Tonight’s “Come Follow Me” family study was amazing again.
We got to study the 10 virgins from Mathew. 25:1-13
Mathew 25: 1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
After reading the story, I shared my experience with the parable of the Ten Virgins….
I love the parable of the ten virgins. When I was a teen I was in the Easter Pageant at the Mesa, AZ temple. The ten virgins part was highly sought after, they looked for the most accomplished ballerinas. The scene was breath taking…and the story captivating. It has stuck with me all these years. I was always devastated for the 5 beautiful, talented ballerinas who didn’t have the oil required to go the wedding of the bride groom. There wasn’t any difference in the mannerisms or the outfits of the 5 who were wise and the 5 who were foolish. To me this screamed to my soul that we were all at risk, it’s a parable about the believers. They knew the bride groom was coming, and they were waiting for Him. During the wait half of them became complacent and fell into a spiritual sleep. When they awoke, it was time for the BIG event…the time for preparation was over, and they weren’t prepared. They went to the 5 prepared virgins to ask for oils, the 5 wise tried to share, but could not.
That’s actually how it works in real life. It’s not that those who are prepared don’t want to share. It’s the opposite, I believe they would give all their oil to others if they could…but it’s not transferable. I know! I would do anything to give my husband my testimony. I’m working hard every morning at building more understanding and knowledge, and a stronger foundation. I’m fully equipped to share. But I can’t. Trust me I have tried. I would love to give my teenage daughter, who is leaving for college this next year, my hunger and thirst for the gospel so she isn’t tossed two and fro…but I can’t! Trust me I’ve tried. I’m working hard on my oil so that I’m ready for my Savior–either to greet him here on earth during His second coming or in heaven when it’s my turn to head home. I want Him to know that all he did for me was worth it. I want Him to know that I appreciate it. I want Him to look at my life and know that I gave it my best to follow Him. I want to feel at peace with my actions on earth, so that I can run to him and give him the biggest hug I’ve ever given to anyone. I want to thank him, not just for his sacrifice but for his example, guidance, and love. But just as strongly as I desire all of this, I desire to bring my whole family and all my friends with me…ready to greet Christ!
After I was done, the little kids wanted to understand the parable. So my older crew explained that the bridegroom is Christ and the virgins represent those who are waiting for him. So they are believers. The oil is our daily acts of following Christ, things that build our testimonies. The light represents the light of Christ that we radiate as we follow him.
My 5-year-old looked up from the animal he was playing with and with confused look, asked, “What if we spill our oil?”
What a great question from a little one who seems to spill his milk everyday. My youngest daughter answered him, “Everyone spills a little here and there, but you have to pick up your lamp quickly so that you don’t lose it all. Once you pick it up, if you continue to fill it one drop at a time you’ll be prepared.”
“How do we get drops?”
Everyone started to list ways that we can fill our lamps with oil. We just listed for a short moment and then just emphasized it is in the daily acts: praying, reading the Scriptures, obedience, going to church. My youngest daughter added: “Following Jesus and all that he taught”
I had theses quotes ready by Spencer W. Kimball and David A. Bednar
Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures–each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions … –these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps. – Spencer W. Kimball
As the wise virgins emphasized properly, each of us must “buy for ourselves.” These inspired women were not describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time–“line upon line [and] precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30), patiently and persistently. No shortcut is available; no last-minute flurry of preparation is possible. – David A. Bednar
One of my daughters explained that this parable is really scary because we are all at risk of being caught sleeping. It seems that many nowadays are trying to call God’s bluff….for he tells us that we can have forgiveness, all of us. Why worry about good works, when we can do as we please and then ask for forgiveness? She explained that this parable is the answer to that misleading theory. She said that the foolish are hoping that the bridegroom doesn’t come while they are asleep…they are living off a prayer. She went on to remind us the parable says that half of the virgins are foolish, which is crazy since we are talking about believers, members of the church. However, she said it seems accurate.
Another daughter recited a quote that I’ve been known to use for sports and school purposes:
When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past. -Thomas S. Monson
I gave a couple of examples to explain why and how the wise can’t share their oil with the foolish. It’s not because they don’t want to…but they can’t.
My oldest has a 3.9 GPA, if she needs a 3.5 to be accepted into a certain college and her best friend wants to attend the same college but she has a 3.1…Can Brooke giver her .4 excess GPA so that they can both be accepted? No! She can’t. There is nothing she can do, even though she would love to. Even though they still have a semester left of their senior year of high school there’s nothing her friend can do to raise her GPA high enough…it’s too late. She needed to start planning and preparing as a freshman.
One year I planned to run a half marathon with a friend. We made a chart of exactly what we needed to do every day to prepare for the race. She diligently did her daily preparations and I procrastinated. My intentions were good, I wanted to do the race and I was going to train…starting tomorrow. The race came and my friend was ready….I was not. She couldn’t give me some of her training to help me…and I couldn’t go buy it anywhere. The only way to prepare for a half marathon is to do the work everyday over a long period of time.
Another little one piped up from behind his blocks…”Why doesn’t he know us?”
We came to the conclusion that it would be better if it was worded, “they didn’t know Him”. Being a mom has changed my understanding of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He disires happiness, peace, and comfort for all. Christ loved us enough to die for us, and to endure all pain for us. (That’s a lot of love.) I have felt the feeling of “I don’t know you” with my teens…when they make choices that are contrary to who I know they are. Not in a “I don’t love you” manner, but in shock. Those moments only pull my heart closer to that child for the time being, because as Christ has said, we do all we can to find and save the one sheep that is lost. Our Heavenly Father and our eldest brother Christ will go to any length to help us, but they won’t force or go against our will. We have free agency, and we have the ability to act for ourselves independent of any one or any circumstance.. Therefore, we must come to them. They have given us an abundance of tools to use, with constant reminders…they will never wash their hands of us, we are always top priority….but WE MUST OPEN THE DOOR!!!
Luke 11:9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Our testimonies are the most precious thing we have. They are worth the time they take to develop. We are told there will come a time when you can’t stand in the gray zone…it will be black or white…you either believe or your don’t! Each person must have their own testimony in order to stand! I believe this moment will happen in each person’s life differently, but it will happen to each of us, and we must be wise, and ready with the strength we need to withstand the storm. For some it may come with opinions of others, or members with concerns. For some it could come with persecution at work or amongst friends. Some it may be through a trial of illness, loss of a loved one, or a financial difficulty. Regardless of what is thrown at us, we must be ready to stand firm in the knowledge we have of the Savior and His love for us.
“To meet difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of how this work for yourself. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess his personal knowledge or witness will fall. The time will come when I man or woman will be able to stand on borrowed light! – Heber C. Kimball
“A testimony is a most precious possession because it is not acquired by logic or reason alone, it cannot be purchased with earthly possessions, and it cannot be given as a present or inherited from our ancestors. We cannot depend on the testimonies of other people. We need to know for ourselves. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Every Latter-day Saint has the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurrected, living Son of the living God” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Mom and Dad gave us their most precious possession–their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ, ending with these words: “May your hearts ever be open and your feelings tender toward these great truths, is our humble prayer.” -Sharon G. Larsen
Here is commentary on Forgiveness: https://spiritualcrusade.com/2019/01/forgiveness-come-follow-me-we-are-responsible-for-our-own-learning.html
Here is another commentary on Seek and You Shall Find:https://spiritualcrusade.com/2018/12/seek-and-you-shall-find-come-follow-me-week-1.html
-Sherri Jorgensen
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