God Gives Us Tools

María Mercedes G., Monagas, Venezuela

man and young woman building a ship in a bottle

My uncle is an artist who makes small wooden ships in glass bottles. It takes a lot of time, concentration, and effort to make them.

One day I saw all of his tools and noticed how each tool was used for a specific detail or molding on the ship. As I watched him work, I was surprised by how he would use the tools to make these ships. I was reminded of the story of Nephi building a ship (see 1 Nephi 17–18). He built it according to the Lord’s way, not man’s way. God gives us tools to build our own ships in His way. The scriptures, faith, and the love of God are tools that I must use in my own life to carefully construct my own ship without any cracks. I am learning each day to be a disciple of the Lord.