At 3:31 a.m. on February 27, 2010, our Santiago, Chile world was in turmoil, shaken by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Everything around us was hurled about, smashed, or overturned. The entire city went dark. When the quaking stopped, shock waves beneath the ocean formed a tsunami, pounding the country’s costal areas and forcing residents to flee inward and upward. As we think of the traumas of that eventful day, we sometimes think of how mental, emotional, and spiritual survival—as well as our physical well-being—require that we constantly move to higher ground.
A Sound of Warning
At the tsunami warning, 3 to 6 foot waves slammed over the coasts, leaving only minutes for people to flee at least 100 feet above sea level. Some waves lasted over 4 hours (Red Cross report). Gathering possessions, lingering to watch, or otherwise procrastinating could be fatal.
Reflecting on the quaking and fleeing, we think of a soul-slaying quake and tsunami of evil that are continually shaking and drowning God’s children. For safety we must hasten to spiritually higher ground. The wait is not merely a few hours. We must cling to that higher ground and never go back.
We’ll occasionally slip or slide—everyone does. We must get up quickly and keep our eyes forward.
Jeffrey R. Holland regretted “all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostility to go around.” He gave hope of a “’higher and holier’ life,” insisting that “living at a more elevated level has always been one of the gifts of God to those who seek it.” 1
Ignoring waves of worldly temptations, we scramble to keep our feet on God’s path.
Companion Climbers
President Gordon B. Hinckley warned that moving to higher ground can be lonely. He recommended, “Bind to you friends of your own kind, friends who will encourage you, stand with you, live as you desire to live . . . who will resist the evil that you determine to resist.” 2
We recommend that those on higher ground unite in studying and applying Christ’s Atonement and following His living prophet(s). We support each other as we strive to continue doing good through small and simple tasks such as reading the scriptures daily and praying for heaven’s help to avoid temptation. Remember that in small and simple acts of goodness, we experience great miracles and blessings (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33).
Consider those who are approaching higher ground with less knowledge and experience. Share yours. As followers of Christ, serve them as you share Christ’s love.
Guidance and Support
As we prayerfully obey God’s warning to hasten to higher ground, the Holy Spirit guides us to know His will for each of us. Ground may be much higher than 100 feet. The Brother of Jared climbed a mountain when his people were ripe for moving. Moses was sent to the top of Mount Sinai when serious quaking was ready to break loose below. Nephi went far up a mountain to rise above brother-storms brewing on the seashore.
Elder Robert D. Hales explained, “To seek spiritual high ground is to rise above the world and its temptation and to follow our Savior.” He urged us to move toward higher ground by “cultivating an atmosphere in which the Spirit can always abide with us.” 3
As Church members, we work together to ascend to loftier thoughts, words, and deeds (Mosiah 4:30). The Holy Spirit guides us on our journey to this higher ground, making small improvements in our personal behavior and daily righteous observances “line upon line and precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30), becoming a little better, a little kinder, a little more obedient each day!
Reaching ever higher, we must be making and keeping sacred covenants with God, being temple worthy as we climb toward the summit of celestial glory (Alma 37:6). Additional temples are opening to broaden higher ground for the increasing numbers of climbers.
God’s servants on earth are sounding alarms of prophecy, encouraging us to repent and resist temptation when we slide backward—to keep covenants that we have made and to make more promises to God. These warnings keep us moving toward higher ground, as distractions put us in danger from unsteady earth or rising tides.
Slippery Slope
TuTsunami Satan and his evil forces want to flood our lives with a tsunami of filth, degradation, and sin. We must choose to hasten to higher ground to be safe from floods of destruction. Once we reach higher ground, we must not leave!
The Book of Mormon tells of a Lamanite leader, Lehonti, camped with his men upon a mountain. Wicked Amalickiah urged Lehonti to “come down” and meet with him in the valley. Lehonti refused at first, but finally left the higher ground. Going down to the sea of wickedness, he was “poisoned by degrees” until he died.
Amalickiahs in our world today use arguments, accusations, flattery, social media persuasion, and other worldly influences to bait us to come down from our higher ground. Poison is in the winds and waves below. High ground is filled with light. High ground is safe ground—where God is.
As President Gordon B. Hinckley (cited previously) warned, what we choose to do today affects our eternity.
We testify that our Heavenly Father loves us, His children, more than we can imagine. He will help us hasten to higher ground as we choose to obey His will. If you love Him, keep His commandments (John 14:15). His plan for our life is more glorious and miraculous than we can ever imagine.
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