Many of us including myself have at one time or another felt picked on because of what we might have seen as restrictions put on us by the church.
I remember being a young teen and wishing with all my heart to go to dances with my friends. But because I was younger than ALL of them and had not reached the age of fourteen I could not go.
At the time it was earth shattering but what I did not understand was that the suggestion to wait to go to dances, or to date at the age of sixteen, no sooner, were only meant to keep me safe. Suggestions given from a loving Heavenly Father who was once a man and is now exalted. A father who knows what it takes for me to make it back home to Him. A Heavenly Father who desperately wishes for me to join him in his heavenly home, but who will not compromise my free agency in any way to help me to get there.
I must seek Him. I must want to be with Him again. I must desire to be like Him.
This parable was mentioned in one of Elder Dallin H. Oaks General Conference addresses that I read today for my religion class.
I remember being a young teen and wishing with all my heart to go to dances with my friends. But because I was younger than ALL of them and had not reached the age of fourteen I could not go.
At the time it was earth shattering but what I did not understand was that the suggestion to wait to go to dances, or to date at the age of sixteen, no sooner, were only meant to keep me safe. Suggestions given from a loving Heavenly Father who was once a man and is now exalted. A father who knows what it takes for me to make it back home to Him. A Heavenly Father who desperately wishes for me to join him in his heavenly home, but who will not compromise my free agency in any way to help me to get there.
I must seek Him. I must want to be with Him again. I must desire to be like Him.
This parable was mentioned in one of Elder Dallin H. Oaks General Conference addresses that I read today for my religion class.
A wealthy father knew that if he were to bestow his wealth upon a child who had not yet developed the needed wisdom and stature, the inheritance would probably be wasted. The father said to his child: “All that I have I desire to give you--not only my wealth, but also my position and standing among men. That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself. You will qualify for your inheritance by learning what I have learned and by living as I have lived. I will give you the laws and principles by which I have acquired my wisdom and stature. Follow my example, mastering as I have mastered, and you will become as I am, and all that I have will be yours.”
As I read this parable it touched my heart and helped me to remember, "The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks General Conference, October 2000)
As I read this parable it touched my heart and helped me to remember, "The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks General Conference, October 2000)