The Parable of the Illiterate Kingdom
Once upon a time there was a kingdom full of illiterate people. The only true reading experts were the King and Queen. The rest of the kingdom was full of people with varying degrees of illiteracy. One day the King and Queen were discussing how they could best help and serve the people, and they decided that they would undergo a huge effort to help every member of the kingdom learn how to read. They knew that helping them read would open up a whole new world to the people. If they could read, they reasoned, the people could do better in their businesses, in their communication with family members, in their understanding of social issues, in their faith in God, and even just in the enjoyment and pleasure of their lives. So, now that they knew what they wanted to do they just needed to decide how they were going to do it as efficiently as possible. They knew that the kingdom was too large for them to reach and teach every single person individually, so they determined that they would need to build up a force of teachers whose job would be to #1) receive lessons in how to be proficient readers and teachers themselves, and #2) go out and teach others how to read.
But how would the King and Queen decide who should be commissioned to be these teachers? Being big believers in agency, they didn't feel like they could force people to do this. Furthermore, this King and Queen were perfectly fair and just and therefore had no desire to "play favorites." They also knew that there were varying levels of minimal reading and teaching abilities among the people, and that it would only make sense to use those people who already possessed some of the skills that they would need to read and then teach others to read. Therefore, the following was decided: many would be called, but few would be chosen. In other words, a message would be sent out to all of the villages in the kingdom inviting anyone who was willing to come to the castle to be tested on their ability to learn how to read. The people were told that if they demonstrated that they were good candidates to learn and teach others to read, they would be among the first in the kingdom to receive reading lessons as well as all of the benefits that come along with reading. The people were also informed that these lessons would eventually be available to all, but that if they felt like they had some skill and desire in this area they could come and be among the first to posses this amazing blessing and power. The decision was up to them. So, the message was sent out among all of the people.
Many were called, but relatively few were ultimately chosen. Why? This was not favoritism on the part of the King and Queen, some candidates were just simply more equipped for the job that the King and Queen needed done. Some just showed more desire and more proficiency in key areas than others. All were equally loved by the King and Queen, but some would just have to wait until a later time to receive the reading lessons and their accompanying blessings.
Well, the plan worked perfectly! In phase #1, the "chosen ones" were taught the reading lessons and were given instructions to share these skills, lessons, and benefits with others when they began phase #2. The King and Queen also decided that it would be wise to divide "the chosen ones" up into 12 different groups that would specialize in certain aspects of reading. One group would specialize in teaching letters and sounds, another would specialize in sentence structure, another would focus on verbs, another group on punctuation, another on writing, etc.
A school was established and several branches of it were built throughout the kingdom as more and more people came to 'the authorized teachers of the lessons' to be taught. The whole program was voluntary, but the King, Queen, and the authorized teachers loved all of the people and simply would not rest until everyone had the opportunity to receive the lessons and the resultant joy that came from learning and applying the knowledge they contained.
He who has ears to hear, let them hear.
Key:
King & Queen = Father and Mother
Phase 1 = Pre-Earth Life
Phase 2 - Mortality & Spirit World
Chosen, Authorized Teachers = The House of Israel (12 tribes with unique talents)
School and branches = The Church
Reading Lessons = The Gospel, spirituality, closeness to God
Etc.
Related Scriptures: Alma 13, D&C 138, Genesis 49, Deuteronomy 33, Acts 9:15, & Acts 17:26-27.
Anyway, you can tell when you teach with the Spirit because you yourself will learn things, and this little parable is rife with little nuggets of truth that help me understand. Man The Lord is Awesome!
I asked my daughter some questions like: Why would it be important to know if you were one of these 'chosen ones?' Would you want to know which of the 12 specialty groups you belong to? Why? Does being a 'chosen one' mean that God loves you more than anybody else? So why does it seem that you have an unfair amount of benefits and blessings over others? Etc.
The discussion was great, and I could tell that the parable really helped her (and me). I stand all amazed at what He can do with the weakest of tools.
5 I await for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
(Old Testament | Psalms 130:5 - 7)
Hope on!
