My husband and I watched a documentary titled “The Rescue” which is about a group of twelve soccer players and their 25 year-old coach who parked their bicycles outside of a cave in Thailand and went exploring and then because of heavy rainfall became stranded. The boys, ranging in age between 11 and 16, were approximately two and a half miles from the cave entrance. The parents found the bicycles parked outside of the cave and knew their sons must be inside and in trouble. Nine days after entering the cave, divers found the thirteen individuals huddled together on a rock, all alive. Supplies could be delivered to the stranded individuals, such as food, water, and emergency blankets. Specialty divers were brought in from all over the world and different rescue strategies were discussed. The passageways were flooded and narrow. How were the boys going to get out? Should the divers teach them how to swim? Should supplies be given to the boys to live there for several weeks or months until the water receded? The boys began showing signs of malnourishment, stress, and the oxygen level in the cave diminished, so it was determined that the boys would be individually brought out. One diver would be in front of each boy, and one behind them, each roped to them and guiding them. On July 8 (the 16th day of being in the cave) the first four boys were brought out. The next day, four more boys were rescued, and on July 10th, 18 days after entering the cave, the four remaining boys and their coach were brought to safety. When I watched this documentary, I was so anxious, and yet so happy when the boys were rescued and reunited with their families. I was in awe of the men who came forward, using their special skills and abilities to rescue the boys, who could most certainly not rescue themselves.
I am like the boys who were stranded in the dark cave. I am mortal and I have made mistakes and sinned. My actions have taken me from the light into a dark place, and I cannot find my way back. Because no unclean thing can live in the presence of God, I would ultimately be on my own and in the dark, away from the light and the warmth of Heavenly Father’s presence unless I was rescued. Unlike the story in Thailand, someone else cannot come and rescue me, and I cannot rescue myself. There is only one capable of my rescue and that is the Savior, even Jesus Christ. He has rescued me, He has redeemed me, and brought me back into the light.
“There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh. And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God" (2 Nephi 2:8).
"Were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished" (Mosiah 15:18).
Without the Savior, I am stuck and stranded, but with Him, I am redeemed.
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