Wrong Turns

One day I was happily traveling down the road to a church training meeting about 20 miles from home—a 40 minute drive on a good weather, low-traffic day. I was on target to be there about 10 minutes early. I had studied Google maps carefully, looking for the best way. I’m better at memorizing the visual map rather than word directions. I knew which East-West road to take, as that was the main direction through the valley where I live. I also had to consider traveling through roundabouts, which always makes me nervous. (I’m a stoplight kind of girl.)

I saw a road on which I could turn north, go through one roundabout to the right and the building would immediately be on the right. A lot of rights here, so what could go wrong?

Me: I could go wrong. I got to what I thought was the correct road on which to turn North. It was a stoplight instead of a roundabout and I thought to myself, “Oh, I must have not seen the map clearly. Yay! No roundabout!” and promptly turned left. I immediately found myself in the middle of a construction zone with controlled one-lane traffic and long lines of cars. Turning around wasn’t even possible. All I could do was keep going in the wrong direction. It would be 12 miles before I could turn back, then another 15 miles from there to the building where I needed to be. By the time I would have arrived, the meeting would be well underway, not taking into account the time spent waiting for cars to pass in the construction zone.

Once I escaped the “trap,” I headed home. I had a lot of time to consider how I ended up in this situation. I was very disappointed in myself. I had missed a training meeting I was looking forward to attending and was expected to attend. Fortunately, it was video recorded, so I was able to view it later.

How did I, with good intentions and with good resources to find my way, go so terribly wrong? Here’s what I discovered.

Great Search. I found an address, found a map, found directions.

Good Ponder. I memorized the layout of the land and read the directions, but not close enough.

Failed to Pray. I confess. I did not do this!

Poor Ability to follow directions, physical or spiritual because of self-doubt.

I found myself on the road to repentance and became determined to view the training video, pay more attention to ALL the details, say a prayer, and follow directions.

Most of our wrong turns in life are not terribly tragic and only require a daily review of our errors, then correcting them through repentance and a commitment to follow the correct path. Others may require much more. Addictions, abuse, neglect, criminal behavior – whether they be self-inflicted or inflicted upon others or if others have inflicted them on us – these may require the help of religious leaders, medical personal, or mental health therapists.

Preventing “wrong turns” requires constant awareness of our physical and spiritual surroundings. Reviewing our life at the end of each day helps us make the small course corrections that can prevent really bad “wrong turns.”

Study the road map: The ultimate road map is found in the Scriptures. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (KJV 2 Timothy 3:16).

Pray: “Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.” (The Book of Mormon Alma 34:27)

Follow directions: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (KJV John 14:26)

Self-Doubt: “Doubt not, but be believing . . . come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him”, (Mormon 9:27)

Perseverance: We can change our “wrong turns” into “right turns”. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (KJV Matthew 24:13))

The promise is summed up in the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Karen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints experiencing life as a wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, author, and political activist.