I received this while attending a class at a Revival weekend at the Sanford branch in October 2001.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A good father had to prove his children to see whether they had learned the lessons he had taught them, so he told them he had to go on a journey but would return after a time, which he did not specify in length. He gave them all certain task, certain responsibilities, and gave them every means to accomplish it. They were to keep the house clean, and do their chores. He also left them with a lamp so they could see when it became dark. The father left them, but did not go far, but stood instead just outside the door and listened intently.

The children at first began to go about their chores, but then quickly stopped in their work and began to relax because, they reasoned, they had plenty of time to do it. And then some of the older children reasoned that there was plenty of light with the sun outside, and that they didn't need to keep the lamp burning, and so they snuffed it out.

Before long, idle hands made for opportunities for the children to begin to squabble. The father, just outside, listened to it all, but waited patiently to see what would come of it.

It was not long before darkness came and it was then that the children began to realize the lamp was still out, and also realized they weren't sure where their father kept the matches. As they searched darkness filled the house until they could not see to light the lamp, or find anything.

It was about this time that some of the children realized they were hungry, and some were getting cold, and some were thirsty, but they had not paid attention to their father and had forgotten his instructions. One of the cupboards had food, and on one counter there was a basin of refreshing water, in in one particular closet there were blankets, and every good thing they needed, but the children groped in the darkness and could find none of these things.

It was at this time, that some of the younger and more tender of the children began to cry and could not be comforted although some of the older children tried, because their comforting was empty, for they could not warm them, or feed them, or give them anything to drink.

Now, the father who heard all this, his heart broke and it was his great desire to comfort his children, particularly the more tender ones - but for the sake of all his children, that they may learn their lesson, and grow from the experience, he waited yet a little longer - hoping that his purpose for the test would be accomplished.

Finally, the older children, filled with grief, not knowing how many days it would be before their father would return, and not being able to comfort the younger children, finally began to lament their condition and said, "Why did we snuff out the lamp our father had set before us, so that we would always have light, and be prepared for a time of darkness. And had we listened to him, and done as he had said, we would have comfort, and food and water, and we would be warm. But instead, we have disobeyed our father, and because of it we now suffer. Oh - had we only done as he instructed and not been foolish." Now, even many of the old children wept openly, for they realized they had done wrong and because of it, their younger brothers and sisters would suffer.

And at the sound of their repentance, the Father wept, and could no longer stand to be separated from them, and burst open the door, and brought with him the light of his lamp, and with tears in his eyes, gathered up his children in his arms and comforted them, and saw to all their needs with great tenderness.