James’ Fables

There was once a man who was asked to speak to the men of his stake.  His assignment was to wake the priesthood brethren up to the performance of their duty.  How to do it was the question that weighed on his mind day after day.

One morning he arose early, gathered his study materials, went to his couch, covered himself with his blanket, made himself comfortable, and prayed:  “Lord, show me, through thy Spirit, how to motivate the brethren.”

He thought and he thought.  He visualized himself standing at the pulpit before 200 faithful men—men who valued their priesthood, and who were always where they should be when they were supposed to be there.  In his mind he then saw an equal number of men who were also asked to be there, but who were scattered throughout the stake doing things more important than the Lord’s work.  These were the men to whom he should speak rather than the faithful.

Feeling frustration, he leaned his head and his left shoulder against the couch, and was suddenly asleep.  It was still very early.  He was warm, and he was comfortable—but not quite.  Every few minutes he surfaced to find his left arm tingling and dead.  He shifted positions to get the blood flowing, and slept again.  Again and yet again he had to try yet another position to get the pesky left arm to come alive, but it was all in vain.

He suddenly came wide awake as a voice in his mind said, “The brethren here assembled are the Lord’s right arm through which all will be accomplished.  Never mind about the left arm.  It is dead and useless.”

Application:

There are some among the others,

who may yet come alive.