Apparently I have more to learn from the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). This week in studying Doctrine & Covenants Section 45, Jesus Christ was teaching about the calamities that will occur on the earth before his return, the signs we should watch for and how to be prepared…
Doctrine & Covenants 45:56 – 57 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. 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.
So if I’m wise I will…
1 – Receive the truth
2 – Take the Holy Spirit for my guide
3 – Not be deceived
This is the how-to guide to get that extra oil. But what does it even mean? These are my pondering take-aways…
First, all the virgins took their lamps, all the virgins were burning their lamps and watching for the bridegroom, all the virgins trimmed their lamps but only the wise brought extra oil because they didn’t know when he would actually arrive.
So if I want to be wise, what truth do I need to receive now so that I’ll have a reserve supply of oil for however long it will take?
In Moses 7:62 God says… “And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men..” To me it seems that the truth sent forth out of the earth is The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The record from which it was translated did come out of the earth and as I have read it I have felt the truth it teaches about Jesus Christ. I have also noticed that my days are better when I start by praying and studying the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. All these scriptures provide a more complete understanding of the truth that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Advocate. This is a practice that continues to bless my life the more I do it. Try it for yourself and see if it helps.
Next I’m supposed to take the Holy Spirit for my guide? When I was living in California I became friends with a lovely, intuitive woman who shared insights and counsel that helped many people. She practiced another faith and would often talk about how her ‘spirit guides’ helped her and told her things about people and directed her decision making. A mutual friend and I were discussing this idea one day and she asked if I had any ‘guides’ that influenced me? My almost spontaneous response was that I had taken the Holy Spirit for my guide. It was a moment when the words I said taught me as I spoke them because I hadn’t thought about it before, and yet I knew that it was true.
How much is there to learn about taking or allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me? What does it even mean? For now my understanding is that I have to be willing to pay attention to and act on the promptings I receive. I have to be introspective and recognize when I need to change course or repent or apologize or stop and go back. I have to be willing to make constant course corrections and be humble enough to try again especially when I know I could have, but didn’t allow myself to be guided. This happens intentionally, by asking for help in prayer. I’m not so good at it, but I keep trying.
It has also been enlightening to consider how the Holy Spirit has guided me in so many ways throughout my life, even when I haven’t recognized it in the moment. You might be surprised when you look back and ponder all the good that has come into your life.
Third, in order to have a reserve of ‘oil’ to give me light until the Savior returns I need to not be deceived. Deceived by what? Deceived by whom? I found it an interesting exercise to reflect on my life and I realized that I have been deceived about…
- The Law of Chastity & its role in developing loving eternal relationships
- God’s love and my self-worth
- Gaining material possessions, true abundance and helping the poor
- The role and purpose and blessings of prayer in my life
- Distractions of the world and how they leave me empty
- Are there more ways I’ve been deceived?
In many ways it seems discouraging to consider the lost time, the missteps, the mistakes from the deception that has clouded my vision, and yet as the line from Amazing Grace states ‘I once was blind, but now I see’. This is where the opportunity to repent and the blessing of forgiveness becomes so precious, so kind, so needed, and so eternally loving. There is hope, we can grow and change and learn and make progress because of Jesus Christ’s atonement. This is truly good news!
Having a lamp (being baptized) or waiting to trim my lamp (repent) when Christ appears will not be enough to give me the light I need and want in this increasingly dark world if I’m not willing to receive the truth now, take the Holy Spirit for my guide now and learn how to not be deceived now. I think more and more people are wanting and searching for light, so I hope we can help and encourage each other to fill our souls daily with a reserve of oil that will burn clean and bright until whenever it may be that our Savior returns.
