The Story of Lot’s Wife – A Lesson on Looking Forward with Faith

The Story of Lot’s Wife – A Lesson on Looking Forward with Faith

The story of Lot’s wife takes place in the early chapters of the Bible, specifically Genesis 18–19.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had become places of extreme wickedness and corruption. The people there were unrepentant and violently opposed to righteousness. Sin wasn’t just common—it had become a cultural and generational norm. People were born into a society where sin was accepted, even encouraged.

When God revealed His plan to destroy the cities, Abraham, the prophet, pleaded with Him to spare them if even ten righteous people could be found. Sadly, not even ten could be found.

In His mercy, God sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family, giving them a clear warning: flee the city and do not look back. The cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone—complete and utter devastation.

As they fled, Lot’s wife disobeyed. She looked back at the burning city, and as a result, she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Why did this happen? It wasn’t just sadness over what she was leaving behind. It may have been that she longed for the lifestyle and enticements of Sodom. But most importantly, she had received a clear and divine command—to not look back. God was inviting her, and all of us, to look forward to the future with faith.

God wants us to move forward, to forgive, and to let go of the past. Holding on to what we’ve been asked to leave behind—whether it’s sin, regret, or even past comforts—can prevent us from receiving the blessings ahead.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a powerful message on this topic in a BYU devotional:

“There is something in us, at least in too many of us, that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either mistakes we ourselves have made or the mistakes of others. That is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ. To be tied to earlier mistakes—our own or other people’s—is the worst kind of wallowing in the past from which we are called to cease and desist.”

What does this mean? Wallowing in the past, and refusing to forgive ourselves or others, undermines the purpose of the Atonement. Christ paid the price for our sins. Only God has the authority to judge, and He offers each of us endless opportunities to change and grow.

Let Lot’s wife be a reminder: Don’t look back at what God has already delivered you from. The blessings He has prepared for you are ahead—not behind.

Lot’s wife serves as a powerful reminder—not just of what happens when we look back, but of what we miss out on when we don’t look forward. God wasn’t just pulling Lot’s family out of Sodom—He was trying to lead them toward safety, growth, and new blessings. But Lot’s wife couldn’t let go of what was behind her, and in doing so, she missed everything ahead.

Sometimes we hold onto the past—our regrets, our old habits, even former comforts that we know weren’t good for us—because it feels familiar. But the Lord is always inviting us to move forward, to become new, and to step into a future filled with promise.

As President Russell M. Nelson said:

“The Lord loves effort, and effort brings rewards. As you act in faith, you will be guided, and you will know how to move forward.”

When we choose not to look back—when we let go of what no longer serves us—we make room for peace, healing, and progress. God’s blessings are almost always ahead of us, not behind us.

So whatever your past holds, trust that your future with Christ is brighter. Lift your eyes, take His hand, and walk forward with confidence. The best is truly yet to come