Ten young women went to a wedding. They waited at the door for the bridegroom. The bridegroom was the man getting married. The bridegroom would let them in. No one knew when the bridegroom would come to open the door.

Matthew 25:1, 13

The ten women had lamps. The lamps burned oil to make light. Five of the women were wise. They had oil in their lamps. They also had more oil with them.

Matthew 25:2, 4

The other five women were not wise. They had only the oil that was in their lamps.

Matthew 25:3

The bridegroom did not come for a long time. All the oil in the lamps was gone. The five wise women put more oil in their lamps. The other five women had to go buy more oil.

Matthew 25:5–9

While they were gone, the bridegroom came. He let the five wise women in the door. They went to the wedding.

Matthew 25:10

The other five women came back. The door was closed. They could not go to the wedding.

Matthew 25:11–13

Jesus told this story to help members of the Church. Jesus is like the bridegroom. Jesus will come to earth again. His coming will be like the wedding. The members of the Church are like the ten women. Some members of the Church will be like the wise women. They will be ready for Jesus to come. They will be able to be with the Savior. Other members will be like the five women who needed more oil. They will not be ready when the Savior comes. They will not be able to go with the Savior. Wise members of the Church obey God’s commandments. They will be ready when Jesus comes again.

DNTC, 1:684