Clay in the Potters Hands. What can pottery teach us about becoming more like our Savior?

I have given a presentation about becoming clay in the masters hands to Young Women's groups and Relief Society Sisters.  I love the parallels between one of my favorite art forms and the gospel.  The following is what I have learned from clay.

Clay in the Potters Hands

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter;

I am the clay.

Mould me and make me

After Thy will,

While I am waiting,

Yielded and still.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 382
Text: Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934
Music: George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945 

I would like to teach you about turning your life over to Christ.  How can we become all the Savior and our Heavenly Father want us to become?  Here are some ways I’ve learned through pottery.

Wedge the Clay- Wedging is the preparation to get the clay ready to become a pot.

Clay becomes more pliable.

Ensures a uniform consistency.

Removes air pockets as well as any debris.

In life we experience challenges.  Wedging the clay is not intended to destroy, but to have a refining capacity. We have trails and weaknesses.  As we are pushed, molded, banged and kneaded through life, we become more pliable.  We have the sharp hard edges removed.  As we are symbolically wedged we can increase in perspective and wisdom.  Sometimes we think if we are doing what is right and obey the commandments, God will protect us from all discomfort and distress.  This is a ploy of Satan.  Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  D&C 136  31 My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.

Sometimes we have air pockets in our lives.  Air pockets could be those empty times in our day when we are not choosing the best use of time.  Sometimes we get sucked into the fluff of life.

Wedging the clay helps us find debris that needs to be removed.  This could be sins and mistakes we have committed and it can be the sins committed against us.  We must be cleansed if we are to become a vessel that will be able to accept the Lord’s will.  Christ is the master potter.  He suffered for all the debris that must be removed if we are to become what He intends for us to become.  Sometimes the clay is harder in one spot than in another.  He can disperse those hard spots so they don’t feel so prevalent.  Then they become part of the finished product.  It is through this kneading that we can have a change of heart.  We are here to become more like our Savior.  Sometimes we are tempted with lies that we can’t change, or the lie of why can’t you just accept me for who I am.  Why can’t I just be me?  Well you can, but you can be more.  This is a great lump of clay, but it can become so much more.

Centering the clay- In the song I told you at the first, It says we need to be yielded and still.  Centering the clay is the perfect example of being yielded and still.  It is a critical step in creating a pot and is the foundation of the pot.  The clay must be centered and still to its very core.  There can be no deviation.  The pot is only as true and as strong as the centering.  This is one of the hardest parts of pottery to master.

We must center on Christ.  It is critical and is the foundation of our life.  We are only as true and as strong as we are centered on Christ.  In a world full of evil and distractions it is challenging to stay perfectly centered.  But it is worth the effort.  

Water is a critical element to creating a pot.  Water brings the clay to life.  As water is essential to the pot, the Savior and his teachings (living water) are essential for eternal life.  I need water all the time during the process of creating a pot.  In life we need the scriptures  and the teachings of the prophets and apostles every day to become the vessel the Lord wants us to become.

Opening- Opening up the center of the clay can be a tricky task.  If you do not manage to keep your hands totally still, the hole in the center will wobble around, even though the outside of the clay appears to still be centered.  If you are rushed the pot may be doomed.

In our lives, if we want to become a beautiful work of art and all the Master Potter intended for us, we have to open our heart to the Him.  “When we open ourselves to the Spirit, we learn God’s way and feel His will.” Neil Marriot  The sacrament is a great time to do this each week.  We have the opportunity to be open and receptive.  It is a time when we are still.  Free from electronics and the cares of the world.  We need quiet moments when we can do this.  If we are rushed we could doom our attempts to open ourselves to the Savior.

Compress the bottom of the pot- You use a tool called a wooden rib to compress and strengthen the clay.  Compression is necessary to avoid cracking during the firing process.  This is an easy step to forget, but the pot could be ruined with a crack.

We need tools in our lives like scriptures, conference talks and temple attendance to strengthen our spirits against the fiery attacks of the adversary so we don’t crack.  This is easy to forget in a busy life.  But neglecting it can leave us vulnerable to cracks.

Lift the walls- We must have opposition in all things. Using both hands, start at the base of the pot.  Start lifting your hands all the way to the top of the pot.  After each pull, set your rim.  Do this several times until you reach the desired thickness.  I love this step.  It’s so fun to watch the pot take shape.  But you need the opposition of both hands pushing against each other to create lift.  This is also true in life.  We cannot know what happiness is if we haven’t felt pain.  But our aim is to be happy.  

What lifts us?  What makes you happy?  President Uchtdorf said in the General Women’s Conference.  “… God didn’t design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! So if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life. And sure enough, the world will become brighter. No, it doesn’t happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? …

We can also lift others.  

President Kimball said.  God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership in a community of believers as an enclave of disciples. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about how important it is to “… succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C 81:5.) So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds! …

After each pull of the walls secure the rim.- gently reshape the rim of the pot with your fingers after each pull.

Each week we have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament.  We can evaluate our week and repent of the sins we need to repent of.  We can reshape our lives through the sacrament.

Collar top portion of cylinder in and even the rim-The top often becomes uneven and can be cut off at any time, but especially after the walls are finished.  Sometimes we need a bit of help to get our pot back in shape.  Our tool can be the bishop.  As we confess our sins to him, we can cut off the part of our life that is causing us to be off center.  We can become reshaped through repentance.

Shaping - Push inside of cylinder out while the outside hand gently supports clay.

As you form the pot, focus is on the inside of the pot.  The potter does not worry so much about the outside of the pot as the shape is formed.  The form of the interior, determines the shape of the exterior.

How often are we more worried about the exterior of our pot? Wouldn’t it be better if we allow our interior to determine our exterior?  If we are centered on Christ we will treat our exterior like a temple.

Failure-Not all pots obtain their desired shape the first time!  Sometimes the clay seems to have a mind of its own.  What makes clay snap?  When it won’t yield to the potter. When this happens the vessel must be collapsed, dried out and the process starts again. The clay is still precious.  It never loses its worth.  It just needs to go through the process again.

So how does agency fit into this?  A good potter will never force the clay.  He will not move the clay faster than it is capable of enduring.  He will follow the tendencies of the clay and create a different vessel every time.

Firing-After the pot is dried and trimmed it is ready for the kiln.  As a kiln is firing up and cooling down, the changes in temperature make some profound changes in the clay. The clay goes from this soft, totally fragile substance to one which is rock-hard, impervious to water, wind, and time.

We will also go through a complete change. We will all be resurrected.  The Resurrection consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided.  We will become eternal beings.