The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Mark 4:1-9, 13-20, Luke 8:4-8, 11-15
2 Timothy 3:7 (also verses 2-6)
2 Nephi 9:28
“The Parable of the Sower” by Dallin H. Oaks from April 2015 General Conference
Fruits of the spirit: Galatians 5:22-23
By their fruits ye shall know them: Matthew 7:16-20
“The Savior’s examples could cause us to think of this parable as the parable of the soils. The suitability of the soil depends upon the heart of each one of us who is exposed to the gospel seed. In susceptibility to spiritual teachings, some hearts are hardened and unprepared, some hearts are stony from disuse, and some hearts are set upon the things of the world.” – Pres Oaks
The simpleness of the word can distract people: 2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpect beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
“This beautiful gospel is so simple a child can grasp it, yet so profound and complex that it will take a lifetime—even an eternity—of study and discovery to fully understand it.” – President Uchtdorf, October 2015 General Conference, “It Works Wonderfully!”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/it-works-wonderfully?lang=eng
The Tree of Life: 1 Nephi 8
We are to be a peculiar people: 1 Peter 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
“Divine Discontent” by Michelle Craig from October 2018
“Divine discontent comes when we compare “what we are [to] what we have the power to become.” Each of us, if we are honest, feels a gap between where and who we are, and where and who we want to become. We yearn for greater personal capacity. We have these feelings because we are daughters and sons of God, born with the Light of Christ yet living in a fallen world. These feelings are God given and create an urgency to act.
We should welcome feelings of divine discontent that call us to a higher way, while recognizing and avoiding Satan’s counterfeit—paralyzing discouragement. This is a precious space into which Satan is all too eager to jump. We can choose to walk the higher path that leads us to seek for God and His peace and grace, or we can listen to Satan, who bombards us with messages that we will never be enough: rich enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, anything enough. Our discontent can become divine—or destructive.
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares: Matthew 13:24-30
Prove Him herewith: Abraham 3:25
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;”
Will prove you in all things: Doctrine and Covenants 98:14
“Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.”
