Salvation and School

I think faith and salvation work a lot like school. Being a good Christian, and being a good student have a lot of the same qualities.

To be a good student you have to go to school. But simply going to school is not enough. You can't expect to be an A student by simply sitting in your chair every day. You have put effort into acheiving the grade you want. You have to go to class, actually pay attention during class and take notes, do your homework assignments, turn them in on time, study for exams, etc. You interract with your teacher, ask for help. It's a lot of work to maintain a great GPA. And you can't ever slack off. You must put consistant effort forward in keeping your grades up. And in the long run, it pays off because you get into whatever college you want, the college of your dreams!

Faith and salvation work basically the same way. Just going to church isn't enough. Just calling yourself a Christian means nothing if you don't act like one. You have to put forth effort. You have to do your "homework." Good deeds for others, read your scriptures, pray, interract with your "teacher". Ask Him for help. Follow His commandments like you would follow rules at school. And you have to keep doing these things throughout your life to maintain your "GPA" so to speak. You have to "endure to the end." And when you do these things and continue to do them throughout your life, you get into the Celestial Kingdom, aka your "Dream College." :D