What edifies you?
What doesn’t edify you?
I found the definition of “edify” to be very intriguing:
“To instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.”
What a perfect test, huh?!
The things that aren’t instructing me or helping me improve in some way, are not from God.
Which means… the opposite is true, too!
I LOVE reading my scriptures. Like, those totally are edifying in my life.
But there are also a ton of non-church-y things that edify me.
In fact, I love using the marker of “edify” to draw my firm line in the ever-shifting sand.
If a podcast is fascinating and it leaves me feeling edified, I am ALL for it!
And if a podcast doesn’t leave me feeling like a better person for having listened, then it’s probably one to work out of my regular listening schedule.
I don’t have to worry so much about ratings or count the bad words when it comes to media.
I just… know if I’m edified or not.
I know if I’m learning something useful. Or if I’m enjoying myself in an uplifting way. Or if I’m connecting to other people in meaningful ways.
Sometimes though, I’ve learned I have to take a much more mature approach to judging “edification”.
Because I don’t know about you, but trying to parent little kids all day doesn’t always leave me feeling “instructed and improved”.
…in the moment.
While I’m actually scrubbing the toilet or folding that shirt for the millionth time, I don’t usually feel awesome about it.
But I know God is looking for spiritual maturity.
What is edifying me in the long-run? What is making me a better human being? A more Christlike woman?
Am I developing skills and qualities that will improve and instruct me when it comes to the big picture?
Or am I helping to improve and instruct others, thus chipping away at my own selfish tendencies?
Sometimes, judging “edification” is black and white.
But other times, I have to take a step back and lean into my spiritual maturity to see what is really going to edify me.
Because if it edifies me, it is given to me of God.
“And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.” (D&C 50:23)
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
