Applying the scriptures: Planting illustrates interplay of works, grace
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Nephi taught that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23.)
Some fail to comprehend or recognize the interplay that is necessary between the grace of God, which comes as a free gift, and one's own deeds, which are necessary to make that grace efficacious in one's life.
Elder LeGrand Richards explained it this way:
"It is evident that none of our works or anything we can do can affect the Grace of God, which is a free gift. But this does not alter the fact. . .that the 'righteous judgment of God. . .will render to every man according to his deeds.' [See Romans 2:5-6.]
". . .Take the farmer as an illustration. No matter how much land he owns, he cannot expect to reap unless he sows. But when the farmer has prepared his land and sowed his seed, and cultivated and irrigated the land and harvested the crop, is he entitled to all the credit? He did all the work and is entitled to reap as he has sowed, and the result of his effort will be his reward. But no matter how hard the farmer may have worked, he could not have harvested the crop through his own effort since there are other factors to be considered:
"1. Who provided him the fertile soil?
"2. Who put the germ of life into the seeds he planted?
"3. Who caused the sun to warm the soil and cause the seed to germinate and grow?
"4. Who caused the rain to fall or the snows to fill the watersheds to give drink to his growing crops?
"None of these things could the farmer have done or supplied for himself. They represent the free gift of grace, and yet the farmer will reap as he has sowed." (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, pp. 274-275.)
