Prepare the Way

The scriptures speak of how “a way” is to be “prepared” in at least three senses.  Probably the most recognizable is in reference to how John the Baptist would prepare the way of the Savior.  The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).  Matthew told us that John was indeed the fulfillment of this prophecy: “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Matt. 3:3).  Lehi also “spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord.  Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight” (1 Nephi 10:7-8).  John’s teaching and ministry—and in particular baptizing those who accepted those teachings—would prepare the people for the coming of the Savior among them and help them accept the Savior at His first coming. 

                In a similar sense, the Lord asks us in our day to help “prepare the way” for His second coming.  In the Doctrine and Covenants the Savior commanded us to do as John the Baptist did: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (D&C 65:1).  He also instructed James Covel with these words, “Go forth baptizing with water, preparing the way before my face for the time of my coming” (D&C 39:20).  He invited Orson Pratt in similar language: “Lift up your voice as with the sound of a trump, both long and loud, and cry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation, preparing the way of the Lord for his second coming” (D&C 34:6).  In the Book of Mormon the allegory of the olive tree has this invitation in relation to the gathering of the last days: “Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit” (Jacob 5:61).  All of these references relate to how we can help prepare the world for the Second Coming by preaching the gospel and baptizing into Christ’s Church.  That’s how one prepares individually—by making covenants—and we help prepare the world by inviting others to enter into the waters of baptism.    

                A third way in which the scriptures speak of a way being prepared is that, just as we are to prepare the way of the Lord, God will also prepare a way for us.  Alma taught Helaman, “O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever” (Alma 37:46).  He similarly taught Corianton, “Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved” (Alma 41:8).  Lehi taught that “the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free” (2 Nephi 2:4).  Nephi similarly wrote, “For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him” (1 Nephi 10:18).  So God has prepared a way for us if we will “look” and “walk therein” and “repent and come unto him.”  Whatever our setbacks and challenges and difficulties, God has prepared the way out of them and back into His presence.  He put it this way in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you” (D&C 95:1).  He lets difficulties come upon us—the chastisement—but he also prepares the way for us to be delivered and make it through “all things” if we will come unto Him and walk in His way.