Jesus
taught a parable that has got me thinking this past week.
“Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
“And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and
the fowls came and devoured them up:
“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and
forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
“And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they
had no root, they withered away.
“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked
them:
“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some
an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Jesus
taught His disciples that the seed is “the word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:19). I take this to mean the word of the kingdom of God, or the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
I
have had two trains of thought regarding this parable – both which seem to make
sense to me. The first one is looking at the parable from the “physical” state
of the soil – where it was already in its varied states when the sower went out
to sow. The second one is from a more “spiritual” angle, where the soil started
out good, and over time it changed.
“Physical” State of Soil
In
thinking about this parable, if it represents those who have the opportunity to
hear the word of God why didn’t the sower make sure that all of the seeds landed in good soil (why waste good seed on poor
soil)? Why does mortality require that we face thorns and thistles, scorching
sun, or stony places? Why didn’t the sower make it so every seed had a chance? Doesn’t
he care about where his seeds fall?
If
we look at the soil as earth life, and how each of us was placed into different
circumstances, we may wonder how life can be “fair”, when some may seem to have
it so easy (having things given to them so readily). We may get caught up in
all the differences that we find surrounding each of us. However, Elder
Lawrence E. Corbridge reminds us:
“Regarding the few things that matter
most in life, no one is disadvantaged or privileged. Everyone is on equal
footing. This is surprising because there is otherwise so much inequality in
life.
“In the end it does not matter how well liked you are or how
much money you acquire or how beautiful you may be. The greatest gifts are
equally available to everyone” (link to talk).
We
are here on earth for a purpose. Nephi taught that, “it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). We knew that the plan of our Father in Heaven would include
trials, challenges, and opposition, to help us grow and develop into the person
He knows we can become. We knew we would struggle, but we were willing to come
down to earth because we knew our Heavenly Father and wanted more than anything
to become as He is. We knew life would be hard, but were willing to accept the
challenge despite the difficulties. Elder Marlin K. Jensen Jensen
taught,
“There is no formula for guaranteeing
happiness every day of our lives; in fact, scripture suggests that God did not
intend for every day to be entirely happy. There is eternal design and purpose
to be seen in suffering, sadness, and adversity” (link to article).
We
are each given the joy, trials, hope, sorrow, and everything else we will need
in this life to return to our Father in Heaven (see 2 Nephi 2:27). We are each
on a specifically, uniquely individual path. Our circumstances—good or bad—are
for our good (see Doctrine & Covenants 122:7).
Sometimes
we may think that life would be much easier if everything could work out
perfectly for everyone—but that can never be. I love the way Dallan R. Moody
phrased it, when he said:
“A plan in which supposedly everything would go right so nobody
would be lost was
already proposed and rejected. The plan of salvation, on the
other hand, allows for opposition in all things: sadness and sweetness,
wrongdoing and repentance, trial and testimony” (link to talk).
How
could we ever learn the godly attribute of patience if we never had to wait?
How could we learn to love without loss; find virtue in a world filled with
vice; or know joy without sorrow? We can’t. Sometimes we need to pass through the
trials of life in order to more fully understand them. Brother Moody also
stated,
“From time to time
the Lord puts certain truths into our hearts that affect our future destiny. We
may not fully understand His
reason for teaching us these principles at these
particular times. Instead, it is often once we have passed through the ensuing
experiences that
clarity comes. We can then look back through life’s lenses
and more fully see that God does prepare a way for us to accomplish what He
commands” (link to talk).
The
Lord knew, when He presented the Plan to us, that not everyone would have a
chance to have the gospel during their mortal life. He did, however, provide a
way that all of His children could enjoy the blessings of the gospel. Through
the atonement of His Son the way was opened for all to receive these blessings
either in this life or in the life to come. Through the restoration of the
gospel, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we now have temples that dot the
earth making saving ordinances available for both the living and the dead.
Through
the Atonement we are able to not only receive the blessings and ordinances of
the gospel, but also the healing power that comes through the use of its divine
power. Elder David A. Bednar taught,
“because of His
infinite and eternal sacrifice, [the Savior] has perfect empathy and can extend
to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen
us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never
do relying only upon our own power….The unique burdens in each of our lives
help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (link to talk).
We
were given the very trials we face because the Lord knew they would bring us
closer to Him. We don’t see everything, because we have limited vision, but He
does.
I
had an interesting experience that helped teach me more about the Lord’s perspective.
I took an art class where I learned about “perspective drawing”. This method is
a more realistic way of drawing where things that are closer appear larger and
things that are farther away appear smaller. As you look at the picture, you
will see that far off on the distant horizon is a place where everything seems
to come together. This is known as the “vanishing point” (photo taken from here).
Imagine
if you will, that you are part of a finished painting. From your vantage point
you can see what is in front of you, but not behind, above, or below you
(because people in paintings can’t move). You are limited in your vision. The
artist, however, can see the complete picture.
After
taking that class I looked at things in a new way – I saw everything from my
new “perspective” point of view. I saw how I could change the vanishing point
of what I saw by changing where I looked. Everything, no matter where I stood, eventually
led to some distant point on the horizon.
I
started seeing the world in a new light, and gaining a greater understanding
for how the Lord sees it. Taking it a little deeper, for example, when I look
at a bird I see an animal with feathers, eyes, a beak, and sometimes can watch
it fly or hear it sing. The Lord, with an intricate understanding of how the bird
was created, has a much deeper understanding of the bird. He not only knows the
details of every feather, and shape of the eyes, but every bone, organ, internal
and external feature, the mechanics of how they create their song, and
everything else about them.
In
like manner, when we look at our own life we may see ourselves, our strengths,
weaknesses, circumstances, trials, hopes, dreams, joys, sorrows, and everything
else that surrounds us. When the Lord looks at us, however, He sees the whole
picture. He sees where we are in the canvas, and also the point on the horizon
where everything in our lives will come together and we will see ourselves as
He sees us. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught,
“We see ourselves
in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of
forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees
us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming” (link to talk).
In
the end the Lord won’t judge us by our circumstances or situation in life. What
He will look at is not where we are or what we may have (or feel we lack), but
what we are doing with the life He has given us. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
reminds us,
“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we
spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are,
no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His
holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.
“God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived
are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the
blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of
their lives doing good” (link to talk).
If
we feel that life has planted us in undesirable soil, remember that there is a
way to be transplanted to the good soil. It comes only in and through the
Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may have plenty of thorns to untangle
or stones to move, but if we turn to the Lord we can gain comfort in His promise,
“Come unto
me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30.)
About
this scripture President Howard W. Hunter stated,
“This marvelous offer of assistance
extended by the Son of God himself was not restricted to the Galileans of his
day. This call to shoulder his easy yoke and accept his light burden is not
limited to bygone generations. It was and is a universal appeal to all people,
to all cities and nations, to every man, woman, and child everywhere.
“In our own great times of need we must not leave unrecognized
this unfailing answer to the cares and worries of our world. Here is the
promise of personal peace and protection. Here is the power to remit sin in all
periods of time. We, too, must believe that Jesus Christ possesses the power to
ease our burdens and lighten our loads. We, too, must come unto him and there
receive rest from our labors” (link to talk).
Let
us work to allow the Atonement of Christ to help us move to good ground. Then we
can bring forth fruit to help further the work of the Lord's kingdom in these, the last days.
<to
be continued...>
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