What Are We Doing With Our Gifts?

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Editor’s Note: In the upcoming slide, the parable of the Ten Virgins is partly discussed. The central ideas here are: 1-The foolish virgins brought no oil at all. Why? They expected to get it from someone else. 2- A virgin at the time of Christ, would be very young, likely 12 or so. Any oil they might have brought would have been a gift from their parents.

The Ten Virgins Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

President Kimball In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. 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, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.

Note: There are three different reasons, presented here, for why we obey. Each time, ask the class how they would know they’re obeying for the reason stated… The Ma’at principle comes from the Egyptian Goddess. It was her job to weigh the heart of each newly dead candidate. If their heart was as light as a feather (hence the feather on her head), then their heart was light and good. If it were too heavy, then they were delivered up to the underworld.

Quiz: Why do we obey the commandments? 1- So that we can complete enough righteous merit badges to earn our Celestial Eagle Scout Award… 2- Pile up enough heavenly reward points to offset our list of demerits… 3- So that our hearts will be softened enough to receive the gifts of God; (The Ma’at Principle) Such as: The Gift of Faith The Gift of Hope The Gift of Charity The Gift of Love Bar of God Audit Form Applicant: Kevin Hinckley Good Stuff Bad Stuff _____________ ___________ _______________________________ ????? ?????? Final Score: So Sad! He’s just 5 Points short! Send him off to The Terrestrial Kingdom…

D&C Section 4 Given to Joseph Smith, Sr Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. …if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; And [the gifts] of faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

Note: A client of mine, struggling to heal from some traumatic events, reported feeling less than welcomed in her home ward. She struggled with angry thoughts towards some members who had been insensitive in their comments. Using this next diagram, I outlined how the path to healing occurs. These four gifts are also sequential in order, starting with ourselves, then moving outwardly towards others.

Love Charity Hope Client Faith So, Where are you and I in the “conversion process”? We’ll know by our desire to love and share the “Good News” with those around us…