Let All Things Be Done Unto Edifying

Paul wrote this to the Corinthians when teaching them about spiritual gifts: “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). His point was that it was of more value to speak words that people could learn from and understand than to show forth a miracle of speaking in tongues that no one could understand. We need to focus on that which really matters and measure that which is most important; we gather as saints not to show off spiritual gifts or display miraculous things but rather to help individuals come to an understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This principle can help us in our study of the scriptures—the primary goal is reading is not to be able to gain knowledge that will make us look good or to become an expert in some subject contained therein. Rather, the goal is for us to become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthen our commitment to follow Him and hear His voice for us. Sometimes when we read scriptures as a family my goal is simply to get through a chapter successfully while trying to keep at least some of the kids in the same room as they figuratively bounce off the walls. And surely that is better than no scriptures at all, but I have found that the experience is far more edifying if we focus on a principle that we are reading and try to engage them with questions and comments and a discussion. It is much better to have five words of understanding than to read a chapter of scripture that is totally over their heads.   

                I believe this statement summarizes the message of Paul in this chapter to the Corinthians: “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26). That should be our goal in all that we do in the Church. We want to be edified when we partake of the Sacrament and participate in our Sunday meetings. We strive that the youth can be edified when they come to weekly activities and gather together. We seek to be edified when we attend the temple and worship the Lord there. We desire to be edified through the words we read when we study the scriptures. We endeavor to be edified together as we minister to each other and serve side by side in the Church. And we yearn to be edified by the Spirit of the Lord as we kneel humbly in prayer before our Father in Heaven. The Lord taught us plainly in our dispensation: “And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:23-24). Each day we should seek that which will edify and lift us up and ennoble us and give us light, striving to remove those things which do not edify and bring instead darkness. Paul got to the heart of the matter when he said to the Ephesians, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). We seek for that which will edify in all we do so that we can experience the grace of Jesus Christ. That should be the goal of every meeting, the purpose of every gathering, the objective of every act of worship that we participate in. He summarized to the Corinthians, “We speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying” (2 Corinthians 12:19). And so, we too should do all things for the edifying of all.