The Ten Virgins

I've been teaching the New Testament in seminary this year, and one of my favorite lessons to teach was on the Ten Virgins.

Here are some great quotes by Spencer W. Kimball on that subject:

"I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world. All of the virgins, wise and foolish...had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the important day to come...(Some) were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect their eternal lives.

They had the saving, exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives...I ask you: what value is a car without an engine, a cup without water, a table without food, a lamp without oil?...Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. Confidence has been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard to wait and be prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber."

Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, pp. 253-254




"Spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant...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 attitudes or chastity, or the experience of a mission? How can one share temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself."

Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, pp. 255-256




"There are many members of the Church who are lax and careless and who continually procrastinate. They live the gospel casually but not devoutly. They have complied with some requirements but are not valiant. They do no major crime but merely fail to do the things required--things like paying tithing, living the Word of Wisdom, having family prayers, fasting, attending meetings, serving.

Perhaps they do not consider such omissions to be sins, yet these were the kinds of things of which the five foolish virgins...were probably guilty. The ten virgins belonged to the kingdom and had every right to the blessings---except that five were not valiant and were not ready when the great day came. They were unprepared through not living all the commandments. They were bitterly disappointed at being shut out from the marriage---as likewise their modern counterparts will be...

Because men are prone to postpone action and ignore directions, the Lord has repeatedly given strict injunctions and issued solemn warnings. Again and again in different phraseology and throughout the centuries the Lord has reminded man so that he could never have excuse. And the burden of the prophetic warning has been that the time to act is now, in this mortal life. One cannot with impunity delay his compliance with God's commandments."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 7-10