Be the Leaven

Hey there Everyone, hope your week is going well!

So this week I wish to talk about one of my favorite parables from the Gospel of Matthew.  It's a pretty short one, but I've come to love it recently as I've been studying the importance of doing good and being good at all times. The parable comes from Matthew 13 verse 33, which reads:  "Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."  

So I love this short parable, one because it references baking bread which is one of my favorite things, and it also references what we as people should strive to do as we go about our mortal probation, which is simply to uplift the world.  To "lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ." (Preach My Gospel, p168)

A message similar to this one was the basis for the General Conference address by Sister Linda K. Burton where she spoke of the importance of lifting one another in our families. One of the quotes that she used from Elder Robert D. Hales has stuck with me recently, which goes as such:

"Thee lift me, and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together"  

 (Robert D. Hales, “Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty,” Ensign, May 1999)

Within our society we should be looking to help uplift those around us.  Many of our spirit brothers and sisters are worn down and wearied by the world.  They are in need of our support and any strength we can lend.  When Christ was upon the earth he came to serve, not to be served.  And if we desire to live a life like Christ's we should go about doing things as he would do them. 

I would challenge each of you to be the 'leaven' in society that will lift those around you.  We are all striving towards creating Zion, but the people in that glorified city didn't become that way because of one person living a Christ-like life.  Zion was created as every member of that society lifted one another until they were brought up in their glory. 

Look for at least one person that you can uplift this week.  Look for someone that may need a kind word, or some assistance that you could gladly render.  What small act of service you render may make the world for someone else, never underestimate the power of simple acts of kindness, for it is upon simple acts that we gain our salvation and "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).

I wish you all the best, and I can't wait to write again next week!

Love, Elder Gailey