Often times, we don't understand our trials an why we have to go through them. We wish God would take away the hardships. Griffin points out that God doesn't send His children into the wilderness just to get somewhere, but to become something as well. We already lived in Heaven with perfect parents. We came to earth to become more than we were then.
I also loved his insight on the iron rod in the vision of the Tree of Life. The scriptures state that the rod was on the bank of the filthy river. We could look at this as a frustrating location. Why have the rod so close to where we could fall in? The author points out that perhaps the placement isn't for the people on the path--it is for the people in the river, so that they can reach out and grab the rod and be saved from drowning. I love that imagery!
In another part of the book, the author talks about vertical and horizontal sources and how we need to make sure we our getting our information from the Lord, not from others around us. He gives a description of five people, making some sound very favorable, and others not so much. Then he reveals the individuals described. Those who sounded best, were actually terrible people, and those who sounded worst were actually prophets and apostles. We need to make good use of the gift of discernment.
Towards the end of the book, he talks about what to do when family members are struggling, particularly with the Gospel. His advice is to do as Father Lehi did when Laman and Lemuel went their way. Lehi stayed at the tree. He did not go chasing after them, nor did the prodigal son's father chase him down. They stayed at the tree, and beckoned their family to join them. We can also learn from that example.
This was a really good book and I am glad I read it.
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