Yield

Yield, What does it mean to you.?  When I first read the word yield I was taken back to a memory in my childhood when my mother drove an old 85 Fleetwood Cadillac.  I remember slouching back into the comfort of the back seat, leaning my head against the glass watching the cars pass by.  While coming to a halt I leaned over to see why we were slowing down, and in the corner of my eye I noticed the sign"YIELD" in bright red.   Being young I would believe I was curious enough to ask my Mom, who was an expert driver and had much experience with the road, could tell me a little more about the sign.  Why did we have to slow down every time this sign came into our view?  Why is it red?  Why so cautious when slowing down?

A few days ago as I was reading in the Book of Mormon (Another testament of Jesus Christ) and came across this particular verse;

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

 I asked why would their "yielding" their hearts unto God bring them happiness or "joy and consolation"?  When we yield it is primarily because we need to advise our decisions, ---in driving, to look for oncoming traffic-- but it can be used in more of a literal sense as well. 
Yielding means complying with the requests or desires of others: "a gentle, yielding person" or in other words slowing down to oncoming traffic.
When we make a promise to our Heavenly Father we promise to do things (such as keeping the commandments) yielding our personal desires to him by following His path.  In so doing we will receive his love "joy and consolation... even unto the purification... of our hearts".  What a blessing God gives us. 

Let's talk about "promises" or "Covenants" for a second.  The first covenant we make is Baptism.  Baptism is showing Heavenly Father you WILL keep His commandments.

If you are.. "desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death..

 "Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

When we make promises we yield ourselves to the will of God, and in turn he will "pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you.."  We yield our inclinations to do evil, we follow the road of righteousness(and we do our best to stay on), we take what we are holding onto(our past, thoughts, habits, actions, words) and we throw them away.  We yield (stop, slow down ) for God, so he can take the weeds in our hearts and plant beautiful flowers.  We give him everything.  It is difficult, but that is why we Yield, not completely stop but yield. It is an ongoing action which leads us to overcome our selfish habits and to swallow our pride.  Hand over your sins with trust in God, He will make everything ok.

The road of life's journey is learned after facing the trials.  Learning to become dependent on God.  We give all to him and we will find ourselves free.

YIELD and become free.