Peach Trees and Eternal Progress

Heavenly Father knows what you can become. Don’t settle for anything less.

By Madelyn Maxfield

Church Magazines

When my family planted a peach tree in our backyard, I started dreaming about homemade peach pie. But the sapling we planted was small, with only a few skinny branches. It looked like a single peach would pull the whole tree over.

After a few summers, the tree became tall, leafy, and beautiful. The birds loved it, and my family enjoyed the shade it provided. But it still wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do—grow peaches!

It was a few years before any fruit grew on the tree. There were only a few small peaches, but it was better than nothing. It took another summer for the tree to start growing enough big, sweet peaches to (finally!) make the pie of my dreams.

My family wouldn’t have gotten that homemade pie if we’d let the tree stop growing. The sapling, the shade, and the small fruit weren’t bad, but we knew that the tree had the potential for more. There was always room to keep growing.

That’s similar to how Heavenly Father sees us too.

Salvation and Exaltation?

We often call Heavenly Father’s plan for us the “plan of salvation,” but what is salvation? And how does it relate to exaltation?

Salvation “means to be saved from physical and spiritual death.” This is possible only through Jesus Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection. Because of Him, everyone will be resurrected and live forever (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:39–42). And because of Him, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins.

But if Heavenly Father’s goals for us stopped there, that would be like only using my peach tree for shade. He knows that we are capable of so much more.

Exaltation “refers to the highest state of happiness and glory in the celestial realm” and includes living with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families forever (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:62, 70). It includes the blessing of continued progress after this life—eternally! Because we are His children, we can grow to become like Him.

Preparing for Exaltation

Though exaltation is offered to everyone, there are some things we need to do to show God that we are truly willing to receive this gift. The scriptures and the prophets have taught that the conditions for receiving this gift include that we:

Accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and exercise faith in Him.
Are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Make and keep temple covenants.
Endure to the end by keeping the commandments.

Beyond the immediate blessings for obedience, living God’s laws and allowing your nature to be changed through Jesus Christ prepare you to receive the gift of exaltation. He has set the guidelines. Faithfully following His path is the only way to be exalted.

You Can Make It

You are a child of God, and He offers you everything He has. Don’t settle for anything less than exaltation.

Heavenly Father loves you. He prepared this plan because He wants to help you make it. As Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “Are there things we need to do, commandments to keep, aspects of our natures to change? Yes. But with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp.”

Right now, you may feel weak and imperfect. But Heavenly Father is the Master Gardener, and He knows that you’re much more than a sapling. You’re a peach tree in progress, and He will nurture you, tend you, and prepare you for what you may become.