WILL IT BE WORTH IT?

 

“When David O. McKay was only 13 years of age, John Smith, the Patriarch to the Church, stopped at the home of Bishop David McKay to give blessings to the children. The Patriarch laid his hands on this young boy’s head and pronounced a powerful blessing, part of which included these words:

“The Lord has a work for thee to do, in which thou shalt see much of the world, assist in gathering scattered Israel, and also labour in the ministry. It shall be thy lot to sit in council with thy brethren and preside among the people and exhort the Saints to faithfulness.”

“After completing the blessing, the patriarch gave David O. a serious look and said: “My boy, you have something to do besides playing marbles.” Later the boy found his mother getting dinner ready and said, “If he thinks I am going to stop playing marbles, he is mistaken.” The mother then took her son aside and told him the meaning of the patriarch’s words. (“Inspirational Stories from the Life Of President David O. McKay”, p 769)

“Each of us must understand theologically that we have more to do than ‘play marbles’ not only here in mortality but especially in the worlds to come.”  (Jerry A. Wilson, “The Great Plan of Happiness”, p 4)

I happened to see a video on YouTube yesterday by one of the commentators who said someone asked him if he thought the person who was assassinated recently now thinks that his life’s work he was dedicated to was worth it.

My immediate thought was: “I wonder if I will look back on my life when I pass and feel that everything I have been through was worth it.” I was immediately brought out of my reverie by the commentator’s response. He said, “yes, I think he would have said it was all worth it because his message was about truth and truth is grounded in Christ. That was his message.”

I reflected on this person’s response. So often we, the elect of God, get caught up playing marbles forgetting that as emissaries of Christ we have a higher purpose, to bear witness of Him who has made our lives possible: through our example, our tenacity, our goodness, our influence, our love, our service, our sacrifices, our endurance, our willingness to stand up for what we believe. We forget sometimes that our lives are not really our own.

The commentator’s final words: “The truth will outlive all of us. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). The truth is eternal. There is nothing more important than it. It’s more important than any of our lives and yes the truth is worth dying for because it is worth living for.”  (Matt Walsh)

I want to remember the beauty of my life

And all my memories near and far;

I want to take them with me

When I am called to cross the bar.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: And The Truth Shall Set You Free by Greg Olsen)