A Fable

There is a wonderful talk, given by Robert D. Hales, entitled "Making Righteous Choices at the Crossroads of Life." In it, he shared one of Aesop's fables, "The Man, the boy, and the Donkey" to demonstrate the importance of having a plan.

The man and boy decided to undertake a journey to the marketplace to sell their donkey for money to buy winter provisions. Along the way, they had to pass through many towns and hamlets. In each town, people whispered criticism and advice on who should be riding the donkey: the man or the boy. 

First, the boy rode. Then, the father rode. Then, they both rode. Someone said they were inconsiderate for overloading their beast of burden, so they both walked.

In the next hamlet, someone said they were stupid for not using the donkey for the work that it was created to do. And so, both father and son climbed back on and rode until the donkey collapsed.

The donkey had to be carried into the market and could not be sold. "Who wants a worthless donkey?" people scoffed.

Through trying to please everyone, the father and son had failed in their goal. They had no money for winter provisions.

"How much different the outcome would have been if the father and son had had a plan to follow. Father could have said, 'I'll ride the donkey one-third of the way; Son, you ride the donkey one-third of the way; and we'll both walk the last third of the way. The donkey will arrive at the marketplace fresh and strong, ready to be sold.'

Then, as they received confusing advice while travelling through each hamlet and village along their way to the city, they could look at each other, give a reassuring wink of the eye, and say, 'We have a plan.' "

Likewise, we all have plans for our lives, both temporal and eternal. Our Father presented a plan in the premortal world so that we could return to live with Him after this life and gain eternal peace. That is why we are here; it is why the Savior suffered and died for us.

For details about what God's plan is, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MiF_HKoFr4