Dandelions

"A Parable of Dandelions

Once there was a man who enjoyed taking evening walks around his neighborhood. He particularly looked forward to walking past his neighbor’s house. This neighbor kept his lawn perfectly manicured, flowers always in bloom, the trees healthy and shady. It was obvious that the neighbor made every effort to have a beautiful lawn.

But one day as the man was walking past his neighbor’s house, he noticed in the middle of this beautiful lawn a single, enormous, yellow dandelion weed.

It looked so out of place that it surprised him. Why didn’t his neighbor pull it out? Couldn’t he see it? Didn’t he know that the dandelion could cast seeds that could give root to dozens of additional weeds?

This solitary dandelion bothered him beyond description, and he wanted to do something about it. Should he just pluck it out? Or spray it with weed killer? Perhaps if he went under cover of night, he could remove it secretly.

These thoughts totally occupied his mind as he walked toward his own home. He entered his house without even glancing at his own front yard—which was blanketed with hundreds of yellow dandelions."

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This message in the Priesthood Session of the recent General Conference was shared with me by my faithful Visiting Teacher,,
and I, in turn, shared it with those I visit teach.

I pondered President Uchdorf’s challenge:
”…will you please look inside your hearts and ask the simple question: “Lord, is it I?”
and concluded (not for the first time) that
I am imperfect.
I fall short on some of the most basic gospel principles.
I know that there are many improvements I must make.

But… as I commit to improve,
as I rely on my Savior to help me change,
I will be strengthened. I will be blessed.

You can see all of President Uchtoft’s talk HERE