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Question

Dear Gramps,

Could you possibly explain what is meant by the following phrase (I’m paraphrasing) “Take upon the Lord’s yoke for it is light.”

Thank you,

Charlene

 

Answer

Dear Charlene,

As I’m sure you know, a yoke is a bar or frame by which two draft animals are joined at the heads or necks for working together. The Savior used allegories that were part of the people’s own experience and daily lives in order to explain or clarify the concepts that He was teaching. The yokes for draft animals, usually oxen, were very common up until after the invention of the tractor.

The Savior said,

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30.)

The implication is that if we yoke ourselves to the Savior (a yoke joins two draft animals) we have Him to labor with us at our sides. When yoked together, the two animals must go in the same direction and be united in their efforts. What a marvelous analogy, that we should go in the same direction as the Savior! Going in His direction, we would learn of Him.

Two animals are yoked together for the purpose of pulling loads. Often the loads are very heavy and the animals exert all their strength to pull the loads, and the yokes rub against their shoulders, often producing troublesome sores. The Savior’s yoke, however, is easy, and His burden is light. That statement tells us that when we are teamed with the Savior, we will not need to struggle as do yoked animals in order to do our part. To work with the Savior, going in His direction and doing His will, we are instructed, is easy and the burden associated therewith is light. The Lord would be our companion, and would give us the necessary strength always to accomplish His will. Nothing could be more delightful than to be yoked to the Lord in doing all that we undertake to do.

 

Gramps

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