TRACES OF TIME... {For last week: Scroll to end and click "Older Posts" at bottom right.}
THIS WEEK
APRIL 26, 2021 TO MAY 2, 2021 
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021
He spoke
about the necessity of being consistently true to one’s covenants and promises
throughout mortal life by teaching about the parable of the Ten Virgins found
in Matthew
25.
The Ten
Virgins represent members of the Church, and the bridegroom represents Jesus
Christ. Five wise virgins carried oil for their lamps and went forth to meet
the bridegroom. The five foolish virgins took no oil for their lamps and were
turned away by the bridegroom.
“The Lord
explained in Latter-day scripture that the wise virgins are those who ‘have
received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have
not been deceived’” (Doctrine
and Covenants 45:57), Elder Rasband said.
Hold on to the promises you have received
and the promises and covenants you have made.
When the
cry came that the bridegroom cometh, the wise virgins filled and lit their
lamps. The foolish virgins asked for oil from the wise, but the wise were
unable to share their oil because it “represented more than what came in a
jar,” he said. This oil had been collected by “always striving to live faithful
to their covenants with the Lord.”
Oil is
love for God the Father and Jesus Christ, a desire to live with integrity,
worshiping in the temple, connections to and gratitude for families, partaking
of and honoring covenants, doctrinal understanding through studying the
Savior’s words in scripture and from living prophets, paying tithing,
fulfilling callings, mercy, repentance and drawing upon Christ’s Atonement.
“In the
account, the foolish were off to the market,” Elder Rasband said. However, “You
cannot buy the oil of testimony.”
When the
foolish virgins tried to join the wedding, the bridegroom said, “Verily I say
unto you, I know you not” (Matthew
25:10-12).
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during the BYU Women’s Conference,
broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Friday, April 30,
2021. Credit: BYU Photo
“Now, the
Joseph Smith Translation is even more explicit,” Elder Rasband said. “Rather
than, ‘I know you not,’ the revelation says, ‘Verily I say unto you, ye know me
not’” (JST
Matthew 25:11).
It is a
stunning rebuke to these five who had not filled their souls with a knowledge
of the Savior by following His example.
Jesus
Christ has atoned for all the sins of God’s children, taking upon Himself the
harshest moments of all mortals. He humbly and fully committed Himself to the
will of His Father. “The magnitude of our Redeemer’s final days cannot be
overstated,” Elder Rasband said.
At
baptism, members of the Church covenanted to serve the Lord and keep His
commandments, committed to be called God’s people, bear one another’s burdens,
mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and
stand as witnesses of God, Elder Rasband said. Baptismal covenants are renewed
each week by partaking
...and for Bubba'a Mom, Geni, was
Daily Scripture: Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him. - Doctrine and Covenants 45:3 |
Daily Quote: I am particularly gratified, and it is of great significance to me, that I may at any moment and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, that my Advocate, him who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause. - D. Todd Christofferson |
Daily Quote: In gospel terms it is a gift and blessing from the Lord that the keystone of our religion is something as tangible and graspable as the Book of Mormon and that you can hold it and read it. Can you see the Book of Mormon as your keystone, your spiritual center of strength? - Gary E. Stevenson |
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