Lessons from Baboons

 

 

While at Victoria Falls this past week, we went down a very steep path to the river below the falls. It actually was a very long set of steps made from flat rock. The sign at the top said the average person could go down in about 15 minutes and coming up would take about 30 minutes. There were literally hundreds of baboons running all around!!! At one point a baboon was sitting directly in the path. He seemed not to be paying any attention to the people. When Sister Pease tried to slip passed it, he suddenly reached out and tried to grab the bag she was carrying. The bag held their passports, money and other valuable documents needed for traveling. Fortunately, it was securely around her neck so he couldn't get it. Baboons can be very fast. The Pease had been told previously that if they held up a sling shot the baboons would just run away. They were prepared with their "weapon." Sure enough, as soon as Sister Pease pulled out the sling shot the baboons scattered like crazy!!! No stones, just the sling shot!

The lesson learned? 

We too are on a path. Sometimes it's wide; sometimes it is narrow; sometimes it is not smooth. The way may be rocky so you have to be careful and watch your step. The iron hand rail helps to keep your balance and to pull yourself up when the going is hard. 

The baboons are the enemy. They want what you have and they may go to great lengths to try to steal it from you. They are sneaky.

The sling shot represents the things we may use to guard against the enemy. 

The moral of this analogy is to identify the things in your life that you use to protect yourself against the adversary. We have been taught many times that those defenses should be the scriptures, the prophet, prayer, whisperings of the Holy Ghost.