Pride Cycle Train Tracks

Every time we read about the pride cycle in the Book of Mormon, it reminds Shantel and I of an analogy that we came up a few years ago. 

It is a great way to think about what happens in the Book of Mormon, but also in our own lives. 

The Nephites (Us) are obedient and are blessed by the Lord and they are at Blessing Station. 

Then they become prideful, and forget that it was the Lord who blessed and helped them and they go to Pride Station. 

Then there is war, destruction and suffering for the Nephites and they are at Destruction/Suffering Station. 

Then they finally remember the Lord and go to Repentance Station and repent of their sins. 

That leads them back to Blessing station. However, then they forgot the Lord and go back to Pride Station and the circle starts over. 

Then we talk to our kids about how there is another path we can take. We we are blessed by the Lord we have the choice, we can either choose to remember the Lord, and be grateful for our blessing and go to Gratitude Station, or if we forgot the Lord, we will go to Pride Station. One important note is that the track from Blessing station automatically goes to Pride Station unless we make a intentional decision to change our course and go to Blessing Station. We must actively make the decision to be grateful to avoid Pride Station. 

However, even if we go to grateful station, part of this life is going through challenges. So after Grateful Station, we go to Trials Station. Just like Destruction/Suffering Station, Trials Station is very challenging. However, the difference between Trial Station and Destruction/Suffering Station is that at Trials Station you have the help of the Lord with you. The Savior is there to help you through Trial Station. Then as you exercise faith through trials you will return again to Blessing station. Even if you don't know when or how long you will have to spend at trial station, it is much better than being stuck in Destruction Station. 

Every one of us will have moments of pride and the only way back is through Repentance Station, but we want to try and avoid pride and repentance Station as much as possible. 

It is a great lesson to do with our kids and we enjoyed talking about the importance of Obedience, Gratitude and Repentance.