Puzzles

I completed a puzzle set with my family not long ago.

On the box is a picture of the complete image we were to aim for.

Inside are the many pieces we want to join together to produce the image on the box.

Learning the gospel at church, in scripture reading, in general conference, etc. is like analysing and observing the picture on the lid of a puzzle box.

Living the gospel, exercising faith, repenting, making, keeping and renewing sacred covenants, enjoying the companionship of and following the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end is the piecing together the puzzle pieces of Christ into our souls.

The big picture on the box is the Plan of Salvation. It is the character of Christ. It is the eternal family. It is exaltation.

The process of piecing the puzzle pieces together in our souls will take longer than the duration of this mortal life. It is the puzzle we are working on, and we can assist others in piecing it together also.

All this being said, Heavenly Father is happy with our work on progressing, rather than our immediate perfection. He is happy seeing us working on the puzzle rather than ignoring it.

Christ is with us working on the puzzle as we work on it. As we are ignoring or away from the puzzle, He follows us, watchful, inviting, waiting. He provided the puzzle pieces through the Atonement. The Father painted the picture. While we are away, He places a few pieces together that teach us the consequences of not turning to Him. We learn lessons the hard way.

Even if, for such a long time, we just cannot seem to be matching any pieces together, it is okay. In that time period, we are learning what doesn't fit, we are learning patience, and we are still learning what puzzle pieces exist. One day, like a lightbulb moment, we will realize, "Hey! These pieces actually fit together!"

What a great moment it is, when the final puzzle piece is put in place. It will be marvelous, mostly because of the sweat, the tears, the struggles, the joys, the lessons, the relationships, the fun we experience along the way. And we find that God was with us, helping us finish the puzzle piece all along.