Storage

The teacher in Sunday School today read a scripture--one I'm very familiar with.  I heard something very new in it.  It shouldn't have been new, but it was.  The verse was Doctrine and Covenants 4: 4.   "For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that  he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;"   It's the missionary section.  I've memorized in both English and Chinese.

The words:  "layeth up in store that he perisheth not"  rang a bell in my head.  I felt like all the spiritual experiences and blessings I've received in the  past 40+ years may have been laid up; or treasured up; (1Tim 6:19) or not wasted;  (Alma 26:5)  and have helped me to not perish over the past year--during my spiritual famine.
I feel that just like filling the pantry with extra food in case of unexpected bad times, we can literally fill our spirit with extra testimony to carry us through when we are unable to replenish what we need everyday.  This should have been obvious to me after as many times as I've read the story of the ten virgins, but it wasn't.  I guess I've never needed a reserve of strength as much before.  I hope I have enough.  I better get my head together and fill a few extra jars this summer--with testimony and strength.