Parables and Accounts That Teach Eternal Truths

This week, I wanted to study about parables and accounts that teach eternal truths.  There were 5 that I looked into more deeply to try to discover what principle the Savior wanted me to learn from Him by way of His parables. 

In Luke Chapter 16 Verses 1-12, it talks about the parable of the unjust steward.  The principle that I obtained from these verses was the importance of preparing for my eternal future.  While it is wise to prepare temporally for the things that we need while we are here on this earth, temporal things are just that—temporary.  It is vital that we also take care to prepare spiritually for our eternal life after we leave this earth.

In Luke Chapter 16 Verses 19-31, it talks about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  The principle that I got out of this was the importance of temple and family history work.  The people who are loved ones of the past are waiting to hear the gospel message.  To paraphrase Elder Ballard’s October 2013 General Conference talk titled, “Trust In the Lord,” he said that it is up to us to invite but it is up to whoever we invite to choose whether or not they want to accept our invitation.  Therefore, doing our family history work and temple work is crucial in order to give deceased members of our family a chance to make that choice for themselves. 

In Luke Chapter 17 Verses 11-19, it talks about the parable of the ten lepers.  The thing that stuck out to me the most, and therefore became the most important principle to me from this parable, was the reminder that what the scripture says in Doctrine and Covenants Section 18 Verse 10 is correct”  “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;”    

In Luke Chapter 18 Verses 1-8, it talks about the parable of the unjust judge.  The principle that I got from this was the importance of consistent, honest prayer.  I need to learn how to pray to Heavenly Father as though I was talking to Him face to face, instead of just having my prayers be a set of random words strung together.

In Luke Chapter 18 Verses 9-14, it talks about the Pharisee and the publican. This parable reminded me that self-righteousness is no justification before God.  I want to strive to do all I can to stop justifying things, as well as stamp out any self-righteousness that is inside of me.   

What do I need to do to become a disciple of Christ?

As I was doing my scripture study this week, I pondered over what a disciple of Christ is and what characteristics they hold.  Here is a list of a few things that I came up with:

1.    A disciple of Christ gives up all that they have to follow Him.

2.    A disciple of Christ puts their complete trust and faith in the Savior.

3.    A disciple of Christ lives their life in a way that emulates the Savior. 

4.    A disciple of Christ lays up treasures in Heaven instead of putting their love and heart into treasures on earth.

The characteristic that I want to apply more fully in my life is to be sure that I am laying up treasures in Heaven.  I am going to strive to make sure that I continue to be grateful for all that I have been blessed with, instead of being jealous of the things that I do not have (such as a backyard).  I know that the Lord has blessed me with all that I currently stand in need of, and for that, I am truly grateful.  I am also extremely grateful to Him for blessing me with things that I do not necessarily need, but that make my life easier and better.

What is ultimately required to become a disciple of Jesus Christ is to give our whole souls as an offering to Him and to be willing to sacrifice all that we have for Him.  It is also required of us to press forward and to endure to the end.  Sometimes, enduring feels like the hardest part!  However, I know that the Lord can strengthen us as we continually go to Him in prayer and ask Him for comfort, guidance, and strength with whatever we stand in need of. 

"If thy right hand offendeth thee..."

As I was doing my scripture study this week, several things really stood out to me that I wanted to share.  I found it interesting that the Joseph Smith Translation for Matthew Chapter 18 Verse 9 explains that a man’s hand and foot symbolize his friends and a man’s eye symbolizes his own household.  That really emphasized to me the importance of having quality friends around me and the importance of choosing my husband wisely (which I did)! 

There is no way to completely avoid being around people who have the potential of being an unrighteous influence on you, however.  That being the case, I believe that the best way to be around them and to avoid falling into transgression or temptation at the same time would be to always keep the Spirit with you. 

Someone made a comment that she was breaking up with a television show because it did not add any value to her life.  I pondered over that comment and realized that there were a few things that I needed to “break up with” myself.  I prayed to the Lord and asked for forgiveness for participating in those time-sucking activities that were not bad, but that did not add value to my life and I have been striving to be more intentional in the way that I spend my time.  I listen to the General Conference talks periodically throughout the week and Elder Cook talked about this topic in his talk titled, “Lamentations of Jeremiah:  Beware of Bondage” really stuck out to me.  He said:

"...some addictions or predilections, while not inherently evil, can use up our precious allotment of time which could otherwise be used to accomplish virtuous objectives. These can include excessive use of social media, video and digital games, sports, recreation, and many others." - Elder Quentin L. Cook

In John Chapter 8 Verses 32-34, the Savior explains what the sources of freedom and bondage are.  Truth is the source of freedom and sin is the source of bondage.  That reminds me of an analogy I heard about a kite string.  It would make logical sense that the string of the kite is holding the kite down, and if you only cut the string off, then the kite could fly high and free.  However, we know that if the kite string gets cut, the kite falls down to the ground.  Commandments are the same way.  They do not hold us down, they help us be free and closer to the Savior.  An example of this is the commandment to stay morally clean.  There is so much bondage when you do not keep that commandment and miss out on so much happiness by participating in sin.  Since the Savior is the way, the truth, and the life (as it says in John Chapter 14 Verse 6), that goes to show that He truly is the source of freedom and happiness that we can obtain if we follow Him and keep the commandments.  I believe that knowing the Savior makes us free in so many ways.  For example, we are free from devastating loneliness and despair because we know that He is there to comfort us and bear us up when we are going through trials.   

Have faith, not fear

As I was studying Matthew Chapter 14 Verses 22-33, I pondered over the story about Jesus walking on the sea.  It was completely understandable why the Apostles were frightened when they saw Him walking towards them on the water!  I love how Peter’s response to the Savior showed how much faith he had in Him.  However, even Peter’s faith wavered when he lost sight of the Savior and focused on his fear of drowning in the sea.  Despite that fact, I loved how Peter knew that He could call upon the Savior for help when he started to fall beneath the water.  Jesus did not make Peter wait; He immediately stretched forth His hand and helped him. 

In Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 88 Verse 67, it talks about how we need to have our eyes single to the Lord’s glory.  In other words, we need our whole bodies to be filled with His light so we do not have any darkness in us.  The principle in this verse about having faith in the Lord instead of having doubts or fears relates to Peter being able to walk on the water when he had faith that the Savior could make it be so.  Likening that to my own life, I need to remember that the Savior will help me get through the storms in my own life if I trust in Him. 

Sacrifices & the net cast into the sea (Matthew Chapter 13)

As I was studying Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 44-46, I pondered over the sacrifices that others that I know have made as they have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I do not feel that I have made any sacrifices, but I know a friend who has made many sacrifices to become a member of this church.  Her parents were very mad at her when she got sealed in the temple and they were unable to come.  Her parents have not been supportive of her as she strives to live the gospel values and keep the commandments.  It breaks her heart sometimes to get treated the way she does by her family for the righteous choices that she has made, but it never shakes her faith.  She has a firm testimony that this is the gospel is true and she moves forward faithfully.  It is her hope that her example will be a positive influence for good and will help bring her parents into the church.  Another friend of mine has parents who say very mean things to her about her church membership and make being at home a very difficult time to endure.  The only time she feels peace in her heart and happiness in her life is when she is away from them and at a church college; surrounded by those like her who live and love the gospel.  I am ever in awe of these two women that I know who travail through so much sorrow and hardship, yet still remain true and faithful to their covenants! 

I am not sure if this is correct, but my guess is that the net in the parable of the net cast into the sea in Matthew Chapter 13 Verse 47 represents judgment day.  I think that being gathered into the net means being born on earth to go through the tests and trials that we must all face.  When that parable talks about casting away the bad and gathering the good, I think that represents what will happen to all of us during the day of judgment—we will either be cast away with the bad or placed in His peaceful arms of rest if we are true and faithful.  What do you think this parable is talking about? 

The Sermon on the Mount is "Our Constitution for Perfection"

          As I was studying the beatitudes that are in Matthew Chapter 5 Verses 3-11, I wanted to learn more about them.  Looking at footnote “a” in verse 3, it says:  “The Latin beatus is the basis of the English “beatitude,” meaning “to be fortunate,” “to be happy,” or “to be blessed.”  From that, I would surmise that the definition of “beatitude” is even greater than happiness that can come from without.  The Institute manual explains beatitudes as thus:  “Blessedness is defined as being higher than happiness. ‘Happiness comes from without and is dependent on circumstances; blessedness is an inward fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstances can seriously affect.’ (Dummelow’s Commentary)” It is evident that, in order to find true and lasting happiness, we need to strive to have all of the beatitudes become a part of ourselves.

          The manual describes the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount as “Our Constitution for Perfection” that we all should strive to work on.  It then goes into great detail about how each and every one of the beatitudes can help us live a happier, more blessed life.  Not only that, but as the Institute manual says, “How can the Sermon on the Mount help you to become as your Father in heaven? Has it occurred to you as you read this sermon, that Jesus is actually describing the qualities of an exalted person? With this in mind, the Beatitudes become steps of perfection that enable us to truly love God and our fellowmen.”  There were three beatitudes that had explanations that really stuck out to me that I wanted to share.  I want to explain how they have either helped me in the past or can help me presently and in the future increase my happiness.

1.     From the Institute manual:  “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit  “To be poor in spirit is to feel yourselves as the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, and your food and the air you breathe, your health, your life; realizing that no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance and forgiveness and strength sufficient for each day’s need.””

This explanation of that beatitude really stuck out to me because I have a tendency to fall short in this area.  I have a struggle trying to find out when I need to do something and when I can rely on the Lord to help me with it.  I am a very independent and ambitious person.  Those can be good traits, except for when it causes me to think that I can do everything on my own and that I do not need to ask for the Lord’s help.  Reading this helped me remember that it is okay to pray to the Lord in gratitude and also for guidance and forgiveness.  This really helped to emphasize the importance of daily, fervent prayer to me. 

2.     From the Institute manual:  “Blessed Are the Merciful  “Our salvation rests upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty toward man or beast, even though in seeming retaliation, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy when he has need of mercy in the day of judgment before earthly or heavenly tribunals. Is there one who has never been wounded by the slander of another whom he thought to be his friend? Do you remember the struggle you had to refrain from retribution? Blessed are all you who are merciful for you shall obtain mercy!””

I really appreciated this commentary about being merciful.  It can be so heartbreaking when slander is spoken against you, yet not retaliating is very important.  I am not sure if this applies to what the Institute manual was trying to teach me, but it did come to my mind as I read it.  I know that it is not slander, but I get really tired of all of the comments that are made to me when I am pregnant.  I get very large very fast, and sometimes hurtful things (though probably unintentional) are said to me about it.  Even though I get really grumpy when I am pregnant, I am grateful that I have refrained from retaliating when such comments were made.  Regardless of that, I still want to go hide in a cave for the whole 9 months that I am pregnant so I do not have to endure anymore unnecessary comments!

3.     From the Institute manual:  “Blessed Are the Peacemakers  “Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. The troublemaker, the striker against law and order, the leader of the mob, the law-breaker are prompted by motives of evil and unless they desist will be known as the children of Satan rather than God. Withhold yourselves from him who would cause disquieting doubts by making light of sacred things for he seeks not for peace but to spread confusion. That one who is quarrelsome or contentious, and whose arguments are for other purposes than to resolve the truth, is violating a fundamental principle laid down by the Master as an essential in the building of a full rich life. ‘Peace and goodwill to men on earth’ was the angel song that heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace.””

This explanation was a good reminder to me of how I can continuously have peace in my home.  Yesterday, everyone was tired and was having a difficult time being peaceful.  However, I believe it is because we read the scriptures every night and pray together every morning and every evening that we were able to keep contention out of our home, even during a time when it would most likely be present.  I am grateful that I live in a home where we do not yell and where we can work out our differences with love and kindness.