Last night was institute for the Edgemont South Stake Singles; a class I love to attend. One of my favorite teachers, President Esplin, was giving the lesson as well, which made it even more exciting. As he taught from the beginning of the Book of James I had thoughts form in my head and a light went on. I have observed people in the past who seem to feel studying the gospel intensely is more important, or should be given higher priority, than going out and living what the gospel teaches. We are called on to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom...” (D&C 88:118), though that does not say seek ye out of these books and then sit back and you will be saved. Rather we look to the Book of James (as well as many other places in the scriptures) to find the other piece to the map back to our Heavenly home. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only...” (James 1:22). This is where the light bulb went on in my head. It made sense. This is the analogy that came to mind:
Reading and studying the scriptures and expecting that alone to save you, no matter how hard you study, is like reading the instructions on how to use a toaster, then staring at the toaster and waiting for it to work. The scriptures are the instructions on how to get back to Heaven, but we must follow those instructions in order to get there. We cannot be observers only, but must study, then go out and do.
Most people probably already understood this principle, I just found it so simple when this though came to me. I love this gospel, and I am SO excited to serve a mission and be a tool in the hands of the Lord to serve the people of Brazil.
2 comments:
Ahh I love this analogy! I used a similar one in a baptismal talk for someone I taught with the missionaries.
When missionaries teach you it's like giving you a recipe book. You see the pictures of the cakes and they tell you how amazingly delicious they are and how to make them. The best ways of following the steps and what this means. You can listen all you want, but it's not going to help you bake the cake... you actually have to pick up the recipe book and start doing the steps in order to end up with the cake...
(the only disadvantage is we don't have a picture of the end result - celestial kingdom, only of other people doing the steps.)
Abi! That was awesome! I might use that one. :D I miss you!
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