Seeds

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

The seedling word that is good and true

Enlarges the soul as it swells and consumes

A compounding of light will then accrue

As flowering faith grows and blooms

 Seeds are often sacred symbols of life and its continuity.   Each spring we testify of our faith, our obedience, and our testimony of the continuity of life by planting seeds.  There are both seeds of the earth and seeds of the body wherein life is renewed.  Likewise there are spiritual seeds which follow the same pattern of renewal in our souls. 

As in physical seeds, so it is with spiritual seeds – there are good and bad seeds.  When sown, they each renew their inherent properties.  Hence, as attested by the scriptures, bad seeds bear bad or no fruit.  Good seeds, with proper care and nourishment, bear good fruit.

The history of mankind is but one story after another of the sowing of seeds, both good and bad, and the consequences thereof.  One might ask, “Why sow a bad seed?”  Bad seeds are not always visible to the eye.  To determine whether or not a seed is bad, one must perform a test to see if there remains in the seed life-giving elements.

As the spiritual seed and offspring of Heavenly Father, we too are subject to the laws pertaining to seeds.  To determine if we will grow and produce good fruit, we are tested in numerous ways.  When we accept Christ and His covenants, we receive the promise of becoming His seed – His children.  “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.  ….and his seed shall inherit the earth.  Psalms 25:10-13   However, for those who deny the Christ and His covenants, the Psalmist writes, “… the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” Psalms 37:28

The following meditative verse speaks of these matters especially as they pertain to the soul.   In this we implore:

May the Master Gardner be our example

 As we plant seeds in the garden of the Lord

May our seedling souls grow full and ample

Full of faith with life eternal as our reward

Seeds

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed.  Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Book of Mormon    Alma 32:28-33

There are good seeds and bad seeds

Which get planted deep within our souls

Differing seeds produce differing creeds

Differing creeds produce differing goals

The seedling word that is good and true

Enlarges the soul as it swells and consumes

A compounding of light will then accrue

As flowering faith grows and blooms

This faith, while not a perfect knowledge

Brings forth fruit after its own kind

For us to partake, enlarge and acknowledge

That it is good fruit for the soul and mind

Now, let us try this grand experiment

To plant good and true gospel seeds

Seeds of faith to support and supplement

Our testimonies and supply our needs

May the Master Gardner be our example

 As we plant seeds in the garden of the Lord

May our seedling souls grow full and ample

Full of faith with life eternal as our reward

Larry Doyle Crenshaw