The Process of Becoming our Best Selves

Mar. 2-3

Jacob 5

 35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit.

• It doesn't matter what we know or what we care about, if it doesn't turn into good actions and results then it's really of no worth. 

 64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow.

 65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard.

• The lord is doing a constant process of cutting and pruning and nourishing in order to form us into the tree that we are meant to become. 
• We have to be patient through the pruning, open during the nourishing, and trusting during the entirety of the process. 

73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.

• The natural branches bare the natural fruit. Our godly attributes are natural in the sense that they are inherently part of us. As the attributes grow, then the good fruit will come naturally. 

A: Only as we turn to the lord and are obedient to his commandments can we truly improve and build the strengths that he's given us. 

P: Each of us are given our specific godly attributes and talents to be used and improved. 

D: We are to become as God is.