In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, all ten of the young women waiting to participate in the wedding procession fall asleep waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. All are startled when they hear the announcement of his coming at midnight, far later than they had expected. At that time, “all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps” (Matthew 25:7).
The main point of the parable is that half of them discovered at that point that they had run out of oil and were unable to reignite their lamps. There is an important lesson here about replenishing our spiritual reserves, so that we are ready when unexpected circumstances require our spiritual strength. Driving on an empty tank is not a good strategy for emergency preparedness. (Ironically, just as I wrote that last sentence, my laptop battery died. I guess that principle has many applications!)
Today, though, I’m thinking about the work even the wise virgins had to do: they had to trim their lamps. The Pulpit Commentary provides the following description of this process:
The trimming consisted in removing the charred portion of the wick, and raising the wick itself by means of a pointed wire which was fastened by a chain to each lamp. These operations would be followed by the replenishment of the vase with oil from the vessel carried for [that] purpose.
Pulpit Commentary, Matthew 25:7
The Greek word translated “trim” in this passage—kosmeó (κοσμέω)—means literally “to put in order.” It is the verb form of the Greek noun kosmos (κόσμος), which means the universe, specifically the universe as an ordered system. I think the lesson is this: It is not enough to build up our spiritual reserves. We need to have our lives in order so that we are prepared to use those reserves when called upon.
After listing for his people some of the duties of disciples of Christ, King Benjamin added this admonition: “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order” (Mosiah 4:27). And in 1833 the Lord instructed church members, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119).
In October 1830, as Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet prepared to serve as missionaries, the Lord gave them the following instruction:
Be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom
Doctrine and Covenants 33:17
Elder Kevin R. Pearson applied this admonition to all of us last October. After quoting President Russell M. Nelson’s warning, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost,” Elder Pearson added, “This is a clear and unmistakable warning to trim our lamps and increase our spiritual oil reserves” (“Are You Still Willing?” General Conference, October 2022).
Today, I will trim my lamp. I will remember that reserves are only valuable to the degree that I am prepared to use them. I will find ways to organize myself and our home, so that we are ready to face even unexpected challenges when they come.
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