In our recent general conference Elder Uchtdorf talked
about the “greatest short story ever told.”
This story was told by Our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and is found
in Luke 15. The story begins with, “A
certain man had two sons.” Many are
familiar with the story where the youngest son leaves and as Elder Uchtdorf
points out “In our day he would have #Livingmybestlife! #Neverhappier!
#Shouldhavedonelongago!” But then the
youngest son found himself in a well of deep despair when “A famine swept the land,
and he ran out of money.” Quoting Elder
Uchtdorf, “As the problem worsened, he panicked. The once unstoppable, jubilant high roller
now could not afford a single meal, let alone a place to stay. How would he survive? He had been generous to his friends—would
they help him now?...The scriptures tell us, ‘No man gave unto him.” Like this son I found myself
“#Livingmybestlife!” and I found myself in a different type of famine with all
my “friends” abandoning me.
We know this young man found his way back to his father
who was overjoyed to see him, “placing a robe upon his shoulders, sandals upon
his feet and a ring upon his finger. And ordering his servants to prepare a
feast…” But the elder son was not happy
with this younger let’s say troublemaker being greeted in such a manner. As I have been reflecting on this parable my
mind went to the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, which is found in Matthew..
Elder Holland gave this address The Laborers in the
Vineyard in May 2012. In this
parable The Lord of the household goes out throughout the day looking for day
laborers. He started at 6 in the
morning, returned at 9 am, 12 noon and 3 in the afternoon hiring more
workers. He then returned a final time
“about the eleventh hour, 5 pm and hired a concluding number. An hour later he paid all his workers who
received “the same wage in spite of the different hours of labor.”
There was significant anger from the first who had
“Borne the heat of the day.” And many others who felt there had been an
injustice served. Elder Holland’s first
point is that “no one had been treated unfairly…” He then shared an insight he had received
reading this parable, “My friends, I am not being unfair to you. You agreed on the wage for the day, a good
wage. You were happy to get the work,
and I am very happy with the way you served.
You are paid in full. Take your
pay and enjoy the blessing. As for the
others, surely I am free to do what I like with my own money…Why should you be
jealous because I chose to be kind?”
I am amazed at the changes and transformations that have
been happening in my life. Some have
brought great joy, and some have been painful lessons to help me become softer
and kinder. Throughout my career I have
been surrounded by those who are “jealous of another’s good fortune” and then
try to tear them down. I was sadly one
who had a jealous streak in which I felt I was very justified in holding onto,
but I am learning that I am not “diminished in the least when someone else is
added upon.” Quoting Elder Holland, “We
are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most
talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against
sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those…it is a mistake that
just keeps giving. I love his comparison he uses “what a bright prospect that
is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a
happy moment!...”
My dear friends, both parables have amazing points we
can reflect upon to help us become kinder and better friends. As we become “more Savior like thee.” I hope each of you can find the time to sit
down and read the inspired words from both these great men and the parables
which inspired them.
Elder Uchtdorf The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home
Luke15
Elder Hollland The Laborers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20
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