For all the sisters who requested that I share this if I received it, we owe a great deal of thanks to Bridgette who found it on the internet and cleaned it up and sent it for us. It is a little different, but nearly the same as the one I had. When we have done the script, we do it in the chapel and have had all the sisters who had their lamps filled wear long white dresses and those without their lamps filled, wear long dresses or skirts and blouses that were not white. It was always a very spiritual presentation and makes quite an impact. We also played soft organ music in the background during the presentation. I don't remember how many times each was played but there was "I Wonder When He Comes Again", "Where Love Is", "As I Have Loved You", and "Shine On". Thanks again so much to Bridgette!!!!

OIL IN OUR LAMPS

"Narrator #1 Read from Matthew 25:1-13

Narrator #2 What were the thoughts of the women as they stood at the door of the Bridegroom? Five had their lamps filled, but five were left without light. Why were the five prepared? Why were the five not prepared? What does this represent in our lives today?

Narrator #3 Someday, we too must go forth to meet the Bridegroom. What will we carry? Alighted lamp? Or, will ours be empty? What will our thoughts be then?

1st Woman I did not know what day, what hour, you might come out. Because I learned early in life to read and study the scriptures, I knew you would come. Now I stand at your door and my heart is rejoicing. My lamp is full! I know not why. Could it be that I accepted the spiritual experiences, the involvement and caring relationships that began in my teen years when I accepted your challenge to "Come Unto Christ", and have carried that motto throughout life?

2nd Woman Oh dear, I stand at thy door and wait, but see, my lamp is not lit. Will you not wait until I fill it tomorrow? Tomorrow, all my life-long I've promised I'd do each task assigned me tomorrow. Tomorrow is here! It is today! It is too late. I've procrastinated my life away. Now I know all the good yesterday and promised tomorrows cannot fill any cup today.

3rd Woman My lamp is empty! The world was so bright, so glittering and exciting. So many things to do - so many places to go. Time went by so fast. Where did my life  go? I chose glitter over thy light. Oh, but my neighbor is always kind and generous. She   has always shared with me. I know she will give me oil to light my way.

4th Woman Oh dear friend, I cannot give you my light, I would if I could just  as I've loaned you clothes, money, food, other fine things, gave you good times. If only you   had developed good habits and clean thoughts; had respect and honor for all people; was  honest in thought, word, and action; and had learned to pray. But you see, good fried, you must light your own way to God we cannot live on borrowed light.

5th Woman My family and friends wanted to please me. They pampered me at  home, at school, in all of life. Doors were opened to me! But now, I stand before this closed door. I cannot pound on it, or scream and yell my fury at it. All the forces of my   personality and the persuasion of my tongue will not open this door for me. Love, compassion and kindness would have opened it, I missed all these because I was so intent that life should sever ME. It's too late, I know now that I should have been the servant of life.

6th Woman Oh, how glad I am that I set goals and had good values for myself so long ago. My lamp is full! I realized very young the importance of choices that each choice was an eternal choice with an eternal consequence. Life clamors at us with so many choices-some good, some bad, and sometimes choices between good and good. How important it is to weight each choice in the light or its eternal consequences. I thought a great deal   about oil for my lamp. It was not an easy task to keep this lamp filled with oil and be prepared. I used to think of it in terms of sacrifice-but when the blessings of heaven and  earth are ours? Sacrifice? When the Lord has promised us all that he hath? Sacrifice? When the Father sacrificed his only son for us? How short, how sweet, how good life was. How  bright the light of the Master!

7th Woman I thought I was lighting my lamp. I have many good friends. I have  a clean house. My family was well cared for. I prepared good meals that took all of my time.   I didn't have time to improve my talents. I didn't have time to sing in the choir. I didn't  have time to accept church callings. I didn't even have time to attend all of my meetings.  Besides, sometimes I was too tired, or didn't feel so great, and anyway, I did need  some time for myself. My children did not enjoy church that much and I didn't believe in  forcing them to go. I believed in letting them make up their own minds when they were older.   For some reason they didn't go on missions, or even marry in the temple but someday, I  thought. Someday, I hoped. They have all drifted away here and there. Now, here I stand alone  without a light.

8th Woman I don't know why my lamp is full. I did so little. I had so few  talents, but when the bishop asked me to serve, I was willing even though it was just a small   job. I tried to remember that when I was in the service of my fellow being, I was serving God.  I did help an inactive sister to become active again. I served as a class president in my  growing up years. Not always wanting to perform the mundane tasks but doing so  remembering that from little things grow big things. Attending seminary and my church meetings,  giving back to the Lord one-tenth of what he gave to me, preparing myself for the ultimate goal  temple marriage! As I continued on life's road, I realized my temple marriage, my  eternal family was not the end, but a new beginning. And now my lamp is full! Why? Do you  suppose it could be just those little, seemingly unimportant acts of obedience?

9th Woman I have been such a foolish and unwise woman! I never filled my lamp with oil because I thought so little of oil. I had much of the world's goods: cars,  boats, TV's, VCR's, shoes and all the fashionable and stylish, name-brand clothes plus the   finer clothes and accessories, the latest cars, jewelry, vacations at the hot spots, and  all the finer things. My body was fed with the richest of foods, but my spirit hungered and  thirsted and went starving through life. I have wasted my life and now I stand at this  closed door with an unlighted lamp. Can I be forgiven-a foolish woman with an empty lamp?

10th Woman How happy I am to be within! My lamp is full! But how? Why? What  did I do? I did try to make my family life better. I tried to refrain from, swearing,   gossiping, and criticizing others. I did strive to obey the laws of the land and the laws of  God, supporting and honoring the priesthood. I shared my earthly gains with  others and my Heavenly Father. I obeyed the Word of Wisdom and was morally clean. I loved  my Savior and prayed often to set close to Him. I asked for forgiveness and expressed my  appreciation for my blessings. How grateful I am that I tried to follow the counsel of those  in authority. How happy I am to be within this door with the Bridegroom. My Savior!

Narrator #4 The Lord said unto us: "I will also be your light; I will prepare   the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; ye shall know that it is  by me that ye are led" (1 Nephi 17:13).The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter Day Saints has given us guidance and counsel that we might clearly see Jesus  Christ as our light.

The purpose of the Young Women's program is to support and assist each family in preparing their young women to realize her spiritual identity as a daughter of God and  aid in her spiritual direction, that she might gain oil in her lamp and be prepared on  the day of His coming.

(Personalize the last paragraph to suit your event)

Firesides