This is The Way

Recently, while reviewing scriptures on covenants, I came to Moses 7:52.

52. And he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations, while the earth should stand;

I wondered about the word “unalterable” and where else in scripture that word might appear. What else is “unalterable?” I did a search.

There are 4 scriptures that contain this word including one from the Joseph Smith Translation in Genesis. All 4 contain the word decree used in conjunction with the word which reminds me of the scenes in the movie “The 10 Commandments” where Pharaoh, acting like a god, says, “so let it be written, so let it be done.”

One of the verse results is from Alma 41:8 which reads:

8. Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.

Now the phrase “the way is prepared” stood out to me, particularly, “the way.”

If the way is prepared, what is “the way.” As opposed to the world which says to follow your own path, God has a singular way.

My next search was the shocker. I simply searched for “the way” in quote marks to get that phrase.

There are 451 results in the standard works, but the very first result was the most important scripture for me to discover. I have read this verse countless times but never made the connection that I did this time.

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

God places angels to guard “the way” of the tree of life. What is “the way?”

Going to the Strong’s Concordance link from this verse, I see this phrase comes from:

דֶּרֶךְ derek, deh’-rek; from H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:—along, away, because of, by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).

“The way” is the path back to the tree of life, or the presence of God.

Studying the book of Revelation the last couple weeks I stumbled across this other connection:

Revelation 2:7 …to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)

This makes me wonder if Jesus was specifically giving people a reference to Genesis. He is “the way” back to the tree of life.

It’s possible that followers of Jesus were actually known by this phrase. In Acts 9:2, Saul, before he was Paul, wanted to arrest those of “this way.”

2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

There are many other verses that talk about “the way,” but here are a few of the most important which identify what this way is.

2 Nephi 31

18. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

21. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

2 Nephi 32

1. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

So now we see that The Way is the doctrine of Christ.

The doctrine of Christ is the “Eastward” journey back to the tree of life.

It is overcoming the world.

The Way was prepared before the foundation of the world (1 Nephi 10:18) that if we would repent and come unto Christ, we may be saved in the kingdom of God.

There are blessings or cursings that come from following God’s ways or disobeying them.

Deut 11:22. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

23. Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves…

28. And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

What do we do after we have embraced The Way?

Jacob 5:61. 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.

Once we enter the way, we are to prepare the way for others to enter the way, by opening our mouths, sharing the gospel, calling others to repentance, showing them the fruit of the tree of life that comes by living the doctrine of Christ.

I love how one thing in the scriptures leads you to find something else. All precious nuggets of truth.