Following the Example of Jesus Christ (Howard W. Hunter Chapter 24)

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter Chapter 24

Q When was a time you felt deeply committed to following the example of Jesus Christ? Why do you think you felt this way?

From the Life of Howard W. Hunter

Throughout his ministry, President Hunter lovingly encouraged Church members to follow the Savior’s example. In his first statement as President of the Church, he said: "I would invite all members of the Church to live with ever more attention to the life and example of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the love and hope and compassion He displayed.

“I pray that we might treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness. We do have high expectations of one another, and all can improve. Our world cries out for more disciplined living of the commandments of God. But the way we are to encourage that, as the Lord told the Prophet Joseph in the wintry depths of Liberty Jail, is ‘by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; … without hypocrisy, and without guile’ (D&C 121:41–42).”

Jesus Christ set the perfect example for us.

The Lord [repeatedly] demonstrated his love and concern for the individual. In the press of a multitude, he sensed the singular touch of a woman who sought relief for an ailment from which she had suffered for some twelve years. (See Luke 8:43–48.) On another occasion, he saw beyond the narrowly focused prejudice of a condemning crowd and the sin of her who stood accused. Perhaps sensing her willingness to repent, Christ chose to see the worth of the individual and sent her forth to sin no more. (See John 8:1–11.) On another occasion, “he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.” (3 Ne. 17:21; italics added.)

As the trials of Gethsemane and Calvary fast approached, with much weighing heavily upon his mind, the Savior took time to notice the widow casting in her mite. (See Mark 12:41–44.) Similarly, his gaze took in the small-statured Zacchaeus who, unable to see because of the size of those congregating around the Savior, had climbed a sycomore tree for a view of the Son of God. (See Luke 19:1–5.) While hanging in agony upon the cross, he overlooked his own suffering and reached out in caring concern to the weeping woman who had given him life. (See John 19:25–27.)

What a marvelous example for us to follow! Even in the midst of great personal sorrow and pain, our Exemplar reached out to bless others. … His was not a life focused on the things he did not have. It was a life of reaching out in service to others.

Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and walks of life.

One of the most important questions ever asked to mortal men was asked by the Son of God himself, the Savior of the world. To a group of disciples in the New World, a group anxious to be taught by him and even more anxious because he would soon be leaving them, he asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” Then in the same breath he gave this answer: “Even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27)....

Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide. We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” and then be more courageous to act upon the answer. We must follow Christ, in the best sense of that word. We must be about his work as he was about his Father’s. We should try to be like him, even as the Primary children sing, “Try, try, try” (Children’s Songbook, p. 55). To the extent that our mortal powers permit, we should make every effort to become like Christ—the one perfect and sinless example this world has ever seen....

Seek opportunities for service. Don’t be overly concerned with status. Do you recall the counsel of the Savior regarding those who seek the “chief seats” or the “uppermost rooms”? “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:6, 11.) It is important to be appreciated. But our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, not status. The faithful visiting teacher, who quietly goes about her work month after month, is just as important to the work of the Lord as those who occupy what some see as more prominent positions in the Church. Visibility does not equate to value....

If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take his teachings and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and belief. Whether at home or in the marketplace, whether at school or long after school is behind us, whether we are acting totally alone or in concert with a host of other people, our course will be clear and our standards will be obvious. We will have determined, as the prophet Alma said, “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death.” (Mosiah 18:9.)

Q What can we do to renew or sustain our commitment to following the example of Jesus Christ?

We should make room for Christ.

On that night in Bethlehem there was no room for him in the inn, and this was not the only time during the thirty-three years of his sojourn in mortality that there was no room for him. Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem to slay the children. There was no room for Jesus in the domain of Herod, so his parents took him to Egypt. During his ministry, there were many who made no room for his teachings—no room for the gospel he taught. There was no room for his miracles, for his blessings, no room for the divine truths he spoke, no room for his love or faith. He said to them, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).

Even in our day, although two thousand years have passed, there are many who say the same thing that was said on that night in Bethlehem. “There is no room, no room” (see Luke 2:7). We make room for the gifts, but sometimes no room is made for the giver. We have room for the commercialism of Christmas and even pleasure-seeking on the Sabbath day, but there are times when there is not room for worship. Our thoughts are filled with other things—there is no room.

While it will be a beautiful sight to see the lights of Christmas … , it is more important to have human lives illuminated by an acceptance of him who is the light of the world [see Alma 38:9; D&C 10:70]. Truly we should hold him up as our guide and exemplar.

On the eve of his birth, angels sang, “And on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). If men would follow his example, it would be a world of peace and love toward all men.

What is our responsibility today as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? It is to see that our individual lives reflect in word and deed the gospel as taught by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All that we do and say should be patterned after the example of the one sinless person to walk the earth, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.

Conclusion

"One of the most popular and attractive philosophies of men is to live life your own way, do your own thing, be yourself, don’t let others tell you what to do. But the Lord said, “I am the way.” He said, “Follow me.” He said, “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”

"Don’t think you can’t. We might think we can’t really follow Him because the standard of His life is so astonishingly high as to seem unreachable.... Don’t ever believe that. While the standard of the Lord is the highest, don’t ever think it is only reachable by a select few who are most able....

"No institution, plan, program, or system ever conceived by men has access to the redeeming and transforming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, while the Lord’s invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by everyone, not because we are able, but because He is, and because He can make us able too....

"Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Everything depends on that.... To that end, Jesus Christ entered a garden called Gethsemane, where He overcame sin for us.... [that] you and I may be forgiven of our sins [and] that we may be endowed with His power.... What then shall we do? We will “take upon [us] the name of [the] Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]; that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us].” Everything depends on that." (Lawrence E. Corbridge, General Conference October 2008).

Come Unto Christ

Source

(Sacrament Meeting Talk)

Each of us carry heavy burdens and have experienced the wounds of sin, and by making an atonement for us, Jesus Christ has experienced and overcome them all. The Prophet Alma testified of Christ:

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.... And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people;

"And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy... that he may know... how to succor his people according to their infirmities....

 "The Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me" (Alma 7:11-13).

How did Alma gain this personal testimony?

How did he come to be able to testify that Jesus Christ is "is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness" and "that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 7:14, 36:3)?

Alma came to Christ.

He recounted, "The Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people....

"And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul." (Alma 38:7-8).

"Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

"And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions" (Alma 36:24, 27).

Alma came to Christ. Alma came to Christ and he stayed by Christ. And as a result he was redeemed, transformed, comforted, and strengthened.

Jesus invites us to come unto Him.

He said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

He said "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

He said "Come unto me, and drink. [And] whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 7:37, John 4:14).

He said "Turn... from all your wickedness... and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel" (3 Nephi 30:2).

He said "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27).

He said "[Come] unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you" (3 Nephi 9:13).

Sister Carole M. Stephens testified: "The Savior, the Master Healer, has the power to change our hearts and give us permanent relief from the sorrow caused by our own sin.... The Master Healer can comfort and strengthen us when we experience pain because of the unrighteous actions of others.... The Master Healer can comfort and sustain us as we experience painful “realities of mortality,” such as disaster, mental illness, disease, chronic pain, and death.....

"I testify that—

"You don’t have to continue to carry the burden of sorrow caused by sin—alone.

"You don’t have to carry the pain caused by the unrighteous actions of others—alone.

"You don’t have to experience the painful realities of mortality—alone" (Carole M. Stephens, October 2016 General Conference).

Jesus invites us to come unto Him and stay by Him to partake of the full blessings of His atonement.

I testify that the atonement of Jesus Christ can bless every righteous aspect of our lives now and throughout eternity.

As we come unto Christ with all of our sins, temptations, and addictions, we will find forgiveness, a change of heart, healing, self-control, and freedom through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ with all of our burdens, sorrows, losses, and suffering we will find empathy, comfort, and healing through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ with all of our regrets, disappointments, troubles, and despair, we will find comfort, hope, wisdom, and guidance through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ with all of our doubts, complaints, resentments, and negativity, we will find faith, love, hope, gratitude, wisdom, and peace through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ with all of our pride, laziness, and fatigue, we will find love, humility, strength, and fulfillment through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ will all of our imperfections, weaknesses, and character flaws, we will be perfected in Him and become like Him through the power of His atonement.

As we come unto Christ, some blessings will come to us now. Some will come in time. Other blessings will come in eternity. But they will come as we come unto Christ and stay by Him.

Coming unto Christ does not mean that we will be free of trials and temptations.

As Elder Robert D. Hales testified " Each of us must go through certain experiences to become more like our Savior. In the school of mortality, the tutor is often pain and tribulation, but the lessons are meant to refine and bless us and strengthen us, not to destroy us" (Robert D. Hales, April 2003 General Conference).

Bruce C. Hafen encouraged: "So if you have problems in your life, don’t assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life’s purpose.

"As we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you’re seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you’re moving nearer to God, not farther away" (Bruce C. Hafen, April 2004 General Conference).

As we come unto Christ we will not be left to our own efforts to grow and overcome.

As Bruce C. Hafen testified, "Because of the Atonement we can learn from our experiences without being condemned by them. And receiving the Atonement, as Adam and Eve did, is not just a doctrine about erasing black marks; it is the core doctrine that allows human development.

"Thus, Christ's sacrifice didn't just [erase their choices and] return them to an Eden of innocence. That would be a story with no plot and no character growth. Rather, they left the garden holding on to each other and [moved] forward... into the world in which we now live" (Bruce C. Hafen, September 2015 Ensign).

I'll insert here my testimony: being forgiven of our sins does not necessarily erase the full consequences of our actions, but as we come unto Christ he can consecrate those consequences for our gain.

Elder Hafen continues: "The Savior’s grace [is extended] both during and “after all we can do.” .... We grow in two ways—removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers. The Savior’s grace blesses both parts—if we do our part.

"First and repeatedly we must uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices.... But being forgiven is only part of our growth. We are not just paying a debt. Our purpose is to become celestial beings.... We must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities....

"Even a tree of life can take root in this heart-garden, bearing fruit so sweet that it lightens all our burdens “through the joy of his Son.” .... We need grace both to overcome sinful weeds and to grow divine flowers. We can do neither one fully by ourselves. (Bruce C. Hafen, April 2004 General Conference).

So how do we come unto Christ and receive all of the blessings of His atonement? How can we be redeemed, strengthened, transformed, and even healed by Him?

We come unto Christ by living His Gospel which He mercifully restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.

Specifically, as we grow and exercise our faith, and all of the belief, trust, and commitment to obedience that goes with this principle, we come unto Christ and partake more fully of the blessings of His atonement.

Jesus taught, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost....

"Whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved" (3 Nephi 9:20, 22).

As we repent, and seek to always have a humble, teachable, submissive, and repentant heart, we come unto Christ and partake more fully of the blessings of His atonement.

As we make and keep covenants through the power of the restored priesthood to follow the example of Jesus Christ, we come unto Christ and partake more fully of the blessings of His atonement.

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

As we invite the Holy Ghost in our lives and follow His promptings, we "open the door" and come unto Christ and partake more fully of the blessings of His atonement.

As we endure to the end by consistently seeking to grow and exercise our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and receive the Holy Ghost, we stay by Christ and partake more fully of the blessings of His atonement.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, "Following [the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ opens up to us], a splendor of connections to Christ:... prayer and fasting and meditation upon His purposes, savoring the scriptures, giving service to others, “succor[ing] the weak, lift[ing] up the hands which hang down, …

strengthen[ing] the feeble knees.”

"Above all else, loving with “the pure love of Christ,”.... Soon, with that kind of love, we realize our days hold scores of thoroughfares leading to the Master and that every time we reach out, however feebly, for Him, we discover He has been anxiously trying to reach us. " (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2006 General Conference).

I bear testimony of what Elder Hafen said: "The Savior’s grace [is extended] both during and “after all we can do.”" Christ will help us to live His gospel. He will help us to remove negative weeds of sin and bad choices. He will help us to grow flowers of christlike attributes.

We receive this help, "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" by consistently striving to live His Gospel: by coming to Christ and staying by Him (2 Nephi 28:30).

Elder Holland gives us this invitation: "My desire... is for all of us... to have more straightforward personal experience with the Savior’s example.

"Sometimes we seek heaven too obliquely, focusing on programs or history or the experience of others. Those are important but not as important as personal experience, true discipleship, and the strength that comes from experiencing firsthand the majesty of His touch".

"I think... of that night when Christ rushed to the aid of His frightened disciples, walking as He did on the water to get to them, calling out, “It is I; be not afraid.” Peter exclaimed, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Christ’s answer to him was as it always is every time: “Come,” He said....

"Peter sprang over the vessel’s side and into the troubled waters. While his eyes were fixed upon the Lord, the wind could toss his hair and the spray could drench his robes, but all was well—he was coming to Christ.

"It was only when his faith wavered and fear took control, only when he removed his glance from the Master to look at the furious waves and the ominous black gulf beneath, only then did he begin to sink into the sea. In newer terror he cried out, “Lord, save me.”" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2006 General Conference).

Let us come unto Christ by living His restored gospel. Let us choose to focus on Him and the blessings of His atonement instead of being distracted by the opinions, doubts, and cares of this world.

Let us follow the example of Nephi when he said, "We are made alive in Christ because of our faith.... And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies,

"that our children [and our friends and our neighbors] may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins [and all of the blessings of the atonement].... That [they] may... look forward unto that life which is in Christ" (2 Nephi 25:25-27).

Conclusion

I bear my testimony of Jesus Christ. “I cannot comprehend [my Savior’s] power, His majesty, His perfections. But I do understand something of His love, His compassion, His mercy.

"There is no burden He cannot lift.  There is no heart He cannot purify and fill with joy. There is no life He cannot cleanse and restore when one is obedient to His teachings” (Richard G. Scott, October 1988 General Conference).