Variety Tuesday: Salting the Earth

I read an incredible article last month about one of my favorite topics. It's a quick read and makes you think. You'l like it. I wanted to share some of my thoughts about the Savior calling His people the salt of the Earth. I studied this topic not long after culinary school because I developed a healthy fascination with salt. (Could you tell in yesterday's post?)

My first thought was that salt is so often called the magnifier of flavors. So, the Savior is saying that His people magnify the Earth. What a compliment. Have you seen the beauty in different parts of the Earth? It's incredible. The mountains surrounding my house are gorgeous. The trees in the eastern part of the US are breathtaking. Think about it. Ocean views. Sunsets. Rain forests. Desert skies. Flowers. Snow. I could go on, but I think you get my point. The Earth is a phenomenal creation. To have the Savior of the world say that people are here to magnify the glory that is already here is humbling.

To think of people as the preservers of the Earth, I think back to the instruction given to Adam as he left the Garden of Eden. He was responsible for taking care of the Earth. We are now. In order to grow gardens and crops, we have to take care of them. If we don't, bugs and weeds will kill the produce and flowers we are trying to grow. It's more than just caring for the ground though. We are responsible for preserving the purpose of the Earth. We were sent to Earth to be tested and to prove that we would use our agency to follow Jesus Christ. It's our responsibility to ensure we can do that. It's our responsibility to ensure our children and grandchildren have that same privilege.

After declaring that we are the salt of the Earth, the Savior talks about salt losing savor. In order for us to fulfill those responsibilities, we must remain pure. (Salt doesn't do the same thing if you replace half of it with mud.) It isn't just avoiding things that can taint us though. If we leave the salt on the table, it does no good. If we refuse to use our time and talents to actively obey, we are just as worthless.

As we fill our roles as the salt of the Earth, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we will find that the bitterness that comes with mortality will have less of an effect on us, leaving us with the sweet delightful parts of life. The easiest way to do this is to be obedient and do so willingly with a happy heart. Think about the way the Savior sees you the next time you are unsure or get blinded by someone else's views.