On Spiritual Strength

On Sunday we had two high councilors visit our ward to speak, and both of their talks we inspiring and helped me better understand the theme for this month, which is "taking the spirit as our guide." I've been thinking of this theme in the context of Nephi's experience going back for the brass plates, but one of our speakers took us in a very different and enlightening direction that I would like to pursue further here.

Working off the parable of the ten virgins, our speaker explored the symbol of the oil as spiritual strength, which he then connected to President Packer's 2010 General Conference address about priesthood power. In this context, spiritual strength becomes analogous with not just the authority, but also the power of the priesthood as exercised in faith.

But for me the most meaningful part of this message was the reference to D&C 45:57, where this parable is explored in greater depth. Here we read that "they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day." Here the wise five "have received the truth and taken the Spirit as their guide," which would mean they have cultivated personal spiritual strength through the exercise of faith in their daily lives.

I think then about this in the context of our ward and this simple fact: we have 1000 members and over 50 active, temple recommend-worthy Melchizedek priesthood holders, three times the numbers required for a ward. Obviously, as our stake president has told us repeatedly, we need to be working to split this ward. Priesthood advancements and reactivation are part of this. But so too is the act of training each husband and father to step up and develop this sort of spiritual strength.

This message then ought to inspire each of us to be ready to serve and lead in ways that we may not be comfortable with. And the day will come (soon, I believe) when we are not just talking about two wards where now there is one, but a stake centered in this part of town, and men who are now leading quorums and teaching classes will be in bishoprics and a stake presidency.