A few years ago, my family studied monarch butterflies. We took them in as little caterpillars until they grew to be beautiful, flight-bound butterflies! It was a miraculous experience to witness their growth and transformation as they hatched from their cocoons and perched delicately on our pinky fingers, like in the movies. At the time, I hardly realized how miraculous their transformation is and how exquisitely it likens to me and my journey on this path to reach my Father.
In my simple notes from a Sunday lesson I gave at church, I listed the steps of a butterfly and likened it to conversion. "How can I become more fully converted to the Lord?", was the topic. Here's the given five steps:
1. HUNGRY CATERPILLAR = WHAT'S MY DESIRE?
"....even if ye can no more than have a desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words." -Alma 32:27
The caterpillars first had a desire to eat, or in other words, they hungered for food. Because they had that desire, they were able to not only eat and savor the greens, but GROW. What do you think it means to have a desire? Have you ever wanted something so badly, it was hard to avoid thinking about it? I know I've had that desire before. And, in fact, I still do. Sometimes a desire can be a big dream, or simply a longing to have that gray sweatshirt from Target. Dallin H. Oaks once said, "All efforts begin with desire."
Discover your desire and use it to frame your growth. Remember that a caterpillar can't grow without hungering for a delicious bite of food.
2. FEASTING UPON GREENS = WHAT ARE SOME THINGS I CAN FEAST UPON?
"Feast upon the words of Christ..." -2 Nephi 32:3
After the caterpillars had that desire to eat, they began to feast, a nibble at a time. It was after they ate and formed their cocoons that they turned into butterflies. What are some ways you can spiritually grow towards conversion? In what ways can you better feast and act. Your ideas might include repentance, family history, missionary work, talking of Christ, gratitude journal, sincere prayers, or attending the temple weekly. Often, to fully embrace the actions towards conversion, we have to drop the activities or habits that are not empowering, or are dragging us down more than lifting us up.
Fill your life with the peace of feasting on the words of Christ. Small and simple actions will lead towards your progression as you seek to grow and transform.
3. BUILD YOUR COCOON = WHAT OLD THINGS CAN I "PASS AWAY" TO BECOME NEW?
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" -2 Corinthians 5:17,18
The caterpillars, now big and healthy, eventually strung their own cocoons and kept themselves there while they transformed. For around five to twenty-one days, the caterpillars transformed in their shelter, until they hatched. I love thinking of the fact that, when they hatched, blood was spilt and they had to unfold their wings to fly. This can relate to the Savior in so many ways. Through Christ's blood, we can become new, reconciled in Him. He died knowing our name, and feeling our pain with a love stronger than any love we know now
How can we pass our old weaknesses and pains away and cling to the new hope Jesus brings us? How can we also create a spiritual shelter in our lives? Are we prepared to stand alone as we stand for Christ and use Him to save us?
4. BECOME THAT BUTTERFLY = AND I SPREAD MY WINGS!
"And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;" -Mosiah 27:25
Finally, after days, maybe weeks in their cocoons, the caterpillars have reached their potential as butterflies. Their crisp wings unfold and they climb, dropping themselves to fly. After hours of practice, they can lift themselves from the branches and flutter daintily through the spicy air of nature, searching once again for food.
Lift yourselves from your hiding places and fly! Don't be afraid of what others think of you. After you've gone through the change, your confidence should display and you should be confident in your beauty and in your wings that lift you to the misty skies of God's painting.
5. PREDATORS = HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO BUILD MY FOUNDATION?
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." -Helaman 5:12
The caterpillars had predators who tried their hardest to devour them. Frogs, snakes, and more. However, our predators and adversities are different. Self doubt, mental and physical illness, social media, comparison, family strife, etc. It is our challenge to build our foundation, so they have no power to drag us down. President Russell M. Nelson said, “If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”
To avoid predators, continue to feast, increase habits, follow God's footsteps, set goals, etc. Ultimately, build your foundation on Christ!
As you seek to become more fully converted in the Lord, you'll have strength to overcome all challenges you face, lift yourself above expected heights, and will be blessed infinitely. Although it takes a while to transform, God is always with you. It is during the darkest moment, when the caterpillar grows its wings.
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty" -Maya Angelou
I love you all!
Sincerely,
Makenzie Monson
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