LIGHT - WATER - BREAD

My sixth grade teacher, who was one of those who influenced my choice of careers, left a lasting impression on almost all of his students because of his rapport, enthusiasm and inventiveness in the classroom.

I remember that during one science unit we were trying to understand what caused plants to live, thrive and grow. Mister Beeson had the class set up the experiment so that we were able to watch the effect light, water and plant food would have on plants as they were exposed to various amounts of these elements. The process started with four young plants of the same variety in four different pots.

Plant A – Was named Patricia because it was to be the most spoiled plant, receiving perfectly measured amounts of light, water and plant food.

Plant B – Was named John because it was to be isolated, like some students do during recesses. It was put in the closet in the dark, but was give measured amounts of water and plant food.

Plant C – Was named Fred because it was to have nothing to do with water but was kept in the light and given plant food.

Plant D – Was eventually named Sally, as it became thinner and thinner, received light and water, but no food.

I don’t think we would have been able to name the plants in this day and age, since the names may have been attached because they resembled some characteristics of members of the class. I don’t remember for sure, but the names may have been attached by some of the insensitive boys in the class, while Mister Beeson had only labeled them with the generic A – B – C – D.

Within a very few days we were able to see the effects of the lack of even one of the essential life-giving elements upon the plants. Great sorrow came upon the class as first Fred, who dried up from thirst found his way to the garbage can. Then John, who we first saw turn from green to brownish-yellow, then became pale and wilted all alone in his dark closet was also relegated to the garbage can. Finally Sally, trying to live in soil which little by little had all the life sustaining minerals washed away, expired and was dumped. Only Patricia, who was constantly pampered with light, water and plant food, grew to become a vital plant with blooms of bright red.

Somewhere long after even Patricia had gone the way of all living things, I became aware that the Savior had taught that these three elements which are essential for all living things are also essential for the spiritual growth of those who would choose to follow Him. On different occasions He proclaimed that He was the light of the world and that from Him flowed the living waters and the bread of life.

It doesn’t take long before we observe those who absent themselves from the light, water and food of the Savior, suffer this same drying, wilting and expiring in their lives which we had seen happening to the plants in our sixth grade science experiment.

In many ways, the same sorrow I felt as I saw the demise of John, Fred and Sally, I now feel for the many I watch wandering in darkness, thirsty and hungry because they have no way to access these essential saving elements on their own. Many, like those ill-fated plants remain in this condition because those who have a bit of the Savior’s light, water and food withhold these life-giving substances. Some withhold because they lack commitment to share – others because they lack a conviction of universal brotherhood – there are those who don’t give of their light, water and food because they are selfish and don’t understand the law of heaven which declares that by giving of that which they have, much like the widow who fed Elijah, will have their own meager supply magnified.

In the experiment of life I see another group who have all the elements of life available to them, but deliberately go about, turning away from the true light, stumbling in the dimness provided by inadequate man-made artificial bulbs. They drown themselves in syrupy liquids which leave them with unquenched souls while walking along the banks of eternal rivers. They gluttonously devour the bounties of earthly harvests which blanch their bones leaving them lying upon parched deserts, bordered by waving fields of life-giving manna.

Unlike Plant A – Patricia, that ultimately came to the inevitable end of all mortal lives there is but one way to reach the full bloom of eternal lives, which comes by being illuminated by the Light of the World, by drinking deeply from the Fountain of Living Water, and by feasting upon the Bread of Life.