Have you heard of the marshmallow experiment?
It’s the one where little kids were put in a room with a marshmallow, and told that if they DID NOT eat the marshmallow by the time the adult came back, they would get a second marshmallow.
Some kids couldn’t resist it and just ate the first marshmallow.
Others waited patiently (or painstakingly) but received a second marshmallow and got to eat both.
I honestly can’t think of a better parallel to the commandments!
— Hey, it really would be better if you avoided watching media that depicted unwholesome things.
But it’s your choice.
You can just watch it and get pleasure now. Because, yes, it can be very enjoyable.
OR you can avoid it, feel disappointed for a bit, but then TRUST that I will reward thee twofold at a later time.
(Repeat the scenario with any commandment that is tricky for you right now: sleeping instead of reading scriptures, doing things on the sabbath that probably aren’t the best, avoiding service opportunities instead of saying yes, getting immediate results from being angry and rude…)
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36)
As Latter-Day Saints, we’ve just got to be PATIENT a lot.
There are so many immediate pleasures that we put off in search of future blessings.
And that sure takes a lot of spiritual maturity to do.
So this is a cheer-you-on post!
You’ve got this!
You are not alone!
It is HARD to sometimes sit and stare at that marshmallow when you know other people around you are eating it.
But you trust! You have faith! You KNOW someone is coming back with another marshmallow (or honestly, a reward greater than any amount of marshmallows!)
We can do the will of God, be patient, and KNOW that we will receive the promised blessings!
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
2 Responses
I recently learned that the study with the marshmallow experiment has been debunked. After people replicated it they found that it was not as much about the maturity and patience of the child, but how much they trust the adults in their lives. If they have come from a family that doesn’t respond to their needs then they would eat the marshmallow faster. Which I think adds some beautiful nuance to the comparison to the gospel. Sometimes it takes each of us a while to realize that God truly loves us, knows our needs and will always respond with love. But He sits through that process with us. He understands there are people who have let us down and doesn’t judge us for taking a bit to feel comfortable with Him. He just loves. He is a perfect example of patience, waiting for us to come to Him knowing that it may not be an easy step, but He is holding out His arms the entire time.
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing!