I didn’t intend to have a theme going this week. But recently, as I read the story of the Lord leading Jared, his brother, and their families and friends across an ocean to a promised land, I was reminded that this is a parable of sorts—a journey that represents life. And I noticed something I hadn’t before even though I’ve read this story numerous times.
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How do you feel when you’re about to embark on a new journey or experience? This year, I volunteered to help with events hosted by a local foster care agency, and I attended an information meeting at the beginning of the summer. On my way there, my stomach felt unsettled, but I understood the source of the discomfort: I was going to a place I hadn’t been to before, meeting with people I didn’t know, and trying something new. I acknowledged the feeling and moved on. So far it’s been a great experience to be involved.
Of course, this wasn’t some significant undertaking. Not like leaving home for two years as a young adult to preach the gospel in a foreign country. The funny thing is that I don’t remember feeling nervous or anxious to do that, though I’m sure I was. I do remember being excited to go, in spite of the fact that I was leaving behind everyone and everything familiar to me, and I was still a very shy person.
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Mr. Reading opened the door to his office, and the next student, Victor, walked in and slumped into the chair facing the desk. After closing the door, Mr. Reading rounded the desk, took his seat, and greeted Victor. Then he jumped right in. “What are you thinking about doing after high school?”
“I’m going to start a world-famous business,” answered the student. “I’ll get rich, sell my company to the highest bidder, and get even richer. I’ll never have to worry about anything.”
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In two recorded instances in the Gospels, Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom or spoke in parables about marriages, implying that the children of Israel are the bride. As revealed to John later, in the Savior’s Second Coming, He will arrive to unite with His Church: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:7–8).
At the same time as He invites His Church to come to Him collectively, Jesus invites us individually to enter a covenant relationship with Him that can be compared in many ways to that of marriage. One of those ways is professing willingness to take His name upon us when we are baptized and thereby join His Church.
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Luisa sighed. Little dinner plates ringed the tabletop, covered with shreds of chicken, untouched broccoli florets, and fragments of roll. A cup sat by each plate, still half full of milk or water. All the children were off playing, reading, or engaging in other activities leading up to bedtime. Doing something other than eating their dinner.
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The Weekly Parable 