Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Eighteen

A Temple Recommend and the Parable of the Ten Virgins - D&C 45

The symbolism of the parable of the ten virgins – The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the key to the symbolism of the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.  The Lord spoke of the latter days when He would come in His glory and the parable of the ten virgins would be fulfilled.  He said the wise virgins represent those who “have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide” (D&C 45:56-57).  The key to the parable is that “the ten virgins represent those church members who are looking for the Bridegroom to come; and the oil-filled lamps are symbolic of the Holy Spirit which lights the way before the saints.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:684-85).

The oil of spiritual preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living – President Spencer W. Kimball explained how we obtain this precious oil:  “I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world….They were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect their eternal lives….The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.  They knew they should have oil.  They merely procrastinated, not knowing when the bride groom would come.  In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market.  In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living.  Attendance at sacrament meetings, fasting family prayer, service, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures – each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added in our store.  Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity – these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, pp. 253-56).

Temple worthiness is an important indication of our spiritual preparation – Concerning the Second Coming we know:

  • “The Lord … shall suddenly come to his temple… Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh” (D&C 133:2, 10).  Because He will come to his temple, we must be prepared to meet Him by being temple worthy.  

  • It will be “in an hour when ye think not” (D&C 45:2).  Hence, the need to always be prepared  because we do not know when the Lord will come, nor do we know how long we will live.

  • We must “stand in holy places” (D&C 45:32).  The temple is a holy place and it is the house of the Lord.  In the parable of the ten virgins only those with oil in their lamps were able to enter the house of the bridegroom.  In real life only those who are temple worthy may enter the house of the Lord.  In the parable the Savior used a marriage ceremony in the Bridegroom’s home to teach about qualifying for the kingdom of heaven.  In our lives temple marriage is the qualifying ordinance for family life in the celestial kingdom (see D&C 131:1-3).

  • In the parable oil could not be loaned or stored.  Temple worthiness cannot be stored, borrowed, or loaned.  Spiritual preparedness has a short shelf life and must be regularly replenished.  Therefore, we must continuously strive to remain temple worthy.

The Lord will symbolically check recommends at the door to the celestial kingdom – Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is no other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name” (2 Nephi 9:41).Only those who are worthy will “abide the day” (D&C 45:57).These are those who are promised eternal life.