Whose Shoes I Am Not Worthy To Unloose

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Luke 3:16). John said this to illustrate how much higher above him Jesus Christ was, that he was so inferior to his Master that he shouldn't even be allowed to help Him take His shoes off. But I want to point out another possible meaning. One of the most common examples used to illustrate empathy is the phrase "learn to walk a mile in another man or woman's shoes." What if John wasn't referring to removing his Master's shoes from off of His feet, but rather, John was referring to removing Jesus's shoes from off of his (John's) own feet? The Savior does want us to follow in His footsteps, and what better way to do that than by wearing His shoes? "Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you" (D&C 27:16). The Savior gave John the Baptist His shoes to wear, so that his feet might be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. And John did not consider himself worthy to unloose those shoes. He put his faith in the Lord, and though those shoes would lead Him into prison and to death, he humbly kept the shoes on and walked the path that was set before Him. It will not always be easy walking a mile in Christ's shoes, but if we can follow the example of John the Baptist and consider ourselves unworthy to unloose our Savior's shoes before He deems it necessary, then we will be a witness to and a collaborator in a marvelous work and a wonder.