The Ten Virgins

Jesus told a story about ten young women who went to a wedding. They waited at the door for the bridegroom (the Son of Man) to come and let them in. They did not know just when He would come. Matt. 25:1, 13

The ten women had oil-burning lamps. Five of the women were wise. Besides the oil in their lamps, they had extra oil with them. Matt. 25:2, 4

The other five women were foolish. They had only the oil that was in their lamps. Matt. 25:3

The bridegroom did not come for a long time. When all the oil in the lamps was gone, the five wise women put their extra oil into their lamps. The five foolish women had to go buy more oil. Matt. 25:5–9

While they were gone, the bridegroom came. He let the five wise women in the door. They went to the wedding. Matt. 25:10

When the five foolish women returned, the door was closed. They could not go to the wedding. Matt. 25:10–13

Jesus, the Son of Man, is the bridegroom in this story. The members of the Church are the ten women. When He comes again, some members will be like the wise women. They follow the Spirit’s promptings and obey God’s commandments, and so they will be ready when Jesus comes again. Others will be like the five foolish women and will not be able to be with the Savior. 3 Ne. 25:1–2; D&C 45:56–57; D&C 88:86, 92; James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 576–80

Illustrations by Paul Mann