“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” (Proverbs 14:4). This scripture leads to a powerful truth, which is that while a clean stall is easy to manage, it also means no oxen, and without oxen, there’s no harvest. In other words, blessings often come through hard work. The presence of the ox represents the effort required to maintain and grow those blessings.

Elder Dr. Alex Stephens challenges us to understand that if we want an increase in our blessings, we must also manage the messiness that often comes with maintaining them. However, when we are not willing to put in the work then we are incongruent, meaning we are not aligned with what is required to achieve our goals. And that’s precisely why we must learn to “Scoop the Poop.” In the first part of this ongoing series, the focus scriptures are Exodus 2:23, Exodus 3:7-11, Exodus 16:1-4, and Numbers 11:1-4.

In Exodus and Numbers, a recurring truth holds: in order to fully embrace God's blessings, we must also embrace the changes and responsibilities they bring. The children of Israel cried out to God for deliverance from their slavery in Egypt. God heard them, responded with compassion, and led them out of bondage toward the Promised Land.

Yet while in the wilderness, instead of responding with gratitude, they complained. Even after their freedom was granted, they struggled to let go of the comfort of old habits and familiar suffering. They longed for Egypt—the very place that enslaved them—because freedom came with uncertainty, challenges, and responsibility.

Thank you, Elder Dr. Stephens, for delivering this strong word from God. This will help us move forward and higher together, encouraging us to understand that we must weigh the costs of everything in our lives, including when we make requests of God for deliverance and His blessings.