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The Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Passport

The Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Passport

Last updated on: October 20, 2026 at 6:37 am by Delisa Hargrove

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Passport 2026-10-20T06:37:42-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

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After watching “The Sabbath and Sacrament Meeting, Featuring Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Patrick Kearon,” my sister Destinee casually shared

I think we’re getting close to the part of the parable of the ten virgins where the 5 virgins realize they need oil and are told to go buy for themselves. The new Sunday schedule seems to be preparing the 5 wise virgins to really dig in deep to get their own knowledge and testimonies and faith.

I mean the prophets (specifically President Nelson) have said He’s coming. So I think of it as waking up all the virgins and getting them ready to lead the procession.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins downloaded from Gospelimages.com

Her insight jarred me awake! While I enjoyed the video’s message, I hadn’t thought of it in the context of the parable of the ten virgins.

I immediately rewatched the video. There was no lead-up to this impactful thought! Elder Bednar opened with that pertinent point and fleshed it out within the first three minutes of the video!

Every member of this church has an individual responsibility to study and learn the doctrine of Christ and then strive to apply it in their lives. We cannot expect the Church as an institution to provide to us everything that we need to know. There’s a price that each of us has to pay in terms of individual study.

So we go to worship the Father in the name of the Son, we go to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, and we go to learn. …

We can always retain a remission of our sins. … We have the opportunity as we evaulate our lives, reflect, repent, prepare. … As we consider our preparation to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament and our repentance, that’s how we access the blessings of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. He’s our Savior because He saves us from sin, He redeems us from death, but as we repent, He forgives us. The repentance is a necessary step. But it is the Lord Jesus Christ who forgives us of those sins.

Apostolic References to the Parable of the Ten Virgins

My family and I started watching for references to the parable of the ten virgins even more intently after Elder Neil L. Andersen’s devotional talk at BYU-Idaho called “President Dallin H. Oaks and the Law of Witnesses.“

In counseling us to prepare “for our appointed meeting with our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ,” President Oaks said,“Take care not to become distracted. Remember His parable of the ten virgins. We want to be among the five humble ones who were admitted to the presence of the Lord.”

How many here are familiar with the parable of the ten virgins?

Could you tell me where it is found? Yes, Matthew 25.

Who else in the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve have spoken about the parable of the ten virgins recently? Interestingly, Elder Bednar has spoken about the ten virgins three times in general conference. Elder Rasband spoke of the parable three years ago, and Elder Renlund spoke about it just last April. With President Oaks’s invitation and three apostles explaining the principles of this important parable, I have thought again about President Eyring’s message of the law of authorized witnesses. I have found myself riveting my attention on this parable.

Let me share a sampling of the teachings of the apostles and then we will return to President Oaks.

First, the teaching of Elder Rasband: “The ten virgins represent members of the Church, and the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ. … We, like the ten virgins, have lamps; but do we have oil? … Oil comes from believing and acting on prophecy and the words of living prophets…. Oil fills our souls when we hear and feel the Holy Ghost and act on that divine guidance. Oil pours into our hearts when our choices show we love the Lord and we love what He loves. Oil comes from repenting and seeking the healing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Next from Elder Renlund: “The five wise virgins could not help those without oil; no one can accept the gospel, take the Holy Ghost as a guide, and avoid deception on our behalf. We have to do this for ourselves.”

Now, from Elder Bednar: “The wise virgins … were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an ample supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time … patiently and persistently. No shortcut is available.”

Remember the warning and counsel of President Oaks just two weeks ago: “Take care not to become distracted. Remember His parable of the ten virgins. We want to be among the five humble ones who were admitted to the presence of the Lord.”

And once again, President Eyring: “One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time.”

How can we rivet our attention to the repeated teaching of the parable of the ten virgins? How do we strengthen ourselves spiritually as President Oaks said to be “among the five humble ones who were admitted into the presence of the Lord?”

He shared four impressions. (When a prophet speaks of his impressions, that is a spiritually powerful emphasis for believers.) President Oaks shared four impressions that will draw us closer to our Savior:

First, strengthen our faith in Him.

Second, increase our humility.

Third, seek help from others.

Fourth, be patient.

(bolded emphasis added)

“How do we strengthen ourselves spiritually as President Oaks said to be among the five humble ones who were admitted into the presence of the Lord?’”

Destinee’s takeaway included the immediate need to buy oil to trim our lamps.

The Passport Parable

My turn to connect something to the parable came from general conference. Not one speaker explicitly referenced the parable of the ten virgins. However, while relistening to the conference talks, the Holy Ghost prompted a connection to Elder Bednar’s talk, specifically about his Parable of the Passport. Elder Bednar’s talk is titled “Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise” and details that necessary blessing, symbolized by going through the door into the marriage feast with the Bridegroom.

But the passport parable warns about a disappointing knock at that glorious door.

Once a man wanted to visit family members in a distant country. He planned his trip, packed his suitcase, and traveled by airplane to the city where his relatives lived.

The man excitedly exited the airplane and walked to the passport control checkpoint. He had a valid passport issued by an authorized agency of his country’s government. He presented his passport to a border official, who verified the man’s identity, nationality, and reasons for visiting the country. But the man had not taken good care of his passport. The personal information page had been stained and damaged. And a ripped page had been repaired in an unauthorized manner with tape and glue.

Consequently, the border official rejected his passport and refused to provide the stamp necessary for him to enter the country. The man was disappointed and perplexed about what he should do next.

The lesson of this story is quite simple: the integrity of a passport must be maintained over time. Holding a valid passport provided the opportunity for the man to enter the country, but the passport alone did not guarantee he actually would be allowed to enter the country.

“Lord, Lord, open to us” . . . “I know you not”

Matthew 25:6-13 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The five foolish virgins had a passport but did not maintain “the integrity of a passport …over time.”

Biblically, foolishness is often associated with moral and spiritual deficiencies. It involves a rejection of God’s wisdom and a reliance on human understanding.

How easy is it to put off scripture study until a “better time” or until other priorities are finished first? Are they ever finished? How many times have I bolted from my bed, rushing to do something I’ve committed to do while putting off praying about the covenant I’ve committed to be?

Take care not to become distracted. Remember His parable of the ten virgins. We want to be among the five humble ones who were admitted to the presence of the Lord.

Though distractions persist, incredibly, every time I put the Lord first, my time and capacity are magnified.

“There’s a price that each of us has to pay in terms of individual study.”

Each of the ten virgins had to buy their own oil at the market. Having oil exacted the same price from each of them. But that price, costing every ounce of ego, pride, and will, is miniscule compared to the glorious promises of God.

the parable of the ten virgins

The parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins: the five wise virgins, 1200, National Library of the Netherlands

Elder Andersen’s devotional closed with his assurance that oil is available to all who seek it, that the door is open to those prepared through the grace of Jesus Christ to enter, and that we can know our Savior and Redeemer now.

I reassure you that your faith in Jesus Christ is true. The Savior lives. He is resurrected. He has given us the way to return to Him and to our Father. “He is the way,” as President Oaks has said….

Let us be true disciples of Jesus Christ. I know Him. I love Him. The Redeemer of Israel knows you, loves you, and will strengthen you as you seek to draw closer to Him.

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