The Danger of Clinging to the Iron Rod

I enjoyed this read on The Danger of Clinging to the Iron Rod at MormonBuzz.com by Arianna Rees.

As usual, my take on this was that I don’t agree with all of it, some parts of the perspective just don’t align to my views entirely, but I do find some parts of it to be very well worded and the message that just clinging blindly to “follow the prophet, he knows the way” out of FEAR is something I really like to hear other members of the church recognize is not good for our development and progression.

One part of the blog states talks about Lehi’s dream and the iron rod compared to her rock climbing experience:

I imagine that those who clung to the iron rod did so because they, like me, were terrified, not because they had faith in it. Lost in the mist of darkness at the edge of a precipice with nothing to direct them except the roar of the water, the uproarious mocking of those in the great and spacious building, and the iron rod, they chose what was most reliable, but they still remained unconvinced that it was reliable. They weren’t there to reach the top triumphantly; they were there because the rod was there, and, consumed with their surroundings instead of their destination, they were propelled by fear. They weren’t actually relying on the strength of the rod when they clung to it, but on their own grip, their own understanding.

[Emphasis added]

There may be moments of fear in our lives that require us to react in short spurts to get us through dangerous moments. Fear can focus us, give us adrenaline to act, motivate thoughts or analysis, or consider the impact to others so we can make a choice and change something.

Fear has a place in our lives.

But it is not a long-term strategy. Neither is clinging out of fear. Perhaps for moments we cling when we don’t know what else to do, and perhaps at times that is better than nothing while we think through things and get a better strategy.

But if we really want to reach our destination joyfully and heroically, we don’t just cling. We don’t maintain fear as our driving motivating emotion.

The sustainable approach is to relax, find our flow, be aware of ourselves and our surroundings…and go with the flow that helps us progress amid setbacks and challenges.

I think this is why many of us come to this site and are often told “slow down”, “don’t make rash decisions”, “don’t talk to too many people yet about your emotional responses”.

I think that it is a natural reaction when a faith crisis happens, to cling, then unsatisfied…completely let go and cling to anything else besides the iron rod, perhaps clinging to the great and spacious building…but still clinging out of fear of what has been learned and the lost trust in the iron rod.

And that may be good for an immediate response.

But in time, that too is still clinging out of fear and not sustainable.

Like the mountain climber that needs to trust the “gear” or the skills or the ability to climb, we can get through faith trials by avoiding fear and clinging, by using faith and hope. At some point, despite what other climbers tell you, you need to trust your own arms and legs and head…take a deep breath…and climb believing you can do it or you can recover if mistakes happen. Faith, not fear, is a hopeful way to live.

I no longer cling to the words of prophets (scripture or General Conference) as “they must be right, something must be wrong with me.” Instead, I trust there are wise servants that help give me ideas, but I still have to climb, and God wants me to…he doesn’t want me to cling forever. He is cheering me on as I relax and even let go of the rod, because he knows I’ll be more satisfied with me defining my own faith in ways that elevate me, and there is more joy in that approach full of love than motivations out of fear. The view at the top is worth it when I climb, not cling.