What Lack I Yet

On Saturday we were so blessed to have Elder Neil L. Andersen of the

quorum of the twelve apostles with us. All 187 missionaries in the

Arkansas Little Rock mission came to the North Little Rock church

building for the meeting. First we packed into the gym to take a

picture with Elder Andersen, shook his hand on the way out, and then

moved into the chapel for our devotional. I was asked to participate

in a special musical number in the program with three other

missionaries. I sang a solo in front of an apostle. I don't know if I

was more nervous about Elder Andersen sitting two feet behind me or

the nearly 200 missionaries sitting in front of me. But alas, we got

through it. The devotional was incredible and the presence of the

spirit was undeniable. Something that one of the speakers said really

tapped at my heart, which of course was the spirit telling me that I

can improve. He said that there is truly a difference between "going

on a mission" and "serving" a mission. As I've thought about that,

I've been able to relate it to a story in Matthew 19. A man comes to

Jesus and asks Him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells

the man to keep the commandments. The man replies that he already does

that and asks, "what lack I yet?" So, Jesus tells the man, "go and

sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.. and come and follow me".

The story ends that, "..when the young man heard that saying, he went

away sorrowful: for he had great possessions". I'm learning that it's

not enough to just go on a mission. The Lord asks us to give ALL THAT

WE HAVE, EVEN OUR WHOLE SELF. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If

any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his

cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew

16:24-25).

This week I read the parable of the laborers in the vineyard that

Jesus gives in Matthew 20. He compares the kingdom of heaven to a

householder who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. The

householder goes out and hires laborers in the first hour of the day

and promises to pay them one penny. The householder goes out again at

the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour and finally the

eleventh hour to hire laborers. At the end of the day, each of the

laborers is paid the same amount, one penny. Well, the laborers who

began at the first hour aren't very happy about this and begin to

complain. The householder responds by saying, "Friend, I do thee no

wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is,

and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it

not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil,

because I am good?" (Matthew 20:13-15). As Jesus says at the beginning

of the parable, this is meant to relate to the kingdom of heaven. He

explains that "the last shall be first, and the first last: for many

be called, but few chosen" (Matthew 20:16). The Lord offers the same

reward to all who will labor (follow Him), no matter how late they may

come. This is a concept that I've been able to study many times, but

while pondering it this week a new principle impressed me. I had the

question come into my mind, "what happens after the eleventh hour?"

Well, the answer is the twelfth hour. The twelfth hour, when the sun

goes down, and the days work is done. A scripture came to mind from

the Book of Mormon which says, "..I beseech of you that ye do not

procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this

day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we

do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of

darkness wherein there can be no labor performed" (Alma 34:33). Yikes.

"Then cometh the night of darkness" or the twelfth hour "wherein there

can be no labor performed" and no Heavenly reward to be earned. I know

that the Lord is continually reaching out to each of us, desperately

hoping we will let Him in so that He can reward us with eternal life;

a reward none of us could ever earn or deserve.

I want to bear to you my witness that our Eternal Father in Heaven and

His son Jesus Christ live. Sins can be forsaken, burdens can be

lifted, and heartache can be comforted through the atoning sacrifice

of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel. One day we will

stand before our God to be judged of our works. When we have faith in

that, it changes the way we live. I can testify to you that this life

is the time to prepare to meet God. If you will humble yourself and

pray to your Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ for

forgiveness, you will feel Him reaching out to you to pull you out of

whatever you may be dealing with. I know this is true, because I've

done it and I've felt it. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It

contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. It is

plain and precious, and it is true. Life is too short and eternity is

too long to not do the right thing. I testify of these things in the

name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Much love,

Sister Bailey Guthrie