In the Potter's HandsIn the Potter's Hands

““O Lord, thou art our O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the Father; we are the clay, and thou our clay, and thou our potter; and we all potter; and we all are the work of thy are the work of thy hand” Isa. 64:8hand” Isa. 64:8

New Era Dec 1999 New Era Dec 1999

(LDS Church)(LDS Church)

By Larry A. HillerBy Larry A. Hiller

Adapted to pp presentation by SisterAdapted to pp presentation by Sister

Lucy CastañónLucy Castañón

All of us at time feel All of us at time feel common, or useless, or common, or useless, or

unattractive. unattractive.

Learn something from Learn something from simple clay. simple clay.

In its natural state, clay is In its natural state, clay is common and far from common and far from beautiful. But in the beautiful. But in the hands of a master hands of a master

potter, it takes on a potter, it takes on a pleasing personality, pleasing personality,

becoming a thing both of becoming a thing both of usefulness and unique usefulness and unique

beauty.beauty.

But before clay can be But before clay can be made beautiful and useful, made beautiful and useful, it must be centered on the it must be centered on the

potter's wheel. potter's wheel. As the wheel spins, the As the wheel spins, the

potter molds, shapes, and potter molds, shapes, and lifts the clay into the lifts the clay into the

desired form. desired form. If the clay is not centered, If the clay is not centered,

it cannot be shaped it cannot be shaped properly. Eventually, properly. Eventually,

natural forces fling it from natural forces fling it from the wheel. the wheel.

Our lives are like that.Our lives are like that.

We must become We must become centered on Christ-and centered on Christ-and

remain centered on remain centered on Him. Only then can our Him. Only then can our Father in Heaven shape Father in Heaven shape

and mold our lives to and mold our lives to His grand design for us.His grand design for us.

Sometimes flaws appear Sometimes flaws appear in the clay and repairs in the clay and repairs

must be made. must be made. It may be necessary to It may be necessary to go back, to remold and go back, to remold and

reshape. reshape. The wonderful thing is, The wonderful thing is, when properly repaired, when properly repaired, the flaw is completely the flaw is completely gone, as though it had gone, as though it had

never existednever existed..

When we sin, we introduce When we sin, we introduce

flaws and defects. flaws and defects.

They may not be outwardly They may not be outwardly visible at first, but they visible at first, but they

weaken us just the same. weaken us just the same. And if they are not properly And if they are not properly repaired, they can lead to repaired, they can lead to

our ultimate ruin. our ultimate ruin. Fortunately, if we are Fortunately, if we are pliable as clay in the pliable as clay in the

Potter's hands, repentance Potter's hands, repentance will make us completely will make us completely

whole.whole.

Clay that has been Clay that has been shaped and molded may shaped and molded may

become beautiful. become beautiful. And as it dries, it becomes And as it dries, it becomes

harder. harder. But it never achieves its But it never achieves its full potential until it has full potential until it has been through the fire. been through the fire. In the great heat of the In the great heat of the Potter's kiln, the clay is Potter's kiln, the clay is

transformed.transformed.

Hidden flaws that were Hidden flaws that were not repaired reveal not repaired reveal

themselves at this time, themselves at this time, and the piece breaks orand the piece breaks or

crumbles.crumbles.

But a vessel that But a vessel that has integrity has integrity

comes from the comes from the fire stronger and fire stronger and more beautiful more beautiful

than ever. than ever.

In life, too, we pass through In life, too, we pass through fiery trials that test our fiery trials that test our

faith and integrity. faith and integrity. Then if we have remained Then if we have remained

centered on Christ, and if centered on Christ, and if through true repentance through true repentance we have let Him make us we have let Him make us whole and sound, taking whole and sound, taking

from us our flaws and from us our flaws and mistakes, we come forth mistakes, we come forth from the fire as beautiful, from the fire as beautiful,

useful vessels in His useful vessels in His hands.hands.