I think sometimes we forget how incredibly, indescribably important and essential the gospel of Jesus Christ is in our lives. It is as important as salvation itself—it is salvation. You can’t have one without the other. Learning it and living it is the whole reason we’re on on earth. Yet, sometimes we set the gospel on the back-burner of our lives. Other things get in the way and we forget what matters most.
I suppose just saying “other things” to describe what can stand between us and the gospel is awfully vague, so, to be more specific, here are 101 things that simply aren’t as important as actively living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of them are definitely important—but none of them quite measure up to the importance of staying active in the gospel daily. And if for whatever reason (or in whatever form) these things stand in our way, we should remember that the gospel should be our first priority.
1. Staying active in the gospel is more important than your pride
2. Your personal life plans
3. Your popularity
4. Feelings of anger
5. Remembering to bring your phone charger
6. What your friends think about you
7. What your family thinks about you
8. What your bishop says, does, or otherwise influences in any way
9. What your ward members think about you
10. What you think of your ward
11. Getting your oil changed (yeah, the gospel is that important)
12. Your smartphone
13. The natural man/woman
14. Vacations
15. Avengers: Infinity War (even though it was totally awesome)
16. Living the gospel is more important than any Marvel movies for that matter
17. What you read on the internet about what that guy who happened to be a church leader may or may not have said 150 years ago
18. Thinking you’re not worthy of God’s love
19. Fortnite
20. The gospel is more important than holding grudges
21. World culture
22. National culture
23. Family culture
24. National tradition
25. Family tradition
26. Thinking you don’t deserve happiness
27. Unpaid parking tickets
28. Weeding the garden
29. Working out
30. Sleeping in
31. Lack of time
32. Sickness (but if you’re contagious you’d better skip church this week)
33. Your favorite sins
34. Staying active in the gospel is more important than your appearance
35. Anti-Mormon arguments
36. The fact that if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you could be entitled to financial compensation
37. Thinking the gospel restricts your happiness
38. Mormon apologetics
39. Your blog
40. The weekend
41. Whatever President Trump tweeted last
42. Hillary Clinton’s new book (to be fair)
43. The easier alternative
44. Fear of failure
45. Fear of success (mind blown)
46. Fear of work
47. The gluten-free menu
48. Videogames
49. Living the gospel is more important than being offended
50. New albums by Taylor Swift, Beyonce, or The Killers
51. That other thing that sounds like way more fun
52. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than wallowing in self pity
53. Netflix
54. Your job
55. Partying like it’s 1999
56. That 3 PM hunger attack
57. That 3 PM nap attack
58. Taco Tuesdays
59. Trying to become famous
60. Disallusionment
61. A zombie apocalypse
62. Impressing people of the opposite gender
63. Impressing people of the same gender
64. Living the gospel is even more important than (and possibly the solution to) economic hardship
65. Sunday night football
66. Monday night football
67. Any debilitating addictions you may have
68. Living the gospel is more important than whatever else you might want that is contrary to the gospel
69. A fashion catastrophe
70. Contradictory lifestyle preferences
71. That great and spacious building
72. Screaming sacrament meeting babies
73. Goat yoga
74. Instagram
75. Staying true to Christ’s gospel is even more important than following your heart (but hopefully they’re on the same page)
76. Checking your phone for texts and emails every thirty seconds
77. Rick Rolling your friends (barely)
78. A solid WIFI connection
79. Doing your homework (but that’s plenty important, too)
80. Arch nemeses
81. Protesting
82. Unanswered questions about the gospel
83. Whole foods
84. Black Friday
85. Table centerpieces
86. An alien invasion
87. Words With Friends
88. Partying with friends
89. Morning coffee
90. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ is even more important than backing up your computer data
91. Not wanting to live the gospel
92. The Roseanne reboot
93. Sports rivalries
94. The latest gossip about Kim Kardashian
95. The latest gossip about any of the Kardashians
96. Frankly, the latest gossip about anyone or anything
97. Decorating your house with paintings of temples and Jesus
98. Cute little bookmark reminders for everyone in your Sunday school class so they don’t forget how unforgettable the lesson was
99. It’s more important than anything the haters have to say
100. Remembering to take your trash can out to the curb the night before garbage day
101. And most everything else you can possibly think of
Wow, you made it through!
I’m truly impressed. Anyway, you get the point. In a world full of distractions, entertainment options, opinions, and temptations, staying true to the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing we can be doing. Take a moment to look within yourself. Is there anything in your life that stands between you and the gospel? There definitely is in my life. It’s up to you and me to get rid of them. Let’s become the disciples Christ is hoping for. The ones He’s trying to help us become. It’s important.
