This Sunday, I'm going to give a talk on Treasures of Eternal Value. I'm not sure how to approach it. Money, for example, does not have eternal value, but it's still essential, so we can't devote all of our time seeking treasures of eternal value, but we still need to focus on our long-term investments, even while we're taking care of our short term needs. Maybe that's how I'll frame it - investments.
The Ensign article I was given to help me prepare my talk starts with President Monson telling how, when he was young, he loved exciting tales of adventurers hunting for treasures. That's not exactly a rock-solid investment plan. If we're going to invest a lot of time and energy into something, we should try to make sure what we get for our investment is worth the cost. Treasure-hunting is not always a rewarding endeavour, and even when a treasure is found, one can only ever keep it as long as they live. When we leave this world, we have to leave our material wealth behind.
So what treasures can we take with us? What can we invest in that has at least the potential to last forever? Which treasures have eternal value? There are several. We know that "Families Can Be Together Forever" (Hymns, 300), so our family relationships can be treasures of eternal value. We also know that "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection" (D&C 130:18), so our knowledge can be a treasure of eternal value as well. Alma 34:34 teaches us that we'll have the same spirit after we die as we have when we die, so personal development is a good long-term investment, especially if we focus on developing Christlike attributes.
Since all these things come with us and retain their value when we pass on, it makes sense to invest significant portions of time and energy into them. These are a few of the treasures of eternal value, the treasures that are most worth seeking.
1 comment:
Good points!
Also, while we must seek money to take care of ourselves, our families, and our homes, and hopefully help others, we can seek this earthly treasure in ways of eternal value or to our eternal detriment. The kind of work we choose. Our work ethic and honesty, the way we treat our co-workers and clients. Do we complain,shirk, cheat? Or do we count our blessings, do our best, and keep our word? Do our actions testify of Christ or deny Him?
In everything we do, we can find ways to do it in a more or less Christ-like way.
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