Excerpt
Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s 10th guideline reminds me that obedience is not the end of exploration — it’s the very beginning of it.
Intro
After a long week of deadlines and noise, I felt impressed to step away and climb the hill above Bountiful with my camera. As I waited for the sunset, I thought about Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s Guidelines for Righteous Living, especially Guideline #10: “Obeying is one of the best ways of exploring.” The higher I climbed, the clearer it became that obedience isn’t about restriction—it’s about finding higher ground and seeing life from God’s perspective.
Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- No one would attempt to scale Mount Everest or the Tetons in jeans and a t-shirt without an expert guide.
- We cannot climb the straight and narrow path without the guidance of the Holy Ghost and the protection of the whole armor of God.
- If we are obedient, we will “discover, explore, and learn many great and wonderful things.”
Perspective
Elder Maxwell’s Mountain Climber Analogy illustrates discipleship as a spiritual ascent.
| Element | Description | Spiritual Parallel |
|---|---|---|
| The Climber | One who begins the ascent | The Individual / The Spiritual Explorer |
| The Challenge | The difficult climb | The Straight and Narrow Path |
| The Expert Guide & Gear | Requires a guide and full gear | The Holy Ghost and the Whole Armor of God |
| The Reward | Discovery and joy through obedience | Gaining Truth, Knowledge, and Joy in God’s Kingdom |
Just as no one would attempt Everest without proper gear, the spiritual explorer must be clothed with faith, humility, and divine protection. The commandments are not chains but climbing ropes — tools that keep us safe on the ascent.
Practice (today, not someday)
When I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself that obedience is not restriction; it’s direction. By following divine guidance daily, I move upward, step by step, through the fog of mortal challenges.
Final Reflection
The mountain analogy reframes life’s climb: every commandment is an anchor point, every trial a ridge to strengthen the soul. The summit isn’t reached by speed, but by steady, faithful obedience — one prayer, one act of trust at a time.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Obedience opens the path to discovery — the more I submit, the higher I climb.
What I Hear Now
“If you will be obedient, you will discover, you will explore, and learn many great and wo
📸 Caption (BTS)
Behind the Shot: I climbed above Bountiful with my 500 mm lens, waiting for the exact moment when the last light would touch the temple and the clouds would gather over Antelope Island. From this height, the horizon seemed infinite — a reminder that obedience, like climbing, always leads to a higher view.
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