Episode 22

May 27–June 2

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21

“The Son of Man Shall Come”

At the beginning of this episode, I reflect a little bit about last week’s episode and why we don’t all just go out and party and riotously live if we can just be forgiven at the end and get the same reward as those who have been faithful the whole time?  Because we miss so much in the meantime!  I shared a quote by Henry B. Eyring,  “Even should we be forgiven at some later time, the Lord cannot restore the good effects our repentance today might have had on those we love and are to serve. That is particularly poignant for the parents of young children. In those tender years there are chances for shaping and lifting spirits which may never come again. But even the grandfather who may have missed chances with his own children might, by choosing to repent today, do for grandchildren what he once could have done for their parents.”  “Do Not Delay” October General Conference 1999)

This lesson begins with a scripture from Js Matthew 1:22 

22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.”  So many of the very elect are being deceived these days!

I quoted Lawrence Corbridge’s talk,  “Stand Forever” for the millionth time, (It’s so good, go listen right now!)

“At the far end of the spectrum, we come to an entire universe of distractions. Never has there been more information, misinformation, and disinformation; more goods, gadgets, and games; and more options, places to go, and things to see and do to occupy time and attention away from what is most important. And all of that and much more is disseminated instantaneously throughout the world by electronic media. This is a day of deception.”

I talk some more about distraction and how easy it is to be pulled away from what really matters by the things that don’t.  I refer to but don’t quote a great talk by Dallin H. Oaks about distraction and the “opportunity cost” of some of the things we do that in and of themselves aren’t bad, but things that are keeping us from better things. (“Where Will this Lead“, April 2019, General Conference)

I then talk about more of the things that will happen in the last days and end with the parable of the Ten Virgins.  I talk about how the 5 wise virgins weren’t stingy or mean, but that the things that we do to fill our vessels aren’t things that are possible to share!

I end with a quote from Marvin J. Ashton, “The wise were not unkind or selfish when they refused oil to the foolish in the moment of truth. The kind of oil needed by all of us to light up the darkness and illuminate the way is not shareable. The oil could have been purchased at the market in the parable, but in our lives it is accumulated by righteous living, a drop at a time.”