In Nephi’s vision of us in our day, he spoke of ‘carnal security’ that leads the members of the Church to the dangerous mentality of ‘all is well in Zion’ (2 Nephi 28: 20-24). It makes some of us think that we have plenty of time to repent and to get our lives into order. This mentality can be seen in the parable of the Ten Virgins.
As a symbol of our covenant relationship with Christ, Jesus used the metaphor of marriage in this parable between Himself and His Church. Therefore, when He comes, He will come as a bridegroom to wed the righteous of His Church. These, He states are the members who have received the truth, have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide and have not been deceived (D&C 45:56,57).
There is something interesting worthy of note in the marriage metaphor. The parable says that the Bridegroom 'tarried', meaning he delayed His appearance to the last hour of the day. In fact, he has 'tarried' now for over 2000 years. It has been so long since He spoke of His return that many Church members are sleeping and not watching on the 'towers of Zion' finding it too long to wait for the midnight hour and the call to gather for the wedding feast (McConkie, Mortal Messiah Book 3, p 467). Could it be that He ‘tarries’ so that as many as possible can be saved? This is a merciful act.
The call to gather has already come. It came on November 3rd, 1831 through the prophet of this dispensation: "Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour" (D&C 133:10,10).
The oil of preparedness cannot be purchased but needs to be earned over time because this oil is the oil of righteousness: "In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps. (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p.256 )"
When the time of His appearing is here, there will be no reservoir of good works, spiritually building moments, or a sinless slate that we can draw from and we will no longer be able to exist on the testimony of others, as the five negligent virgins presumed. Imagine the frantic situation some of us will be in and imagine the sorrow of those of us who will be bereft of the ability to fill their lamps…..
ODE
TO THE TEN VIRGINS
I
would gladly give you some oil
Your
empty lamp to fill,
If
you could glean the sweat
From
my furrowed brow
As
I worked on the oil press
So
diligently until now.
(Art: Five Were Wise by Michael Malm)
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