Parable of Pinocchio

I know my mind can sometimes be really strange. I find connections to things that don't always work out. But here is a thought I've had this past week...

While in AZ for 3 weeks, my nephew Mason was in love with Pinocchio. We read the book every day (sometimes several times) and even went to see it performed at a Children's Theater. With that on my mind, I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants this week and came across a scripture about hearkening to the voice of the Spirit (D&C 84:46). Out of these things, I created the "Parable of Pinocchio."

Gepetto was the master creator. He created this beautiful wooden puppet, Pinocchio. He saw the potential of this little puppet and wanted it to become real. He wanted Pinocchio to be his son.
Heavenly Father is the master creator. He created each of us. He saw the potential in each of us and wanted us to be His children. He wants us to return home.

In order for Pinocchio to become a real boy, he had to lose his strings. He had to do good things and be a good boy in order to become a real boy.
In order for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father, we need to be good people. We need to serve and love and obey. We aren't puppets being told what to do and where to go. We lost our "strings." We have agency and can do as we choose.

Jiminy Cricket was given to Pinocchio to act as his conscience. He would help Pinocchio know right from wrong. When Pinocchio did not listen to Jiminy Cricket, he got into trouble.
We are given the Holy Ghost to help us know right from wrong. When we do not listen to the Holy Ghost, we get into trouble.

At times, Pinocchio got stuck. He was in a cage in Stromboli's puppet theater. He went to "Pleasure Island" and almost turned into a donkey. He got very close to not becoming a real boy. However, each time, he was able to fix his problems. With the help of the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket, he could be made whole again.
We sometimes get ourselves stuck with decisions we make. We entangle ourselves in Satan's chains. We try to have fun with the world when we are actually turning ourselves into things we don't want to be. However, it is possible to repent and be made whole again. Through Jesus Christ and His atonement, we can be made clean.

In the end, Pinocchio helped save Gepetto. He was made a real boy. He lived with Gepetto happily ever after.
While we are not here to save Heavenly Father, we are here to serve those around us. As we do good deeds and draw closer to Heavenly Father, we will be able to return to live with Him. We will be made "real." And we will live with our Heavenly Father happily ever after.

I know, kind of a stretch, but I'm grateful for Walt Disney for coming up with such wholesome stories to share. :)