The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Whether you are married or single, young or old, male or female, it's all about preparing for an upcoming wedding.

I was recently asked to be in charge of an activity for a Young Women's group.  As I gathered with those doing the planning, we decided to take the theme of the Parable of the Ten Virgins as our focus.  I love this parable and feel it is a wonderful metaphor for the Second Coming of Christ, especially if you know a little about ancient Jewish weddings.  The betrothal of a man and a woman was an incredibly important and significant event.  It was, as if, the two to be wed, and their families, had entered into a formal binding contract.  Once the proposal was accepted by both parties, the man would then depart for a period of time when he would prepare a home for his bride.  The construction was completed under the supervision of the groom's father and it was the father who would determine when it was complete and ready.  Meanwhile, the bride to be was busily engaged in preparing for that uncertain moment.  She needed to be in a constant state of readiness.  She paid attention to all aspects of her life.  She would prepare herself physically, spiritually and in skills and talents that would prepare her to be a prepared bride.  Women had the role of making sure there was oil in the home for the lamps.  There were also the bridesmaids, who were also in a state of readiness, with their lamps trimmed and containing oil.  They were the ones who would come at the appointed hour to light the way for the procession as they journeyed to where the ceremony would take place.  Intimate friends of the groom would often send clues and announcements that the hour was nigh at hand.  As the parable states, many of those virgins didn't have sufficient oil to participate and when that time came, the wise virgins could not share their oil and the bridegroom could not grant them access to the ceremony.

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-040-they-that-are-wise?lang=eng

When I watched the above video, it almost seemed too harsh that the wise virgins didn't share or that the Savior ultimately didn't let them in.  But, upon reflection, faith and confidence in things spiritual can neither be acquired or shared at that last and final moment.   Latter-Day Saints believe that the oil in the wise virgins lamp consists of many areas of preparation, but LDS doctrine particularly highlights three essential elements of preparation as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 45:
56.  And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled with I spake concerning the ten virgins.
57.  For they that are wise and have received the truth and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not be deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
58.  And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance, and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.
59.  For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he shall be their king and their lawgiver.

 When I was a young woman, I particularly loved reading the New Testament.  I was especially touched by Matthew 24 that described the last days prior to the Second Coming.  It shared how difficult these days would be when hearts would wax cold and the very elect could be deceived. 

 Me with nine of my ten daughters. 

 A daughter-in-law was living with her family in Italy at the time of this photo.  

I was thinking this morning that I am mother to ten beautiful women.  They include eight of my own daughters and two beautiful daughters-in-law.  Their desires are desires for good.  My desire is that I may become a wise virgin though I am older and married.  LDS doctrine remains firm about the importance of family and for women, a willingness to embrace their role as mothers.  This is a time in history where motherhood and family look very different from what it did just a few decades ago.  No longer is the focus of a woman's life to be caretakers of the hearth and home and making sure it has the "light" it needs to be a refuge in the storm.  This philosophy is being promoted as narrow and restrictive, a wicked fruit of patriarchy and white male privilege.  Raising our children, for me, was the greatest privilege I could have have ever hoped for.   It was financially tight, physically and emotionally challenging, but incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.   LDS doctrine recognizes that not all women will have the chance to marry  and/or physically bear children, and that no blessing will be withheld if that opportunity is not theirs.  But, it is still the willingness of all men and women to support and encourage this model of "family" that is important.  https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/36035_000_24_family.pdf 

Though I have been involved in working with families at risk for over ten years now, currently as a therapist, clearly my role as a mother has the greatest potential to impact society in positive ways for generations to come.   My daughters have embraced  this same philosophy at this hour.  We truly believe it is in the small things we do to prepare ourselves, our families, and those around us for that Great Day, the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, that matter most.