Matthew 25:1-13 The Dangers of Procrastination

 In Matthew 25 Jesus gives the parable of the Ten Virgins and teaches us that we must be prepared and ready for when the Savior comes at the time of the second coming. I learned a lot from the student manual and how it talks about the Jewish Tradition where the Bridegroom accompanied his close friends and go to the Brides house and the grooms house for a party and feast. Wedding guests who joined were expected to carry their own lamps. In this parable there is some symbolism where the Bridegroom represents the Savior, the ten virgins represent the members of Christ's church in which only half were ready, and the oil represents spiritual preparedness. The oil or spiritual preparedness cannot be bought or shared with someone else, we must have our own and is accumulated overtime drop by drop. Every action such as partaking of the sacrament, fasting, studying the scriptures, control over bodily appetites, chaste thoughts and actions, paying tithing, and being kind to our neighbors are all acts of dedication and obedience and adds a drop of "oil" to our lamp. Those who are not prepared and procrastinate the day of their repentance are those foolish and unwise virgins who found themselves outside the closed door. The closed door is a poignant reminder that this life is the day for men to preform their labors. President Eyring warned that there is danger in the word someday when it is not this day. The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. It is so important that we repent and keep filling up our lamp by keeping the commandments set forth by our Heavenly Father before the Savior returns. We must be like the 5 virgins that was ready to see the Bridegroom.