In 1979 President Spencer W. Kimball challenged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to “move forward in a major way. . . . We have paused on some plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey upward and forward.”

Using the analogy of climbing a mountain, Bishop Glenn L. Pace, second counselor in the Church’s Presiding Bishopric, suggests three major plateaus, or comfort zones, on which the Saints may rest as they work toward developing their spirituality.

The first plateau, which Bishop Pace labels testimony, is the beginning of the trail. “Many Latter-day Saints look upon a testimony as the pinnacle of spiritual progress,” he writes, “but unless we do something about that testimony, we are barely out, and the world’s magnetic pull will tug forcefully on us.”

The second plateau, sanctification, pertains to receiving the ordinances of the gospel and remaining true to covenants. This process, which occurs over a period of time, is described as “coming unto Christ.”

The third plateau, spiritual graduate school, deals with mysteries, miracles, and signs, and their appropriate roles in spiritual development.

“The Lord loves each of us, and He stands at the top of the trail beckoning us,” Bishop Pace explains. “He also comes to assist us and encourage us even when-and perhaps especially when-we may have fallen. He says to each of us, ‘You can make it. I know it because I know you.'”

Spiritual Plateaus is a book for all who are willing to accept President Kimball’s challenge to resume their spiritual journey forward and upward.