From the book “Messages for a Happier Life” William B. Smart shares
It was a family outing in the magnificent red-rock and blue water country of Utah’s Lake Powell, one of many this close-knit family had enjoyed. In one of the lake’s lovely coves, the lure of the deep, blue water was strong. The motor was switched off, the houseboat drifted and everyone went overboard for a swim. Everyone including the family’s eighty-five year old patriarch. Not much of a swimmer but never one to be left out, he donned a bulbous orange life jacket and slipped over the side.
The boats boarding ladder had been lost—no problem for strong arms and supple bodies when it came time to get back aboard. But for an eighty-five-year-old patriarch it was a serious problem. Grasping the stanchion, the patriarch struggled to climb aboard. Grown sons tried to push him from below. Others tried to pull from above, but his white knuckled grip on the stanchion prevented effective help.
Finally, when his struggles had reached the point of despairing exhaustion, the plea of the daughter came clear: “Dad! Dad! Reach up! Let go and reach up!” It took faith in his exhausted condition to let go of that stanchion, but he did, and reached up!” Strong hands grasped his wrists and lifted him into the boat. “Thanks,” he gasped as he sprawled on the deck. “I don’t know how much longer I could have lasted.” And then, after a long, reflective pause, he seized the moment: “You know, I wonder how many times in my life I have struggled and relied on my own powers when all I needed to do was to let go and reach up for help from above.”
Through the centuries, men (and women) of greatness have been those with the faith to let go and reach up—and heard the ultimate affirmation of his faith: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Moses, struggling with stubborn, rebellious people on one hand and a vindictive pharaoh on the other, let go and reached up—the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea in safety.
The three Hebrews in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den, like all the prophets who struggled to bring the Lord’s words to an uncaring world, when the crisis came found they had to let go and reach up.
Even the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, after the despairing cry, “My God, why hast thou forsaken me,’ Showed us the way by letting go and reaching up.
And, in our time, a fourteen -year-old boy who let go of his struggles over the confusion of churches and reached up for help that opened the glorious Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.
Do we have the faith to follow these examples as we struggle with our problems? Or are we more like the man who lost his footing at the top of the precipice, plunged over, and saved himself by clinging to a bush growing out of a cliff? Feeling the bush give way, he prayed fervently and cried, “Isn’t there anyone up there who can save me?” From above came a voice: “I’ve heard your prayers, my son. Let go of the bush and you will be saved.: A long pause, and then the reply:”Is there anyone else up there?
“Prove me now herewith,” the Lord said, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.: (Malachi 3:10.)
And what are the blessings? They are almost beyond counting. The Lord has promised great blessings to those who pay an honest tithe. He has also promised peace to those who follow Him. The Word of Wisdom promises yet other blessings: “. . . .They will find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, and shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint. . . .” These and so many other blessings to help through the trials of life are promised to those with the faith to let go and reach up. Finally, of course, is offered the greatest of all blessings—that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.~~William B. Smart. Messages for a Happier Life,(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989), p. 27-29
