The Blessings Beyond the Gate

Much of my time growing up was spent on the ranch.  The ranch was always a special place for us as a family.  It was where we could go to get away from the busyness of the city/suburb life here along the Wasatch Front.  On the ranch we learned how to work—everything from irrigating the pastures, mending fences, and working the cattle.  My dad taught us to be tough, look fear in the eye, and always open and close the right gate.  

Gates are a very important part of ranching and rule number one is if you open a gate, then you shut the gate.  The gates are there to maintain order with the livestock. Gates are needed to keep livestock in one place, and out of another. Moving cattle through a gate can be tough, but when they find the gate and go through, it usually means greener grass.

As we learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and exercise faith in him unto repentance, we stand at a metaphoric gate, baptism.  We must choose to go through that gate and enter the path that lies beyond.  At baptism we open the gate to the covenant path. If we make and keep all the covenants along the way, we will be able to return to our Father in heaven and have all that he has. 

When we are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  That gift provides us with guidance, direction, and can change our lives.  These blessings are the result of living the covenant path and doing the things that help us stay faithful. 

“Covenants with God help us to know who we really are.” (Jean A. Stevens, “Covenant Daughters of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2014, 115). Just like we learned what we were made of in the face of tough ranch work, our covenants help mold and shape us into what the Lord knows we can become. 

The blessing from entering the gate of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are limitless as we stay faithful. President Eyring explained the Lord “promises us, if we are faithful, that we may live with Him in glory in families forever in the world to come.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Hearts Bound Together,” Ensign, May 2005, 77.)

I am eternally grateful for the lessons I learned and continue to learn on the ranch.  I am also eternally grateful for opening the gate of baptism.  The path that I strive to follow is blessing me and my family with the enduring joy of the gospel. 

I invite everyone to reflect on the gate that you opened and the path that you are living.  Have you taken a detour off the path?  Have you had struggles on the path?  Are we helping others stay on the path?  It is my prayer that we all find each other on the path and work together for eternity.  May we all be blessed for our sincere effort. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.