Pororoca

Elder Renlund spoke of an interesting phenomenon seen on the Amazon River twice a year in the most recent general conference. He related, “Despite the river’s strength, twice a year something seemingly unnatural happens. When the sun, moon, and earth are aligned just so, a powerful tidal wave flows up the river, against the natural flow of the water. Waves up to 6 meters high traveling as far as 50 kilometers upstream have been documented. This phenomenon, known generally as a tidal bore, is referred to locally as pororoca, or ‘great roar,’ because of the loud noise it makes. We can correctly conclude that even the mighty Amazon must yield to heavenly powers.” He applied this interesting event in nature to us this way: “Like the Amazon, we have a natural flow to our lives; we tend to do what comes naturally. Like the Amazon, with heavenly help we can do seemingly unnatural things. After all, it is not natural for us to be humble, meek, or willing to submit our wills to God. Yet only by doing so can we be transformed, return to live in the presence of God, and achieve our eternal destiny.” The path of least resistance is not our desired course if we are to follow the Savior; He took the hardest way of all as He fulfilled the will of His Father and gave His life up for all mankind. So too must we do difficult things against our natural tendencies to put off the natural man and follow Him in a world that increasingly rejects His teachings.  

As disciples of Jesus in these last days, we must decide that we will go against the flow of the world and hold fast to that commitment. If we don’t, we will be like the Nephites described in this verse: “But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they” (Mormon 5:18). This is similar to Paul’s description to the Ephesians about what happens to those who don’t follow the apostles and prophets the Savior has called: “Tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). These verses are contrasted by what Helaman taught his sons Nephi and Lehi: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12). We stay firm and steadfast when we build our foundation upon the Savior and His teachings. When we hold fast to Him and His words, we will be protected from the winds and pull of the world that would take us away from Him.  

             The way that we build our foundation on the Savior and don’t get tossed about by the world is through making and keeping covenants with the Him. Elder Renlund taught, “By making and keeping temple covenants, we learn more about the Lord’s purposes and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost. We receive direction for our lives. We mature in our discipleship so that we do not remain perpetual, unknowing children. Rather, we live with an eternal perspective and are more motivated to serve God and others. We receive increased capacity to fulfill our purposes in mortality. We are protected from evil, and we gain greater power to resist temptation and to repent when we stumble. When we falter, the memory of our covenants with God helps us return to the path. By connecting to God’s power, we become our own pororoca, able to go against the flow of the world, throughout our lives and into the eternities. Ultimately, our destinies are changed because the covenant path leads to exaltation and eternal life. Keeping covenants made in baptismal fonts and in temples also provides us with strength to withstand mortality’s trials and heartaches. The doctrine associated with these covenants eases our way and provides hope, comfort, and peace.” As we hold fast to the promises we have made at baptism to keep His commandments, always remember Him, and take His name upon us, we will find an anchor against the evil around us. As we stay true to temple covenants of obedience and sacrifice and consecration, we will pulled away from the worldliness around us and eventually be changed to become even as He is.