When I was in second grade, the Primary children sang a new song for Stake Conference. I loved the song, particularly the part in the chorus that said,”teach me all that I must know to live with Him someday.”

Even as a child I loved knowing things, just for the sake of learning and knowing. I imagined that we might learn to fly among stars, to make clouds, to hear unspoken thoughts…all things I imagined I would do for fun in Heavenly Father’s house.

Fortunately I was old enough to understand that wasn’t the intention of the poet by the time the Prophet asked Sister Randall to change the now beloved song, to replace “know” with “do”. I immediately understood that knowing the right things is meaningless unless we DO what we know.

Listening and understanding is really important, but it doesn’t change us into the kind of soul who could live comfortably with our Heavenly parents and our Savior. Spiritually prompted actions build our spiritual muscles and gradually change our very nature.

Lately I’ve been wondering if I’ve done enough to become like Him some day. Not enough as in, “I’ve had my turn and someone else can take over now.” I mean, have I done enough that I have begun to BE like Him. If I were to die unexpectedly, would I have done enough in mortality to be like Him when I see Him? 

If Sister Randall should return to mortality and write another verse, I’d not be surprised to then sing, “Teach me all that I must be to live with Him someday.”

~Nita Smith