A Chisel in the Master's Hand

While reading in Third Nephi chapter 28, we discussed the apostles and what they desired from Jesus. Nine of the Twelve asked to continue in the ministry until "the age of a man" and then to come speedily to their father in heaven. The other three asked to not taste of death so that they can continue to bring souls unto the gospel. "And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them." (3 Nephi 28:29) The apostles basically asked to be made into more profitable servants for the Lord. We, as latter-day saints, go through a similar conversion in order to be useful to our Lord. However, ours is not a translation as it was for the apostles. Rather, the process that turns us into profitable servants, or tools for the Lord is long and gradual. It is like the process you go through to create a chisel. Chisels begin as metal that must be made malleable by going through a hot fire (much like the process of going through trials and afflictions to become humble). Then the blacksmith (or God, in this case) will begin to pound on the metal (us) until he has shaped it (us) into something that can be useful to him. Then we can see the good things that he is able to do with that transformed hunk of metal (us), now that it is the shape that he needs in order to do his work. 

The Lord can make a lot more out of us than we can make out of ourselves.

 "In addition to stimulating our repentance, the very experience of enduring chastening can refine us and prepare us for greater spiritual privileges. Said the Lord, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (D&C 136:31). 

Hugh B. Brown once told a story that I believe relates to this. 

"He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

God knows what our potential is; we hold the power to become Gods and Goddesses, Heavenly Mothers and Fathers, so long as we are humble, repentant, and tools in the Master's hand.