"Once a man received as his inheritance two keys. The first key, he was told, would open a vault which he must protect at all cost. The second key was to a safe within the vault which contained a priceless treasure. He was to open this safe and freely use the precious things which were stored therein. He was warned that many would seek to rob him of his inheritance. He was promised that if he used the treasure worthily, it would be replenished and never be diminished, not in all eternity. He would be tested. If he used it to benefit others, his own blessings and joy would increase.
The man went alone to the vault. His first key opened the
door. He tried to unlock the treasure with the other key, but he could not, for
there were two locks on the safe. His key alone would not open it. No matter
how he tried, he could not open it. He was puzzled. He had been given the keys.
He knew the treasure was rightfully his. He had obeyed instructions, but he
could not open the safe.
In due time, there came a woman into the vault. She, too,
held a key. It was noticeably different from the key he held. Her key fit the
other lock. It humbled him to learn that he could not obtain his rightful
inheritance without her.
They made a covenant that together they would open the
treasure and, as instructed, he would watch over the vault and protect it; she
would watch over the treasure. She was not concerned that, as guardian of the
vault, he held two keys, for his full purpose was to see that she was safe as
she watched over that which was most precious to them both. Together they
opened the safe and partook of their inheritance. They rejoiced for, as
promised, it replenished itself.
With great joy they found that they could pass the treasure
on to their children; each could receive a full measure, undiminished to the
last generation.
Perhaps some few of their posterity would not find a
companion who possessed the complementary key, or one worthy and willing to
keep the covenants relating to the treasure. Nevertheless, if they kept the
commandments, they would not be denied even the smallest blessing.
Because some tempted them to misuse their treasure, they
were careful to teach their children about keys and covenants.
There came, in due time, among their posterity some few who
were deceived or jealous or selfish because one was given two keys and another
only one. “Why,” the selfish ones reasoned, “cannot the treasure be mine alone
to use as I desire?”
Some tried to reshape the key they had been given to
resemble the other key. Perhaps, they thought, it would then fit both locks.
And so it was that the safe was closed to them. Their reshaped keys were
useless, and their inheritance was lost.
Those who received the treasure with gratitude and obeyed
the laws concerning it knew joy without bounds through time and all eternity."
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