Faith in those who are off the covenant path
In the world there are some people with knowledge of the Restored Gospel who find great hope and happiness by staying in the church — “on the covenant path” — and others who step away from the gospel and return later in life or, possibly, they never return.
We, as leaders, can lose sleep over the long-term choices individuals make related to the gospel, wondering how we can encourage those we lead (especially youth) to stay on the covenant path.
When one steps off the covenant path it also feels like they are stepping off the learning path or the path of spiritual progression.
How can they progress when they aren’t regularly focused on the scriptures or they’re even indulging in sin?
The more I have studied and pondered this concept it has led me to be much more optimistic about others’ spiritual journeys even if they venture off the ideal path.
We worship a God of paradoxes and the fact that God can still work with and develop people in remarkable ways, even when they have rejected Him, is one of those paradoxes.
Let’s compare two individuals:
Trent grows up in the church, serves a mission, marries in the temple, and baptizes his oldest child when he is 40 years old.
Peter grows up in the church, marries a girl because of a surprise pregnancy, never finishes college, divorces at 30, has a run-in with the law, and gets off parole when he is 40 years old.
Trent continues his life doing his best to keep the commandments, maintain a current temple recommend, and is called as bishop at age 50.
Peter returns to church, finally graduates from college, and receives his first temple recommend from Bishop Trent at age 50.
They are both sitting in the bishop’s office, just on different sides of the desk.
Who has more spiritual knowledge, Trent or Peter?
Who knows more about the meaning of scripture, Trent or Peter?
Who knows more about Jesus, Trent or Peter?
Of course, it depends on many factors, but my point is, when someone steps away from the “covenant path” we should not assume they have stepped away from the path of spiritual progress.
I would never recommend Peter’s path but I would recommend we still give it value.
I would also never suggest that God led Peter down that path; however, He also never abandoned Peter on that path.
The suffering Peter experienced (much of it self-inflicted) still has a sanctifying nature.
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Peter received sanctification even during those moments off the covenant path when he found happiness, peace, and stability.
During the happy and the painful moments in Peter’s wandering the Great Shephard was still after him, blessing him, developing him, nudging him towards The Path.
Seeing other’s journeys through this lens brings me more empathy and love for others.
It helps me see value in every life.
It helps me be a more patient leader who is willing to sit in the mess that looks so clearly solvable via the covenant path.
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over [Peter] that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine [people like Trent], which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
Sincerely,
Kurt Francom, Executive Director, Leading Saints
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