Oxygen Mask

Well it's been a good weekend. I spent 10 hours listening to General Conference, which is a biannual conference held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The speakers are leaders of my church, including the prophet and apostles. Check out the conference here.

Yesterday Elder Neil L. Anderson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared an interesting analogy that I think we can all relate to--assuming you've flown in a plane before. Each time a plane is about to take off the flight attendants run through a safety script to inform passengers what to do in the event of an emergency. If you're like me, you tend to tune out because you've heard it before: wear your seat belt at all times, an oxygen mask will drop from above, your cushion can act as a flotation device, and so on. Have you ever thought about how those routine instructions could provide a parable for us? I hadn't until yesterday.

If oxygen masks drop down during the flight each passenger is supposed to put on their own mask first before helping others, no matter what. A naturally caring person would likely do the opposite. What's the point? Why should we put our own mask on first? Well if we help others first we run the risk of passing out and then we need help ourselves, but with the mask on, we can continue to assist those around us. The same is true of spiritual things. We can't possibly help another draw closer to God and learn about His ways unless we first know Him and follow Him. Like oxygen, spiritual strength is meant to be shared and can provide a sustaining influence as we face the turbulence along the ride we call life.

With Elder Anderson I ask, Is your spiritual oxygen mask safely secured, or do you have some work to do before you can reach out to help lift others?