Where the Grass is Greener

"Adam fell that man might be, and men are that they might have joy."

We ARE that we might have joy. I suppose it doesn't say that we WILL have joy... the word MIGHT implies that there is a possibility or permission to obtain joy. So we have to give ourselves permission to have joy? Yes. So it all comes down to agency? Yes.

That in mind. Story time.

The Parable of the Three Axes, By Elder McDonald.

(Re-written by me... because I can't remember word for word. ZTM (Zone Training Meeting). Haha.)

There once were three axes. They all belonged to the greatest lumberjack in the land he owned the entire forest... from the east to the west, north to south as far as your eye could see and beyond.

Now, the first or the three axes despised the fact that he was an ax. He spent ALL his time daydreaming and wishing he were something else... something grander and far more majestic than a little ol' ax. It seemed to him that life would be far more fulfilling and far more meaningful if he were a rocket-ship, or a tank, or at least a chainsaw. He decided that he could more fully and more effectively live his dream of being something more flashy and fashionable by refusing to do ax-like work. "No sir-ee I will not chop wood. That's for axes. And I'm no ax."

The second ax was a very unhappy ax. He griped and complained all day long. "This is way too hard!" "This job is so monotonous!" "Why do I have to do this tedious awful job!?" He felt more validated when he complained and vocally made is pain known as he chopped wood.

Then there was the third ax. Ax number three loved working in the woods. Chopping wood all day was tiresome work but he really enjoyed it. "Nothing like going home after a long days work and feeling exhausted and ready for bed. Means you worked hard, and made a difference." He would say. He always had a smile on his face, because he could rarely think of a reason not to. He knew he was just a little ax. But he was an ax. And that was something to be happy about. He looked forward to each new day and took delight in the thought of a new task to be completed.

Okay, let's take a step back for a moment. Remember the lumberjack? This story has just about NO meaning without him. Why? Because an ax can't do much of anything without a lumberjack. An ax can't chop wood on it's own. Something has to pick it up and swing it.

Looking at our three axes... which one do you think the Lumberjack used? We have one ax who by his own choice refused to be used. He resisted the lumberjack and he stayed in the shed, fantasizing about a life he couldn't have. The second didn't completely refuse to work, but he whined all day long and resented the tasks he was asked to do.

Let's be real... we all know the third ax is the one who was used. Not because the other two axes couldn't be just as capable and just as effective if they wanted to be... but that's just the thing. They didn't WANT to be used. The third ax desired it. It was the deepest desire of his heart (if axes had hearts) to be an ax. To chop the wood the lumber-jack asked him to chop. And you know what? The third ax became strong! His blade was cleaned and sharpened often and his handle was sanded and maintained. The other two axes became rusty, and gathered dust in the corner... because they didn't want to chop wood.

If I were an ax, which ax would I be?

I'd like to say I was the third ax. But I know for a fact that's not always the case.

Sometimes I complain, sometimes I'm really stubborn and I refuse to do budge at all.Which is dumb. Because I'm an "ax" either way. Lamen, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi all had to go and get the plates... the ALL had to leave Jerusalem and travel to the Americas on a boat. The only difference is that two of them did it willingly to and the other two didn't. two complained and the other two didn't. So why not do it with a smile? Why not use our agency to find JOY in all this wood chopping?! What's the use in wishing you were somewhere else or complaining about the work before you?

The grass is not "greener on the other side"... No. The grass is greener where you water it!

So the message today is that we've all been given agency. And we all have to chop wood. So, if we make our desire the desire of the lumberjack we become strong. We will be sharpened. We will see the majestic views of the whole forest! And eventually when our blade finally breaks because of all the we've chopped... We will be hung on a peg in the lumberjacks house where he will say, "well done my faithful little ax. Thanks for your help out there."
And imagine the JOY we will feel then.

Thanks for listening to the story.

Love you all,

Sister Tara Franklin