Parables

1.

A parable is a story, not unlike a fable. A fable is given as a story with a moral that the reader is intended to learn and apply. While a parable is a story with a moral or lesson, it is also more than that. Parables, especially those used by the Savior, are told in such a way that those who seek to understand the meaning and message intended by the Savior or other teacher, and have prepared themselves to learn, will be able to understand. He who has prepared himself well to receive the message will understand much. He who has not prepared to understand or has not interest in understanding will not understand anything beyond the story itself.

Some examples of the Saviors parables and some of their meanings are below:

2.

The Savior spoke to the people about the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he gave the parable of the gospel net in Matt 13:47-50. He spoke of fishermen bringing in the fish of the sea, of all kinds, both good and bad.

He spoke of the great missionary work that was going to take place when He told of the wheat and the tares sown together. Into that field the Lord would send he reapers to gather in the wheat and separate the tares. Matt 13:24-30

Teaching us about the remarkable growth that His church would experience from very small beginnings the Lord told us of mustard seeds, and of leaven. The very small seed grows to be a great tree. Matt 13:47-50

The Savior taught that there would be the need for some to sacrifice great worldly wealth and recognition to accept and receive the truths of the gospel when He spoke of the Pearl of Great Price, and the man was was willing to sell all to obtain it. Matt 13:44-46

We were also taught through the Lords parables that among those who are caught in the harvest will be those which will not remain, and have not brought the fruit of the gospel. From the gospel net are cast the bad fishes from the Harvest of the Lord; from the sheaves of the reapers who go into the field with the wheat and the tares, the tares are removed and burned.

3.

In pondering the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the question that seems to come to view is "What sacrifice have you yet to make in order that you might retain your pearl of great price?" Greater than any other sacrifice that we can make, and the one that takes the most work to truly give, is our will. It is the only thing which we truly and fully own and control, and therefore the only thing that we can really give to God which he does not already have. I believe it is in the small, consistent things I chose to do, or not do, that I demonstrate my faith and desire to say to God and Christ, "Thy will, not mine, be done." Daily scriptures and prayers. Strict observance of moral principles in media, language, and behavior. Increased service on behalf of others. These are the things that I feel can be done.


Another thing that I think we all ought to do is be more active as we move the gospel net through the world. This net is woven by strands made of the lives and work of the missionaries and members of the church. We are to reach out, and bring into the safety all who will heed the call. The good fish who hear and come are placed into the vessels, and the bad are cast away. I believe that the vessels may represent the temples of God. The temples are the only place that we can go to be sealed to each other and obtain all we need to return to our Father. It is also the only place in the church that people are turned away from if they do not qualify. Our gathering is not only to baptism, but to the temples!

Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!