Today I’d like to look at No. 224. “Crossroads of Life,” by looking at the meaning and application of the song, because it’s too easy to sing without paying attention to the words and their meaning. 

224. CROSSROADS OF LIFE

VERSE 1
Look up ahead, see the crossroads of life. 
And today is the day to choose.
One road says life and one road says death, 
One pathway you win — one you lose.

VERSE 2
See there one road is so bright and so clear, 
And see such a few find the way.
But down the other, the crowd is so great. 
And death is the price that they pay.

VERSE 3
The road of life is eternal you know, 
And the road of death has no end.
Both are forever and you must decide. 
These roads part the dearest of friends.

VERSE 4
The games of youth are behind you today, 
And your childhood has vanished away.
Years pass so quickly, as dreams in the night. 
Christ is calling strong soldiers today.

VERSE 5
So consider the choice at the crossroads of life, 
And don’t let the crowd choose for you.
Run to the Savior and make Him your choice. 
Salvation is yours if you do.

©2016 Arlene Lea Buffington

This song brings to mind the account recorded in the Book of Mormon known as Lehi’s vision or Lehi’s dream (1 Nephi 8).

 In it, Lehi sees the tree of life and, with the help of the rod of iron (which symbolizes the word of God) that extends along the bank of the river, it leads him to the tree. There is a straight and narrow path along the rod of iron and some of the people in the vision, including Lehi’s sons, Nephi and Sam, and his wife, Sariah, take hold of the iron rod, follow the path and go directly to the tree where they eat the fruit. 

Lehi noted that, “the fruit thereof filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit” (1 Nephi 8:12).

Others, including his older sons, Laman and Lemuel, didn’t follow the path. They instead choose a different direction at the crossroads of life. 

Lehi saw other people along the way who became distracted, falling away, getting lost in the mists of darkness. He then goes on to describe seeing a large and spacious building (representing the pride of the world) in which there are many people in fine apparel who are in an attitude of mocking, pointing fingers, and laughing at the people who are on the path to the tree of life. (If you read 1 Nephi 11, there is wonderful clarity of interpretation given to Lehi’s son, Nephi.)

This vision, just like this song, clearly and very directly, lays out the impact of choice. 

You’ll notice how the Lord offers us a binary choice: we can choose one path or the other. There isn’t an infinite number of options, and we don’t get to create our own option (as society might suggest when we hear expressions such as, “There’s no wrong answer,” or “Not that there’s anything wrong with that…”

The crossroads of life present choice in this mortal life. As Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Likewise we understand that when we die there are only two paths for our soul to take. 

“That the spirits [souls] of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body… whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received [1.] into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. And… the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil … and these shall be cast out [2.] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.” (Alma 40:11-13) 

Nowhere in the Bible or Book of Mormon does it speak of a third option or of degrees of reward. Just two options — that’s it! 

So, while the Lord Jesus Christ willingly died for ALL the sins of men and women and rose victorious over sin and death, we are each given the choice. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). If we choose not to open the door (of our heart) to Him, then our inaction to do so has a less-desirable consequence and outcome. 

“So consider the choice at the crossroads of life… Run to the Savior and make Him your choice. Salvation is yours if you do.”
May God bless you. 
It’s interesting to note that only the words to this song were given to Sister Arlene in 1976, no music was given, but 39 years later, in 2015, after a sermon about “how everybody comes to the crossroads of life and need to make a decision,” the melody came to her, and she knew immediately the music was for this song. Amazing how God works!

If you’re interested in learning more about the Songs of Zion, listening to the Songs or downloading them, here’s a link, in this blog, to the church website: Church Songs and Music

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