A Sacred Oil That Can’t Be Shared — Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 24–25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21

Come, Follow Me: New Testament 2023 (May 22—28)

As a counselor who cares deeply about her clients, my heart aches when I can’t relieve or take away a person’s loneliness, worries, or sadness. If only I could pour into them the healing oil of self-compassion, optimism, and hope. If only they could know, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). 

I give what I can; a safe place to be vulnerable, unconditional love, careful listening, maybe a few life skills, and then I watch as they do the work that only they can do to recover and be restored. 

The parable of the ten virgins teaches a similar lesson. Perhaps the wise virgins would have gladly shared their oil with their five foolish friends, but they knew that this type of oil was not transferable. This sacred oil could only be acquired by each person for themselves through effort, experience, and endurance. 

“How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing? A mind at peace from righteous living? An accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share attitudes or chastity or the experience of a mission? How can one share temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself” (President Spencer W. Kimball).

Learning and practicing the skills of self-reliance and resilience while yoked with Christ fills our lamps with sacred, enduring oil. No one can do it for us. As our lamps are filled, we will be prepared for the wait and the invitation to enter into the celebration of the bridegrooms arrival (see Matthew 25:10).