them each day by the way we live our lives, now. We choose to stay on this road to our eternal destination by staying true and faithful to Jesus Christ, our covenants, and his gospel. Making course corrections when necessary through repentance and accepting the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, trusting that he will guide us on our journey back to him.
I love this beautiful journey and have deep appreciation for those guides who are seeking to bring us home. Participation in Temple and Family History work is an integral part of my journey, and I love being part of this great work. I pray that we will stay on this journey together, and will remember that we are not “there” yet, but through our love and devotion to Jesus Christ and his gospel, we will get “there”, rocky road or not.
–Elaine Hardman