Parables and Accounts that teach Eternal Truths

Luke 16: 1-12: The parable of the unjust steward. Elder James E. Talmage explained that the lesson we can learn from this parable is to, “Be diligent; for the day in which you can use your earthly riches will soon pass. Take a lesson from even the dishonest and the evil; if they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they think of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future, provide therefor! If you have learned wisdom and prudence in the use of ‘unrighteous mammon,’ how can you be trusted with the more enduring riches?” (Jesus the Christ, 464). Our time on this earth is short and we need to realize that and use this time to prepare for eternal life. If we are working hard to keep the commandments of God and securing our eternal future, we will be blessed. Obtaining riches is not always bad, we can use our money to do good in this world. Luke 16:19-31: The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. We are taught to put God first in our lives. If we have His will as our priority, we will be blessed and find joy in this life. Luke 16:13 reads, “No servant can serve two masters. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Our love and desire to make money cannot come before our love and desire to serve God. Luke 17:11-19: The ten lepers. Only one of the ten lepers came back to thank Jesus for healing them. We must always remember to be grateful for our blessings and thank our Heavenly Father for all He has given us.

Luke 18:1-8: The parable of the unjust judge. Luke 18:1 teaches us the main lesson of this parable, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow. … Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 30). Luke 18:9-14. The parable of the Pharisee and the publican. In this parable, the Savior warns us of hypocrisy. We must be a humble people, just as the Savior was humble, and love all of God’s children. The Savior stated the moral of the parable in terms of pride and humility: “For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14; see also D&C 52:15). (New Testament Student Manual)

Become as little children

Matthew 18:3 reads, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

To return to live with our Heavenly Father again, we must be as little children. We need to be humble and meek, as little children are. We must “be of good cheer” (D&C 78:18) We must allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit through this life, for “ye cannot bear all things.” (D&C 78”:18) He will lead and guide us through our trials, if we will turn to Him and remember Him. In a talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, titled, “That They May Be One in Us,” he states that “As we endeavor day by day and week by week to follow the path of Christ, our spirit asserts its preeminence, the battle within subsides, and temptations cease to trouble.” Our temptations will be few, as we strive to follow the path of Jesus Christ. In Mosiah 3:19, we read that we can be as little children as we strive to be, “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

Matthew 14:22–33. Walking on the Sea

Jesus Christ, in Matthew 14:22, commands “his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side...” So the disciples do, while Jesus “went up into a mountain apart to pray.” (Matthew 14:23) When Jesus decided to join his disciples, he walks on the water towards the ship. When the disciples see Jesus walking on the sea, “... they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” (Matthew 14:26) Jesus then called to the disciples and told them, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Peter answered Jesus and asked if he could also walk on the water. Jesus’ response to Peter was, “Come.” (Matthew 14:29) I think this showed the great faith and trust Peter must have had in Jesus Christ. He knew that Jesus could allow him to be able to walk on the water. Peter did step out of the ship and did walk on the water, but when he became fearful of the boisterous wind, he lost his faith and began to sink. When Peter did start to sink, he called out to Jesus to save him, saying, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30) In the next verse, verse 31, we read that Jesus “immediately... stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 reads, “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” As Peter was focused on the Savior, he was able to walk on water. His eyes were single to Jesus’ glory and his body was filled with light because his faith was strong and his faith in Jesus Christ allowed him to experience that miracle. As I show my faith in Jesus Christ by following His commandments, miracles can occur in my life. There are storms in my life that can cause me to fear, but if I remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and if I try every day to be more like Him, I can weather those storms and my faith can remain strong. If I call on my Savior for help, I know that He will reach forth His hand to rescue me from whatever it is that is bringing me down.