The Parable of Flossing

The Parable of Flossing

I’m sure all of you have been to the dentist at least once in your life (hopefully you go more often than that). Most of the time, they always say, “You need to keep (or start) flossing! It helps prevent decay.”

I think we can relate the dentist to our leaders in the Church. “Read your scriptures and say you’re prayers!” In this case our daily “flossing” can help prevent spiritual decay.

But flossing isn’t a one-time thing. You don’t do it once and say, “that’s it! I have prevent tooth decay forever!” Wouldn’t life be much simpler if that was the case? Just like with scripture study and daily prayers, it’s not just a one-time prevention tactic.

COMMUNICATION

Our Heavenly Father wants us to talk to Him and learn of Him and His teachings. Our spiritual growth isn’t a big event and then we’re done. We have to keep working at it, day by day! In no time, we’ll realize the spiritual giants we’ve become when the next trial hits us!

Humans tend to be creatures of habit. I know I am! I like my routine and I tend to get cranky when things don’t follow in order of how they’re supposed to. So naturally getting into a routine of praying and studying the scriptures was hard at first.

I had my set way of getting ready for bed and I didn’t want to change it. However, my desire to keep the commandments (not to mention eternity in the Celestial kingdom sounds bomb), over ruled my natural woman and her desire to control everything.

That was my freshman year of high school. Now as a senior, I physically can’t miss a night of reading and praying. I can’t go to sleep without having read and prayed. I see this as a major blessing that has come through faithfully following God’s commandment.

 

Scripture study may be intimidating, but I think this may help. Start with a prayer, then read and study it. Write out whatever you think the verse means and what you think you can learn from it. If doing it verse by verse seems too much, you can do it by chapter. I prefer the chapter method. 

I know that if you sincerely try and ask for help to be able to, you too will be blessed from reading and praying everyday! Your testimony will grow and your faith in your Heavenly Father will be strengthened. Until next week, au revior!