The Adventures Under the Blue Tarp

Due to an interesting conversation with mom, about “What does Relief Society mean to you? In the sense of what value does it have to you?” She has me thinking even more about Mustard Seeds, Acorns, and Oak Trees. As posted in prior posted the acorn is a symbol of strength, the oak tree is a symbol of strength and endurance, and the mustard seed is a symbol of faith, with faith one can accomplish great things.

According to D. Kelly Ogden and the article A Sample of Biblical Plants, I desired to gain a better understanding of some plants that were around in Christ’s lifetime as well as our current time period. I also looked up the Parable of the Mustard Seed to review the parable, and see what the scriptures said about the Oak. This has led to some very fascinating reading while unable to sleep.

This reading is truly important because increased understanding of biblical plants and current plants actually increased individual understanding of the scriptures. In addition, this increased knowledge brings a new perspective to current knowledge and thought processes. So based off the conversation with mom I am going to talk about the importance of the Relief Society program and how the understanding of current and biblical plants plays into how one can increase an understanding of faith and increased testimony through study and acceptance of trials.

Biblical and Current Day Plants

Briers, Thorns, and Thistles

Matthew 7:16 tells us, 16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Just like in the time of Christ our land is filled with briers, thorns, and thistles.” This is major source of annoyance for some, affliction for others, and symbolize nothing good or positive. However, the choices we are given on earth allow each person to determine what to do with the worldly cares, pleasures, and deceitfulness entwined with these briers, thorns, and thistles. Also, remember it was flexible thorny branches woven into a crown, and then used to mock Christ as part of his crucifixion.

Grass

Isaiah 40:6-8 teaches about the next biblical and current day plant, grass. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” As a mortal being we are on earth for a short time period, this period is unknown to each individual. We only know our days are numbered like each flower or blade of grass. With this in mind, daily goals need to be set on developing a strong solid testimony build on faith and the foundations of Christ. Testimonies built this way may sway in the storms of trials and adversity however, the testimonies roots will be firmly and deeply planted preventing the testimony to fail, fail over, or completely crumble under the current stresses.

Sycomore Fruit

“Then answered Amos, … I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit.” (Amos 7:14.) Looking up the sycomore fruit is, I discovered this a fig tree and an edible fruit. Not only did he care for his flocks, but gathered at the same time. Looking at the symbol for the sycomore fruit and the tree, this awesome to discover as this has three meanings, strengthen your faith, strengthen your walk, and stimulate your mind. Before becoming a prophet of God Amos was sheep herder and sycomore fruit/fig farmer. In order to ripen the sycomore fruit each fruit had to pierced to force it ripen. However, the sycomore wood was a prized wood due to the strength and resistance rot. Furthermore, when a tree was chopped down, the trunk would grow back.

Hyssop

Hyssop another plant around today symbolizes humility, purity, and modesty. This plant is a smaller tree often thought of as a shrub and hold amazing cleansing power. During the night of the great plague in Egypt (see Exodus 12:22-23) the families instructed to mark their doors with blood used a hyssop branch. “David, aching to be cleansed, pleaded, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” (Ps. 51:7.)

Mustard Seed

“The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed.” Matthew 13:31-32

Christ referred to the mustard see as “less than all the seeds that be in the earth.”

Mark 4:31-32;
“31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less
than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs,
and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under
the shadow of it.”

However, through working on gaining a testimony, taking the needed steps to grow and develop each individuals faith we are told in Luke 13:19 “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

This level of faith is available to all who desire strong faith and a testimony. From one tiny mustard seed, the mustard plan can grow up to 15 feet. The mustard plant is a very fascinating plant as nearly the entire plant is usable. This plant needs little care and grows very easily as long as it has the required amount of sunlight and water. If these plants are planted to closely they will not grow strong and healthy.

Oak Trees

The oak tree also a fruit bearing tree, providing the acorn. This piece of fruit matures in approximately 18 months, and the tree can live 800-1000 years, and the trunk can reach up to 33 feet around shows not only the strength and endurance of this amazing tree. The oak wood is used for making instruments, barrels, building, and architectural projects due to the quality and strength of the wood. Isaiah talked about the importance of this tree in Isaiah 6:13 when he stated “But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof”

What Does Relief Society Mean

With a basic description of biblical plants, going back to the original question, “What does Relief Society mean to you? In the sense of what value does it have to you?”

The original answer to mom was: to me it is an organization or the gathering of the women to strengthen everyone in friendships, help each other build a resource of talents and skills to share with each other, be source of testimony and faith builders or supporters during struggling times.

Recently I have come to view faith and testimonies in a different light. Yes, the church teaches using the parable of the mustard seed to teach about faith and testimonies. However, with the trials I have been through lately, I have looked at the differences between mustard seeds and plants, acorns and oak trees, and have gained a different perspective.

Currently perspective on the mustard seed parable states that while yes the seed is very tiny and if fed and nourished it will grow quickly. However, for some this quick growth is not enough for the faith and testimony roots to take hold. Without a solid foundation due to the quick growth, if neglected for any time at all that plant or testimony and faith will falter and may wither and die just as quickly.

Depending on the climate (level of access to religious and moral support) and location (availability to make friends with strong testimonies and lots of faith) of the mustard plant, great care is required to maintain the plant properly. When talking about members, some members do not have the physical strength, spiritual strength, endurance, or faith to weather the trials and storms as they arise to keep their mustard plant of faith and testimony strong and thriving.

However, when looking at the acorn, once it drops to the ground, those that are not gathered by animal, people, crushed by mowers, or destroyed by other means endured the first trials. The next step in their journey is to slowly sink in the soft mossy beds, or get buried by leaves and over the rest of the fall and through winter slowly soak up the dew, rain and snow.

With time, the acorn slowly sends a root shoot into the earth deeper and deeper. Soon the acorn will begin to send a shoot up towards the sunshine soaking up the sunrays. Give this acorn a few years and the roots will spread out and branches will begin to spread and leaved form.

A testimony of faith slowly build over time with solid understanding will create strong roots like this new oak tree. Once matured in a few more years that individuals faith will be solid and that testimony unshakable.

This is where the Relief Society as an organization becomes important for each sister in each ward. As sisters we are responsible to help ensure everyone has the opportunity to gain, keep, and maintain her Faith in Christ. This is accomplished through the gathering of the women to strengthen everyone through friendships as each sister helps one another build a resource of talents and skills to share with each other, become a source of testimony and faith builders and supporters during struggling times.

Acorns and Oak Trees

Right before moving from Colorado, I had the opportunity to spend some time with a good friend of mine. As we were about to leave, she wanted me to have one of her silver acorns. She earned this silver acorn after completing radiation therapy. As a gift she wanted me to remember that we are both much stronger than we sometime feel like we are.

(necklace made from silver acorn from friend in Colorado)

This acorn means a lot to me, as not only does this hold special symbolic value, but also is a piece of her. The acorn is the symbol of strength and power. The acorn seed starts out very tiny and most are eaten for food, however few survive and grow into the might oak tree. Once matured the oak tree is a symbol of strength and endurance.

(first every hand drawn oak tree using carbon pencils)

After listening to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf speak on the Glory and Marvel of God’s creations, this talk fits also fits wonderfully with the acorn and mighty oak tree. First off learning to have patience is vitally important. Josh Groban states this best in his song, You Are Loved, “Don't give up, It's just the weight of the world, When you're heart's heavy, I...I will lift it for you.” When our trials seem our deepest and most burdensome, this is the time we need to work the hardest to be patience with ourselves and those around us.

The gospel reminds that, while struggling the most, to carefully strive not punish ones selves and this is once again reinforced in the song “You Are Loved “ that one must never “give up, Because you want to burn bright, If darkness blinds you, I...I will shine to guide you.” Through increasing faith and hope, the Lord will help take these weaknesses and turn them in strengths.

Learning to be happy through struggles can be very challenging. The song sung by Miley Cyrus “The Climb” is a perfect example of facing these challenges because “Every step I'm taking, Every move I make feels, Lost with no direction, My faith is shaking. But I gotta keep trying, Gotta keep my head held high.” Through looking for the simple pleasures in life and keeping the goal of Eternal Life in mind and knowing that goal can be reached, will indeed increase the overall joy, and keep one from being knocked down as often. In addition, those memories of working to improve, while fighting to keep going, are the ones that will be most cherished and remembered.

This happens knowing that there will always be another mountain to climb and conquer. There will be battles lost and battles won. However, life is not about how fast one completes the journey. Life is about discovering the simple joys along the way. Discovering love, friendship, patience, strength, endurance, happiness, and abilities throughout this journey are the most important key elements to gain strength and endurance. This is because everyone discovers he or she is truly loved far more than can be imagined by a loving Father in Heaven.

As “The Climb” reminds us it, “Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb, yeah!” Finally, through NOT giving up, the hurt will eventually leave, the soul will shine brighter than imagined, the weight of the world will be lifted, and individual love will be known. Through the trials, each mountain climbed and conquered, the accord takes root that much deeper. Before one realizes, the acorn begins growing into the strong and might oak tree, showing the effects of endurance turning into mighty strength.