Our Focus

Some people focus on their family. Other people focus on their careers. Some people focus on their string collection. Everyone devotes their time differently. What kind of things are central in your life? What do you focus your time and efforts on?

Well I have a little story for you about 2 different people and what they focused on. 

Once upon a time there was a man named King Benjamin. King Benjamin had a large kingdom and was a very good king. The thing about King Benjamin was that not only was he a king he was also a prophet. King Benjamin had been king for a long time and had grown very old, he knew that he would soon die. He loved his people and his kingdom very much so he decided he was going to talk to them one last time. So he had a large tower built next to the temple so he could have them all gather around and he could talk to them and teach them. All the people gathered together and when they came up to the temple, "they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them". (Mosiah 2:5-6) So all of these people had come together with their families and had their tent doors toward the temple and their prophet.

So that is half of the story,here is the other half...

 

There once was a man named Lot. He lived and traveled through the desert. Eventually, after traveling "Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." (Genesis 13:12-13) Lot pitched his tent toward a city that was so wicked that it lead to its destruction. 

Now, here is the question...What does this have to do with us? God honestly does not care what physical direction our house (or tent) face. However, it does show a much deeper devotion and focus. Lot and his family wanted the things of the world. King Benjamin's people wanted the things that matter most. What do we want?