The North Wind and the Sun

"If you would win a man to your cause, convince him you are his genuine friend.¨-- Abraham Lincoln"  -- Thomas S. Monson (October General Conference 2013)

A while back I remembered this old story I had once heard in elementary school. It´s strangely convenient how when you are a kid you learn all this stuff, but you never really apply it until you are farther down the road. 

The North Wind and the Sun

The North Wind boasted of great strength. The Sun argued that there was great power in gentleness.

"We shall have a contest," said the Sun.

Far below, a man traveled a winding road. He was wearing a warm winter coat.

"As a test of strength," said the Sun, "Let us see which of us can take the coat off of that man."

"It will be quite simple for me to force him to remove his coat," bragged the Wind.

The Wind blew so hard, the birds clung to the trees. The world was filled with dust and leaves. But the harder the wind blew down the road, the tighter the shivering man clung to his coat.

Then, the Sun came out from behind a cloud. Sun warmed the air and the frosty ground. The man on the road unbuttoned his coat.

The sun grew slowly brighter and brighter.

Soon the man felt so hot, he took off his coat and sat down in a shady spot.

"How did you do that?" said the Wind.

"It was easy," said the Sun, "I lit the day. Through gentleness I got my way."

D&C 121:41 "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned."

May we all be able to preach the gospel and exercise our priesthood duty as well as our duty as members to preach the gospel. Only together is it possible.

Elder Andrews

P.S. Here is a picture and a 3 second video to lighten up your day.

Elder Andrews riding his burro.