Out of the boat too early

this is told by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles.

"Early in our married life when Sister Nelson and I lived in Minneapolis, we
decided to enjoy a free afternoon with our two-year-old daughter. We went to one
of Minnesota's many beautiful lakes and rented a small boat. After rowing far
from shore, we stopped to relax and enjoy the tranquil scene. Suddenly, our
little toddler lifted one leg out of the boat and started to go overboard,
exclaiming, 'Time to get out, Daddy!'

"Quickly we caught her and explained, 'No, dear, it's not time to get out: we
must stay in the boat until it brings us safely back to land.' Only with
considerable persuasion did we succeed in convincing her that leaving the boat
early would have led to disaster....

"Similarly, we as children of our Heavenly Father may foolishly want to get 'out
of the boat' before we arrive at destinations He would like us to reach....

"Blessings bestowed by God are always predicated upon obedience to law [see D&C
130:20-21]. Applied to my analogy, we are first to get 'on the boat' with Him.
Then we are to stay with Him. And if we don't get 'out of the boat' before we
should, we shall reach His kingdom, where we will be lifted up to eternal life"
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 96; or Ensign, May 1997, 70).


For thse who don't have a copy of the D&C
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:20 - 21)