Playing Incredibly Beautiful Music

Business in the front, party in the back.

This last week we met a man named Jim. Jim told us about the love he had for the gospel and the richly blessed life he has led. I could definitely see the passion he had for the word of God. He is a good man who has definitely lived a good life. However, I couldn't help but feel a little sad for him. I'll explain why.

There's an analogy we use when we teach people about what happened after the death of the Apostles. We talk about how when they were alive, people had all the keys of the piano and they could play incredibly beautiful music. Once the Apostles were killed some of the keys were lost from the piano. For a long time, people had some of the keys (pieces of truth) and could play a few notes of music. While each of these keys does produce a musical note, the limited number of keys restricts the music that can be played.

When the Restoration happened, all the "piano keys" were restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This man, Jim, loved the music he could make with the keys that he had. He just wasn't aware that there were more out there.

That's why missionary work is so important. People need to know that there are greater songs to be played, but they don't know that there are more piano keys to help with that. "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12).