The only path to experiencing joy

“At one point we came to a cliff’s edge ... . We were surprised and confused because the app also showed us on the recorded track – straight off the cliff!”

A few years ago, a friend and I were hiking in October in central Oregon (hiking with a purpose). The day started early with the goal to reach a specific lookout an hour before sunrise.

This area was fairly new to both of us so we used a GPS tracking app to record our route. Since there was no marked trail, the app would give us a safe path to follow in the likely case of hiking out in the dark.

We saw incredible scenery, lots of wildlife, and enjoyed the sunset before making our descent. We felt confident as we pulled out our headlamps and began making our way in the rapid onset of darkness, checking the app periodically to make sure we were following a safe path.

At one point we came to a cliff’s edge, the height of which we couldn’t visually estimate. And the app showed multiple cliffs, from tens to hundreds of feet high, in the area of our GPS location. We were surprised and confused because the app also showed us on the recorded track – straight off the cliff!

We discussed restarting the phone, scaling the cliff, and backtracking to see if there was a route around the cliff. But let’s be honest, no one likes to backtrack. So I restarted my phone as we both leaned over the edge hoping our lights would illuminate the bottom of the cliff.

Eventually, we stepped back and offered a prayer to seek guidance. After praying, we both felt that we needed to backtrack, and so we started heading back. Within 15 or 20 feet, our GPS marker jumped to the right spot, allowing us to then make the appropriate adjustments and make our way safely back to camp.

Later, we determined that we had been standing at the top of a cliff that was hundreds of feet tall. We would have been in a very dangerous situation had we decided to scale the cliff.

There are times in our life where spiritually we find ourselves at a crossroads: Do we continue forward in darkness over the cliff’s edge, or take a few steps back? In my experience, the pain of repentance that comes from backtracking is much less than the pain of continuing in darkness over the cliff’s edge.

I testify that no matter where we find ourselves, today, tomorrow, or in the distant future, choosing repentance is the only path to experiencing joy and peace through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

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Brother Kyle Romney serves as executive secretary in the Graham Oaks Ward bishopric.