Freeing Pharaoh

In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Lehi has a vision of a tree bearing life-giving fruit, a narrow path leading to it, and obstacles like a mist of darkness and a great and spacious building ( 1 Nephi 8 ). Traditionally seen as a metaphor for life’s spiritual journey, Lehi’s dream also holds a deeper truth: it’s a pattern we live over and over. Each encounter puts us on the path anew—a chance to choose truth, honor worth, and resist comparison. The Iron Rod: Christ's Guiding Example In Lehi’s dream, an iron rod runs alongside the narrow path, offering a steady guide for those seeking the Tree of Life. It is “the word of God” ( 1 Nephi 11:25 ), but the Word is Christ Himself ( Doctrine and Covenants 93:8 )—not just the message, but the messenger. The rod is His example, guiding us with a simple whisper: “You matter. And they matter.” To hold the rod is to choose compassion and truth in every interaction, following the Spirit’s nudge toward connection ( Moroni 7:16...

I've spent too much time running from life. I get caught up in emotions such as fear, overwhelm, and anxiety. And these emotions produce cycles of avoidance—scrolling endlessly, dodging calls, putting off what matters. It's a sickness I fall into when I'm not paying attention. But I've found a way out, and it starts with a simple question: Why? Why am I doing this? Why do I feel stuck? I keep asking, peeling back the layers—why this, why that—until I hit something solid. The final why always results in the same answer: I've turned someone into an object: a vehicle I can use to get me to a goal, an obstacle in the way of reaching a goal, or irrelevant to my goal. Maybe someone I'm mad at, treating them like a roadblock in my way. Maybe me, acting like I'm just a tool to get stuff done and not a human being who matters. For example, I might be avoiding a tough problem at work. If I ask myself "Why don't I want to do this work?" I might get the an...