Flying Lesson No. Five

Our Eternal Flight Plan

Flight Planning ‑ The most important reason for filing a flight plan is to insure that the pilot knows where he is going and how he is going to get there. Weather briefings are an important part of flight planning and are necessary so that the pilot knows the weather to expect in route and at his destination. Now many flight plans are prepared in advance with the aid of computers. All the pilot has to do to file the flight plan is to push a button.

One of my extra duties for five years was to be an advisor to the Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol is an Air Force Auxiliary whose mission includes looking for lost pilots. I learned that many lost pilots did not file or follow a flight plan. This is also the primary reason a pilot runs out of gas short of his destination often with fatal consequences.

Lesson for Life ‑ Our Heavenly Father has established and filed our mortal flight plan which is the same plan and destination for all of His children which is eternal life.  We call this mortal flight plan the plan of salvation. It is our personal responsibility to follow the flight plan that He has established and filed. Our Heavenly Father has used the same a divine pattern and sequence from the beginning to help us understand and follow his plan. "Therefore God gave unto them (Adam and Eve) commandments after having made known unto them the plan of redemption ... " (Alma 12:32).

First, God reveals his plan to his prophets. Adam was not only the first man but he was also the first prophet. Then the prophets teach the rest or us the plan.

Next, as we start to learn the plan we are given commandments to live.

This sequence is important because once we learn even the basics of the plan of salvation then we have a reason and motive to keep the commandments that are required for us to reach our destination of eternal life. This is the sequence that missionaries use. They first introduce the basics that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and has given us a plan whereby we may return and live with him. When an investigator accepts that concept, they are immediately invited to keep commandments. This is the reason they will start to live the Word of Wisdom and law of tithing and chastity.

Testimony of the Plan of Salvation ‑ I am grateful that the children in our family are taught the plan of salvation. This starts as soon as a child learns that he or she came from Heavenly Father to our family and that if we are good and help each other we can return to him.  Over time we Learn more about the plan especially from the Book of Mormon. In the temple we are given more knowledge and power and understanding of the plan.  Our Heavenly Father has revealed the plan of salvation which contains everything necessary for our happiness in this life and for our eternal life in the world to come.