Get on the Road to Heaven

Once upon a time, a youth fell in with an older companion. Soon they came to a fork.

Where are you bound? The older man said. To heaven, the youth replied cheerfully. The Road to Heaven lies on your left said the old man. It is where I am going myself.

Surely not, the youth replied. I don’t believe you because the road to the right looks more pleasant and I will go there because I will go there and nothing you say can stop me. But the youth would not meet his companion’s eye.

So they parted ways. The roads ran parallel, and soon a crack between them became a crevice became a deep canyon. Although the two travelers could still see each other and even, if they shouted, converse.

After a time, the road that the youth was on turned away and bent down towards swamp and obscurity. I was a fool, the youth said. I knew. I knew better. I deliberately chose bad, the youth said, and he wept.

The older man across the way yelled. It will be difficult, he shouted, but I see a way down. Cross, then climb up this side! I will help you! I will shout out advice about handholds. And when you come up, I will reach down and pull you up.

The youth sat down in the road and, lamenting, poured dust over his head.

What are you doing? The older man said. Sorrowing for my sins and chastising myself, said the youth.

And yet, said the man on the other side , you are no closer to getting on the road to heaven.

Thoughts:  What is repentance?  I literally believe it to be desire.  Repentance is deliberate change in the desired better direction.  Everything else one can say about repentance is window dressing.  That is why Elder Bednar says repentance is not a fix for the plan, repentance is the plan.  Sorrow is godly sorrow if you change.  Sorrow, no matter how genuine, is not repentance if you do not change.  Godly sorrow is desiring something better and working toward it.