Three Parables of Preparation

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Study Matthew 25:1–13 and the institute student manual commentary for Matthew 25:1–13, “What Is the Meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?” (pp. 154–155). Then, write responses to the following questions:
• Who does the bridegroom represent? The Savior
• Who did President Harold B. Lee say the virgins represent? Members of Christ’s church.
• What does the wedding represent? The second coming
• Why did the bridegroom come at “midnight,” while the wedding guests “slumbered and slept”? How does this apply to our waiting for the Savior’s Second Coming? The Lord has his own timetable and this means we need to be prepared for when the Savior will come at the second coming.
• What did five of the virgins do that was foolish (See Matthew 25:3)? How might a Church member today make the same error as the foolish virgins? What would the consequences be? They didn’t have oil for their lamps. A church member could make the same mistake by not doing their own preparation to build a testimony. The consequence would be the Savior not knowing us at the second coming. We wouldn’t be prepared when the second coming comes.
• What should we learn from the actions of the five wise virgins? We should learn that we need to always do the things that will spiritually prepare us for the second coming.
• Keeping in mind that the oil in the parable represents spiritual preparation for the Second Coming, what are some ways we can add “oil” to our “lamps”? What does Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–57 teach about ways to add oil to our lamps? Some ways that we can add oil to our lamps is to read, pray, attend our meetings, follow the prophet. Doctrine and Covenants says that we need to let the Holy Spirit be our guide.
2. The Parable of the Talents. After studying Matthew 25:14–30 and the institute student manual, “An Explanation for the Parable of the Entrusted Talents” (p. 155), write responses to the following questions:
• Although a talent was a sum of money in New Testament times (see talent under “Weights and Measures” in the Bible Dictionary, p. 789), it can also represent all that the Lord has given us. List the rewards each of the three men received in the parable of the talents and explain why each man received that reward. What mattered more than the number of talents or gifts each received? The first received 5 talents and he doubled it. He was made ruler over many things. The second received 2 talents and he doubled it and he was made ruler over many things. The third was given one talent but he buried it. He had it taken away and was cast into outer darkness. What the person did with the talents mattered more than how many the person received.
• What reason did the third man give for hiding his talent? He said that he hid his talent because he was afraid.
• What teachings in 2 Timothy 1:7; Proverbs 3:5–6; Doctrine and Covenants 3:7–8; 6:33–37 can help us overcome our fears and to develop and use the talents given to us from the Lord? We should put our trust in the Lord. We need to fear God more than man.
• Outline a plan whereby you can better develop and use two of the gifts the Lord has given to you. I have been given a talent of empathy. I am able to empathize with people and I can use this to bring them to the gospel. I have also been given the gift of cooking. It is one that I am trying to further develop. I plan on trying different recipes to further my knowledge of cooking
3. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. After studying Matthew 25:31–46 and Mosiah 2:17, write responses to the following questions:
• What difference does the way we treat others make to the Lord? The Lord gave us the commandment to love our neighbors like unto ourselves. So how we treat others is very important to Him. He want us to love and serve others.
• List the six actions found in Matthew 25:35–36 that permitted “the sheep” to receive their reward at the King’s right hand. What are some spiritual or physical needs people have around you that are similar to those listed in the parable? 1) Hungry and gave meat 2) Thirsty and gave drink 3) Stranger and was taken in 4) Naked and was clothed 5) Sick and was visited 6) In prison and was went to.

Many people need are hungry or thirsty but don’t have the means to take care of that. Also, I think that many people are in their own prison spiritually speaking. They just aren’t doing the things that can bring them close to God or they don’t know about the Gospel. They need the missionaries in their lives to bring them to the truthfulness of the Gospel.

• How will following the principles of this parable about preparation for the Second Coming help someone prepare for that event? If we are serving our fellow men and teaching them we are helping them to fill their lamps one drop at a time.