Hey, did you hear me?..."and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand" (Matthew 13:13)

Do you ever hear someone talking but as soon as they finish you say "what?" because you didn't really hear what they said? Matthew 13 is about a lot of the parables Christ taught during his ministry and even why he taught that way. What is a parable? After reading the definition in the Bible Dictionary the definition I would give for it is a story told in comparison to something else in order to enhance teaching and understanding. For example the question, "Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?" can be made a comparison with the parable of the treasure and pearl of great price. In this parable Christ tells of a man who found a treasure in a field. He then after hiding it back up sells all that he has to buy the field. Jesus then tells of another man, a merchant, who is searching for "goodly pearls." One day he finds a pearl of great price and then sells all the he has to buy it. There are actually a few things we can take from these parables to answer the previous question. Why are some members so willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? Well, they are willing because in the gospel they have found something so much greater. When you see the blessings and have an eternal perspective the things of this world like wealth and recognition aren't important. Another thing I learned just today out of this comparison is the both men were looking and searching for something. I think there are so many people looking for happiness and peace in this life and what they need to find is the gospel. Doctrine and Covenants 123:12 says, " 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--" This Church is absolutely priceless and to be a member of it is worth everything we have. This is what I'm going to give 18 months of my life to go teach. It seems like such a small sacrifice compared to what I've been given. Parables are made for us to learn deeper meaning if we are prepared and willing to listen. We have to look for those truths inside the stories. They make us stretch, grow, and ultimately rely on the Lord to grant us the knowledge we are searching for. I know this is the true Church and I can't express how grateful I am to have it in my life.