The Better Part
Scriptures
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation…which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)
Reflection
Life is crowded with distractions—some noble, some urgent, some consuming. Martha, in Luke’s Gospel, busied herself with the honorable labor of service. Yet Mary, by sitting at the feet of the Master, claimed something eternal. In this gentle but firm moment, the Saviour declared that one thing is needful—and Mary had chosen it. That “better part,” once taken into the soul, cannot be stolen by sorrow, time, or even death.
In the Book of Mormon, Helaman urges his sons to anchor their lives not in earthly achievement, but in the Messiah. That foundation is not made of the shifting soil of opinion or comfort, but of granite truth—the kind that steadies the soul in storm. The “better part” is not simply belief; it is an active choosing of Christ each day, a deliberate rooting in things of eternal worth.
What we choose to value now is shaping who we are eternally. Every decision to study the Scriptures, to pray with purpose, to turn from sin, and to serve with integrity is a spiritual stone laid in the unseen foundation of our souls. That work is quiet. The world may never applaud it. But Heavenly Father does not forget it.
To choose “the better part” is to say with your life, “I believe there is more than this.” And that choice—made in faith, kept in obedience—secures blessings no one can take from you, not in time nor in eternity.
Covenant Application
- This week, limit one distraction and replace it with time at the Saviour’s feet through scripture or prayer.
- Reaffirm your foundation by writing down your testimony of Christ.
- Ask: “Am I building on rock or sand today?”
Affirmation
What I choose now becomes what I keep forever.
Suggested Hymn
Hymn 166 – Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide
“The day is past and gone; the shadows of the evening fall…”
