"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Matthew 13:18-23
I found it interesting while reading this today that one of the big differences here is understanding, specifically mentioned in verses 19 and 23, or the beginning and end of the excerpt above. There are a lot of things that can get in the way of our acceptance and committment to the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, but understanding doesn't have to be one of them. If we want to understand, we can study and also ask God, and he will help us. He gave wisdom to Joseph Smith, and he offers it to us all.
Today, let's apply our hearts to understanding "the word of the kingdom." We can start with the footnotes available online (LINK if you want to look up today's excerpt). There are study helps and many related materials there, and we can also pray, and God will help us understand a principle in our everyday life. Not always immediately, but over time, he'll help us know it so well that it will soak in and become part of who we are. Let's work to keep the word alive in our hearts.
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