Playing games

My kids have started playing my bejeweled. They don't understand the rules. One of them thinks you have to get rid of all the jewels to win. He never "wins," even though he makes a lot of matches. The other thinks that when the jewels all shake, you win. He "wins" every time, even though he gets no points at all. If you don't know the rules, it's hard to win the game.

We are given rules to live by in this life. They are called commandments. Unfortunately, many people don't understand the rules of the game they play, and it causes problems.

One set of people are like my first son. No matter how hard he plays the game, he will never win, because he doesn't understand what it means to win. Some people think they have to somehow accomplish the impossible. They have to do it all, get rid of all the problems and sins, and all on their own. They will never win. They don't understand that when you repent of something, a new sin is going to reveal itself, and you have to get rid of it. It is a seemingly never ending task, at least never-ending in this life. But, you "win" the game by getting rid as many of them as you can in the time alloted you.

The other set of people are like my second son. For them, they win the game, no matter what they do. They don't understand that there is a purpose to this life. They don't understand that there is something you are supposed to *do* to get the most out of this experience. Their philosophy is "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die, and it shall be well with us." They believe that they will win this game, no matter what they do during this life.

Then, there are those who understand the "rules" of this game. They understand that we are here for a purpose, there is something we are supposed to be doing, but they also understand that the task of becoming perfect is out of our mortal reach. We just have to do what we can with the time given. We have to use the tools we are given, and do our best, and then, in the end, we will win because we have the Savior on our side.

The key is to this life is two part- learn the rules/commandments, and then do your best to apply them to your life. Go to church, read your scriptures, and pray. Then, get up and move forward, and do whatever you can to make yourself the best person you can.