{"chapter_no":"24","chapter_title":"The Next Wagon Train to Zion","book_id":"2","book_name":"The Story of James","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"298","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":2,"page_content":"

 <\/p>

Chapter 24<\/p>

The Next Wagon Train to Zion<\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

Bishop Tyler receives two answers from the Lord<\/i> through which h<\/i>e is taught<\/i> an important<\/i>
principle of the gospel.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

Still hungry, Bishop Tyler called the waitress over one more time and purchased a piece
of cherry pie and some milk. She returned to his table with the pie and he started to eat again.
Suddenly, he realized that the Lord had probably intended for him to fast on this day, and that he
had forgotten to do that. Catching his mistake late, he smiled to himself—to make it up, he
would fast over the subsequent twenty-four hours after eating this last bite of pie, and after
finishing off the milk. He gobbled up the pie, drank his milk, and then began his fast.<\/p>

 <\/p>

It was at this moment when the answer from the Lord started to form in his mind. The
answer was simple––nothing new was needed; his initial instincts in the interview with James
and what he had already decided to do were the proper way to handle this. James would have the
opportunity to learn the gospel further and pursue his goals one step at a time, line upon line,
over the next two years until his mission. His role as bishop would be to mentor James and also
to provide him with ample opportunities to serve in the ward, both temporally and spiritually. If
James proved faithful, and if his desires along these lines continued over the next year, he might
then expand his opportunities to serve. In the event that James changed his mind and lost interest
in his new goal (like many young men often do as they grow older and their attitudes change),
nothing else would need to be said. Thus, the key test for James was time––to see if he
maintained his enthusiasm month after month and year after year, and what impact his goal
might have later on with his other life choices. <\/p>

 <\/p>

The matter decided, and at peace with the answer, Bishop Tyler decided he would stop in
at work after all that afternoon and maybe save his vacation time for a later date—a future event
that Janice had been patiently waiting for and which never seemed to come. It was not more than
an hour later, however, while he was sitting in his office at work, that his mind soon became
troubled with a series of new, unanswered questions.<\/p>

 <\/p>

What if James does change his mind? Who then takes over in his place?<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

As for the goal of helping the ward reach the two-dollar, the three<\/i>-<\/i>dollar, or even the
impossible five-dollar level, could not someone else take up the task and put his shoulder to the
wheel (i.e., like he himself, the bishop), dedicating his or her own life to the same purpose?<\/i><\/p>

If<\/i> <\/i>one wagon train of pioneers<\/i> runs into trouble and doesn't reach the<\/i> Salt Lake Valley<\/i>
safely, <\/i>should we not still send out another, and then another, until Zion in Utah is established? <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

Putting these questions into his mind, the Spirit had rebuffed his general way of thinking.
For there was indeed a duty in the priesthood, shared by all, to establish Zion in all of our wards
and stakes. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The first response by the Spirit was still the operable one, allowing the good instincts he
had as the bishop to go forward. But the desire of the Lord was for much more than that. The
goals articulated by James were by all means proper and what the Lord had been continuously
hoping for from all members and leaders of the Church since 1830. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Would James lose interest and change his mind over time? That was the wrong question
to ask. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The correct question was this: Who among the members of the Church will step forward
to assist James in this greatest of all earthly endeavors?<\/span><\/p>"}