Three Parables

A few weeks ago in our Sunday School class we discussed chapter 15 in the book of Luke. In this chapter, the Savior told the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. In our discussion we talked about the idea that the lost sheep Jesus was referring to are those members of the Church that seem to just wander away. Often times, they are enticed away from the flock in their pursuit of financial success, excitement, or (what they believe to be) self-fulfillment.

The lost coin appears to be a reference to those members that become lost through the neglect of those that have responsibility for them. Sometimes they are right there among us, but we simply do not notice them. You will note that the coin had never left the woman’s house. It was there all the time, but the woman had evidently set it aside where it was not in constant view.

The prodigal son is a reference to those members that willingly and willfully go their own ways, doing what they want to do, with no concern about the consequences. In the case of this particular son, he had wasted his inheritance on riotous living and harlots. In all three parables, the Savior talks about the joy that is felt when that which was lost is found.

In the first two parables, that which was lost is found by one that went searching for it. The shepherd left the ninety and nine in order to save the one. Although the woman originally had ten silver coins, she, nevertheless, swept her entire house until she found the one that was missing. In each case, there was great rejoicing over finding that which had been lost. Both the shepherd and the woman felt the need to share their joy with their neighbors:

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:4-10)

The third parable has some very important differences from the first two:

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:11-32)

As I mentioned above, in this story the son willfully left home and wasted what had been given to him. In this story, the son was not found by someone that went looking for him. He realized he had made a mistake, and he repented and returned to his father to ask forgiveness. As in the other parables, there is great rejoicing for the return of that which was lost. But this parable makes a point that the other two do not make and that many people do not see.

Although the father rejoices at the return of the son and receives him back into the household, he does not replace the inheritance that the son had wasted. In fact, the father tells the older son, “…all that I have is thine.”

Over the years I have known a number of people that, for one reason or another, became less active in the Church, and then, years later, returned. Even though there has been great rejoicing at their return, the years that they lost can never be returned. All of the opportunities and experiences they could have had are lost. In several cases, young children stopped coming to Church when the parents became inactive, but when the parents returned, the children did not.

These parables teach us that no matter what we do, Heavenly Father will forgive us if we repent sufficiently. He will remember our sins no more. He will always rejoice at our return and receive us back into His household. But there are some things that even the Father cannot replace. We have a very limited amount of time. We only have one lifetime to live. Once our time is spent, it is gone forever.

I Can't--I'm Mormon

I have a picture on my computer that I downloaded from the Internet several years ago. It is a picture of a pretty blonde girl (probably 18-20 years old), wearing a blue tee-shirt with the message, “I can’t…I’m Mormon.” The meaning, of course, is that, “I can’t smoke. I can’t drink alcohol, tea, or coffee. I can’t have sex unless I’m married. Etc.”

I downloaded the photo because I thought it was funny; but over the years I have thought that it is not really accurate. We know, for instance, that Mormons can do all of those things. In fact, a great many more Mormons than we like to admit do those things. A more accurate message would have been, “I DON’T…I’m Mormon.” Mormons are not unable to do those things; we make a conscious choice not to do them.

Heavenly Father has given us some very strict commandments. He has commanded us to live the Word of Wisdom. He has commanded us to live the Law of Chastity. He has commanded us to live the Law of Tithing, to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy, and numerous other laws and rules. He has given us these commandments so that we may remain unspotted from the sins of the world, so that we can be pure to return to His presence and have Eternal Life, so that we can have a fullness of joy in the next life. But just as important: He wants us to be happy, to have joy in this life.

Heavenly Father has never given any commandments, which, if obeyed, would not bring us joy and happiness in this life. This is not to say that we will enjoy every moment we spend obeying Heavenly Father’s commandments. I am sure that the pioneers did not enjoy pulling their handcarts hundreds of miles to get to the Salt Lake Valley. But I would venture to say that the great majority of them had joy in knowing they were doing what the Lord wanted them to do.

Some people would say that the commandments that we obey are old-fashioned, even antiquated, and they would be right. The commandments that we obey are not new. Even some of the commandments that seem new—avoid pornography, don’t use drugs, etc.—are just variations of commandments that were given in the past. The commandments that we are expected to obey are eternal; they have always been in effect, and always will be in effect. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that Heavenly Father once lived on a world similar to ours, and that by living righteously, He was exalted to the position He now holds. I believe I can safely say that the commandments He has given to us were in effect on the world where He lived during His period of mortality. These are the same commandments our spirit children will be subject to when we create worlds without end. Eternal principles never change.