THE THREE PARABLES OF PREPARATION

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS Matthew 25: 1-13

As you read this parable remember that the:

·       Bridegroom represents the Savior

·       Ten virgins represent members of Christ’s church

o   All were invited and all knew what was required to be admitted but only ½ were ready

·       Oil represents spiritual preparation

·       Christ’s arrival with the wedding procession represents His Second Coming.

·       Tarrying of the bridegroom teaches us that the Lord has His own timetable for His Second Coming
 ·      Closed door is a reminder that ‘this life is the day for men to perform their labors’ Alma 34:32

Background on Jewish wedding customs:  “Traditionally, the bridegroom, accompanied by his close friends, would go at night to the bride’s house. Following the completion of the wedding ceremonies there, the wedding party would proceed to the groom’s house for a feast. Wedding guests who joined the procession were expected to carry their own lamps or torches.” Institute Manual

We do not know when the Second Coming will be but the Lord has asked us to always be prepared and ready for His coming.  We need to make sure our ‘lamps our filled with oil.”  What must we do to keep our lamps full?

      Sincerely pray

     Go to church

     Study and read our scriptures

     Try our best to keep the commandments

     Be Christ like and give service

     Listen to the Prophet and obey

“For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.”  DC 45:57

Why can’t we share our oil – does it not seem stingy? -------

President Spencer W. Kimball (1899–1985) discussed what the oil symbolizes and why it cannot be shared with those who are foolish:

“The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission? How can one share temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself. …

“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” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 255–56).

We should not procrastinate ----
 

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency warned: “There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is ‘not this day.’ ‘Someday I will repent.’ ‘Someday I will forgive him.’ ‘Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.’ ‘Someday I will start to pay tithing.’ ‘Someday I will return to the temple.’ ‘Someday …’ The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time” (This Day, Ensign, May 2007, 89).

Let us not be like the foolish virgins who procrastinated and was not prepared ----We need to fill our lamps daily and try to help others be inspired to fill their lamps also so we can live with Christ forever.

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS  Matthew 25:14-30 & Luke 19:11-27

This is a parable about three servants who were but in charge of their master’s goods while he was away.  When he returned, the master assesses how well each servant did with his stewardship.  Did they make wise investments of his goods to obtain a profit?  Two servants did well and brought in a profit and the Lord made them rulers over many things but one hid his talent. The Savior chastised him for being a wicked and slothful servant. 

During Christ’s time a “talent” was a unit of weight and also a large sum of money.  Today the word “talent” in this parable represents gifts that we receive from our Heavenly Father.  They can be spiritual gifts or great abilities we might possess.  

Heavenly Father expects us to be responsible for these gifts and to use them wisely.  Our talents are to be used to further the work of the Lord, to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring souls unto Christ.

When the Second Coming is here Christ will hold us accountable for the talents he has given us.  We are each expected to work at improving those gifts that were given to us.

President James E Faust said:  “Some of us are too content with what we may already be doing. We stand back in the ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ mode when opportunities for growth and development abound. We miss opportunities to build up the kingdom of God because we have the passive notion that someone else will take care of it. The Lord tells us that He will give more to those who are willing. They will be magnified in their efforts. … But to those who say, ‘We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have’ (2 Nephi 28:30)

“The Lord entrusts all of His servants, including every priesthood holder, with spiritual talents. … While we are not all equal in experience, aptitude, and strength, we have different opportunities to employ these spiritual gifts, and we will all be accountable for the use of the gifts and opportunities given to us” ( I Believe I Can, I knew I Could,” Ensign, Nov. 02, 50).

How can we overcome our fear of sharing our talents?

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***For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7


***Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5 & 6


***For behold you should not have feared man more than God...You should have been faithful and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary.  DC 3: 7 & 8


***Fear not to do good...do good. Let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.  D&C 6:33 & 34

What Talents do you possess?  and What can you do to determine what your gifts and talents are?

1.   You can ask Heavenly Father what they are.

2.   Ask people who know you well.  Others can see your talents more clearly than you can.

3.   Obtain and read your patriarchal blessing.

4.   Learn a new skill

5.   Participate in new activities

THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS Matthew 25:31-46

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.  Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;  for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.  I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?  When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’

“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers , you did it to me.’  Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;  I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’

 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’  These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

***In the bible days the sheep and the goats grazed together.  In the evening they would separate them. 

This parable represents the judgement day, when the Savior will come, and the wicked will be separated from the righteous. 

We will be judged on how we showed our love for God and for those around us, our neighbors, family members, and friends.

The parable lists six actions that permitted “the sheep” to receive their reward and be at the King’s right hand.

1.   Hungered and ye gave me meat

2.   Thirsty and ye gave me drink

3.   Was a stranger and ye took me in

4.   Naked and ye clothed me

5.   Sick and ye visited me

6.   In prison and ye came unto me.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin testified: “At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father’s children, we do it unto Him. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (“The Great Commandments” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 30).

It is important that we study and learn about the signs of the Savior’s Second Coming so we can

·       Be prepared

·       Have hope

·       Not fear

From the parable of the ten virgins we learned that we cannot slumber or sleep but we must be prepared at all times and keep preparing.

From the parable of the talents that we must use and grow our talents and use them to get ready for the Second Coming.

From the Goats and the Sheep we learn that we must treat others with love and kindness and give service to those around us.  When we do it is as if we did it to Christ himself.

Let us remember to ------

*Invite the Holy spirit into our lives

*Do good with the gifts the Lord has given us

*Care for those that are around us that are in need.

If we do all of these things we will be prepared for His Coming and He will say to us “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant.”