On Becoming Gardeners of Flowers as well as Souls

It's spring and my guess is that you're a lot like I am in feeling energized and rejuvenated as I watch the plants bursting through the rich soil and the buds developing into beautiful blossoms. And perhaps you've also learned by experience that often what we're enjoying now can be attributed to efforts expended previously (thank Heavens for perennials!). Thus, my attention was drawn to the following article in today's edition of Meridian Magazine. I'm a people-lover, so I particularly enjoyed the author's comparison of flowers to souls. I wanted to share it with you, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. HAPPY SPRING!

M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E

Becoming a Gardener of Souls
By Janet Peterson

I love flowers! To me, the scripture, "to please the eye and to gladden the heart" (D&D 59: 18) describes flowers. All my adult years I have dabbled in flowers. When we lived in married student housing while my husband, Larry, was in law school, a friend and I planted tulip and daffodil bulbs in the little patch of ground outside our apartments. Soon flowers started appearing all over the Village. I have planted flowers wherever we have lived. Hundreds of flowers surround our present home.

A number of years ago, I decided to tame our hillside, over 1000-square feet, and create a perennial garden. (There have been days that I've regretted this ambition!) We cleared the weeds and debris and smoothed it out. I studied flower catalogs, visited nurseries, asked other gardeners, and learned much about perennials.

On paper, it didn't seem too difficult, but as I labored on this huge plot, it seemed an overwhelming task. However, I was committed to making this part of our yard more beautiful, to reaping a spectacular harvest. The lessons I learned from gardening can be likened to serving in the Church. Like a garden, a Church calling can be daunting, but we must put forth our best efforts until we are released, likely even before the harvest is realized.

Knowing the Flowers

Before embarking on this project, I could name some of the more common perennials: daisies, poppies, mums, and columbine. Now I have become acquainted with numerous perennials: coreopsis, astilbe, gallardia, cyclamen, butterfly weed, and wallflower, to name a few. As I have planted, nurtured, and gathered, I have learned the names and characteristics of many flowers; I've come to appreciate each kind by knowing its color, shape, fragrance, size, and growth pattern.

Still I have a lot to learn. One thing I have learned, however, is that no flower is better than another. Is phlox is more beautiful than flax? They're simply different. I don't cut plant or cut flowers that are all alike because variety and diversity make the most stunning gardens and bouquets.

Likewise, each Church member is a unique variety. A gardener of souls needs to know the names, personalities, interests, struggles and spiritual progress of each individual. No one is better than another; people are simply different from one another. And as with a mixed bouquet, the differences can complement and enhance one another and provide enrichment for everyone.

Having the Right Environment and Tools

The right environment is essential for growing both flowers and people. Flowers need water, sunshine, soil, fertilizer, and space. Human beings need love, nurturing, teaching, acceptance, and significant experiences to help them grow spiritually. As President Gordon B. Hinckley instructed us, every member needs “a friend, a responsibility, and to be ‘nurtured by the good word of God” ( Moroni 6:4).

Tools for a gardener include a shovel, rake, sprinklers, fertilizer, and clippers. Tools for a Church leader or teacher include the scriptures, lesson manuals, priesthood guidance, the Holy Ghost, and an earnest desire to serve.

It is true for both flowers and people that gardeners can provide an appropriate environment and employ appropriate tools, but are only facilitators for growth. Gardeners do not do the growing---flowers and people must do that themselves, and within a person's own divine nature is unlimited potential for growth.

Doing the Work

Gardens don't just happen. The only plants that grow spontaneously are weeds. Growing a successful flower garden takes work—frequent, consistent, purposeful work. If one waits too long to water or weed, so much more effort is needed or if one procrastinates too long, damage can be permanent. There is a sequence and appropriateness of care; prepare, plant, water, fertilize, and then harvest. A little bit of effort each day or session is far more effective than a massive effort every once in a while. The same is true for nurturing people.

Our front yard looks pretty ordinary this year because my focus has been on the hillside. Another season it will get more attention. This is the season to serve in our current calling, whether it's in Primary, Sunday School, Young Women or a priesthood quorum, and our focus should be on that. There will be other seasons to give more attention to other opportunities to serve.

Guarding Against the Destroyers

One flower catalog states, "Weeding is an inevitable part of gardening." The most challenging part of my garden is keeping out the weeds, for, if ignored, they will soon crowd out the young plants and completely take over. Likewise temptations and adversity are also inevitable parts of life. The most challenging part of life is overcoming the weeds. There are various ways to deal with weeds—pre-emergents, post-emergents, and pulling them one at a time.

At the end of my garden's first summer, when I was tired of pulling endless weeds, a friend of mine said, "Didn't you use a pre-emergent weed killer?" It sounded miraculous! That fall and the following spring I sprayed the whole area. What a difference that effort made. Applying a pre-emergent is like teaching the gospel, providing spiritual experiences, and helping individuals to develop testimonies of Jesus Christ before adversity or temptations become strong and overwhelming.

In spite of great efforts to prevent weeds, some will still grow. Then a post-emergent spray or pulling weeds one at a time is needed. And sometimes those under our stewardship will need “post-emergent" care or a lot of one-on-one time.

Besides weeds, snails and other pests chewing the foliage, gophers eating at the roots cause great damage. Without roots, flowers die. I watched a rose bush and other lovely plants wither and die only to find their roots had been gnawed completely. Sadly, some of the most colorful flowers are missing from our wards. Some are inactive, having never developed roots; some have been overcome by the weeds and the gophers of the world. But unlike destroyed plants, there is always hope for recovery of the less-active, and there is always a way back.

The Flowering

Certain varieties of flowers in my area, like bluebells and magnolias bloom early in the spring. Others such as gloxinia and black-eyed susans blossom in June and July. Others, like hydrangeas, are late bloomers, but equally as beautiful as any of the early bloomers.

Some in our midst are early bloomers; others are late bloomers, but all are equally important. Orange glory flowers and scarlet monarda are boldly colored and catch our attention immediately while canterbury bells and chicory are delicate and soft in color. Similarly, some people are self-confident and outgoing while others may be shy and reserved in nature. Nevertheless, each of them makes a valuable contribution to the mixed bouquet.

Alma 's comparison of faith to a seed can also apply to our service in the Church.

"And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

"But if he will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure, and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

"Then my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you" ( Alma 32: 40-43).

May we all become effective gardeners and assist in His great work, that we may nourish souls and help their faith and testimonies develop strong roots and beautiful blossoms.