The Sunflowers

Sunflowers always face the sun. In

the morning they face east. By

evening, they have turned west.

They follow the sun as it crosses

each day's sky, so they can gather

in as much sun as possible. We can

be like sunflowers, and turn to the

SON, Jesus Christ, and gather

spiritual light from Him. A

sunflower seed will grow most

anywhere. You, too, can bloom

and

grow where you are planted. By

desiring to believe and by studying

the scriptures prayerfully, you will

nurture your personal gospel seed.

As the sunflower grows, small

buds

will soon appear, surrounded by

protecting leaves. Like those

leaves,

your parents, leaders, and teachers

surround you, and love you, and

protect you, and help your budding

testimony grow. As a sunflower

grows taller, its stalk grows

thicker,

for it must support the large

flower

that will soon be full of seeds. So

as

your spiritual stalk must grow, and

your testimony will grow stronger

as you prayerfully read the

scriptures that teach of Jesus

Christ

and strive to become like Him.

When the sunflower bud opens,

bright yellow petals form, and its

head becomes a golden crown.

The

blessings of its growth at last

begins

to show. And, having been born of

a seed, it now produces seeds of

its

own that nourish people, animals

and birds. Your testimony will

likewise produce its own new

seeds

and you will nourish family, friends

and others who will see the Son

reflected, like a golden crown, in

you, for you have become like

Him.

So, turn to the Son. Open your

heart to His light. Seek it first

thing

each morning. Follow its warmth

across each day's sky. Let its

comfort be the last thing you feel

each night. Then as the evening of

your life's last setting comes, you

will arise to a glorious new

morning

and turn again to Him and He will

see His image in your countenance