Principles for Meaningful Gospel Study

Source

(Sacrament Meeting Talk)

In this most recent General Conference a new home-centered, church supported curriculum was announced to begin in 2019. As part of this new curriculum, church will be shortened to 2 hours to give us more time to study the gospel at home.

Changes to Family Home Evening were also announced: “Members are encouraged to hold, home evening and to study the gospel at home on Sunday—or at other times as individuals and families choose. A family activity night could be held on Monday or at other times. To this end, leaders should continue to keep Monday evenings free from Church meetings and activities.”[1]

Accompanying these changes is the invitation to improve our personal and family gospel study. As you consider this invitation from a living prophet of God, I invite you to remember why God calls prophets and how blessed we are to have their counsel.

Jesus Christ gives apostles and prophets “For the perfecting of the saints, … for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. … That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the… cunning craftiness [of men], whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”[2]

Jesus said, “What I the Lord have spoken… whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”[3]

He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.”[4]

He said, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”[5]

The prophet Nephi testified: “Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”[6]

We hear the voice of Christ in our day in the words of His ancient and modern prophets and apostles as recorded in the scriptures and in General Conference. Through their words we learn how to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and access the blessings of His Atonement.

As you act on the prophetic invitation to improve your personal and family gospel study you will receive more of the promised blessings that come from following the words of Christ. You will also receive blessings unique to following the counsel of God’s living prophet.

You and your family will be strengthened. You will have more of the love and peace of God in your life. You will receive more of the guidance and strength needed to stay on the path and overcome temptation. You will come to know Christ better and become more like Him.

To support us in improving our personal and family gospel study, the Church has provided a new resource: Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Your Bishopric is working to deliver a copy of this manual to every household.

Next year we will focus on studying the life of Christ and His teachings to the early church as found the New Testament. Each section in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families includes ideas to enhance personal and family gospel study for the chapters in the New Testament being studied that week.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families contains many principles to make your personal and family gospel study more meaningful. I would like to share three of these with you today.

Principle # 1: Gospel study becomes more meaningful when we focus on inviting the Holy Ghost

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families invites us to focus on inviting the Holy Ghost when we study the gospel. This is different from studying the gospel just to learn something new. While learning new information can help to invite the Holy Ghost, by focusing solely on learning new factoids we can miss opportunities to invite the Holy Ghost through pondering and applying something we’ve already heard before.

Elder Holland recounted “A story President Packer told the Quorum of the Twelve some years ago. He talked about a severe winter in Utah when the snow was excessive and … the deer herds … [were driven] out of their natural habitat, and well-meaning … [people] tried to respond by feeding those deer to get them through the crisis of the winter. They brought in hay and dumped it everywhere. …

“Later an immense number of those deer were found dead. The people who handled those animals afterward said that their stomachs were full of hay, but they had starved to death. They had been fed, but they had not been nourished.”[7]

To be truly nourished, revitalized, and changed by our gospel study we must seek to invite the Holy Ghost. The blessings of the Atonement of Christ are commonly delivered by the Holy Ghost: blessings of healing, cleansing, strength, empowerment, comfort, joy, peace, hope, guidance, character growth, and so forth.

Having the Spirit with us means that God accepts us and that we are successfully traveling on the path that leads to living with Him and exaltation. Thus getting and keeping the Holy Ghost in our lives is essential.

Gospel study can be one of the ways we invite the Holy Ghost to be with us. To invite the Holy Ghost as we study the gospel we focus on:

·         Jesus Christ and His Atonement

·         Growing and exercising our faith

·         Becoming more like Christ through repentance and making and keeping covenants

·         Pondering how to apply what we are studying and acting on promptings received from the Spirit.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families focuses on these things. Using this resource will help us focus on inviting the Holy Ghost which will help us have more meaningful gospel study.

Principle # 2: Gospel study becomes more meaningful when we ask inspired questions

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families invites us to ask inspired questions as we study the gospel. Elder Bendar of the quorum of the twelve apostles has taught that “inspired questions lead to inspired answers.”[8]

Asking inspired questions invites the Holy Ghost to help us to think more deeply and personally about the gospel, to identify how we can apply the gospel, to motivate us to act, to strengthen our testimonies, to focus on what matters most, and to recognize and be more grateful for the blessings we have received.

Unfortunately, not all questions are inspired questions. Uninspired questions do not lead to inspired answers from the Holy Ghost.

So what how can we tell the difference between an inspired and uninspired question? The key is in the attributes the question reflects. Inspired questions reflect positive attributes that build, such as faith, humility, love, gratitude, and testimony. On the other hand, uninspired questions reflect negative attributes that do not build, such as pride, negativity, distrust, and doubt.

The Lord has said, “That which doth not edify [or build up[9]] is not of God.”[10]

If I ask a question like, “Does my wife not love me anymore?”, I can tell that it is an uninspired question because it reflects negativity and does not build. Inherit in the question is a focusing bias that would lead me to give more weight to negative answers, while discounting contrary positive experiences.

When facing an uninspired question, we would do well to change it into an inspired question so we can be taught by the Holy Ghost instead of some other less inspired, less knowledgeable, less trustworthy source.

We can pray for the Lord’s help to change an uninspired question into an inspired one. We can humble ourselves before the Lord and ask Him what question He would have us ask. The Holy Ghost will then bring to our minds the inspired question we should be pondering and lead us to inspired answers.

Going back to the uninspired question, “Does my wife not love me anymore?”, I should seek the Lord’s help to change it into an inspired question like “How can I strengthen my marriage?” or “How can I show my wife that I love her?” These questions reflect love and a commitment to build. Asking inspired questions like these lead to opportunities to receive inspired answer through the Holy Ghost.

While it can take some effort to craft an inspired question, fortunately Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families is filled with them. Let me share one example accompanying the story of Joseph being directed by the Lord to protect Jesus and his family by taking them into Egypt:

“Parents can receive revelation to protect their families. … Ponder experiences when you have felt God’s guidance in protecting you and your family or loved ones. Consider sharing these experiences with others. What can you do to receive such guidance in the future?”[11]

Pondering this inspired question resulted in a meaningful, revelatory experience for me. I know that as we ask the inspired questions found in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, we will be led to inspired answers and our gospel study will become more meaningful. 

Principle # 3: Gospel study becomes more meaningful when we share our experiences

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families invites us to share our gospel study experiences with others. We can share meaningful scriptures, inspired questions, inspired answers, promptings we receive, how we acted on what we studied, blessings we have received, our testimony, and so forth.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families contains prompts for sharing our gospel study experiences in family settings. Our families will grow closer together and become stronger as we share experiences with each other.

Our circumstance may be such that we do not have a family that we can share our gospel study experiences with. Even in those situations, we still have many opportunities to share our gospel study experiences and enrich not only our own gospel study, but to also bless the lives of others.

Sunday School teachers are being instructed to invite us to share our gospel study experiences each week in Sunday School. We can take advantage of this opportunity to share.

We could consider forming a study group that meets regularly to study the gospel outside of church. We could invite others to study with us, especially those who do not have a family that they can share their gospel study experiences with.

A few years ago I felt limited in my ability to share my gospel experiences with others. So I fasted and prayed to know how I could better share the gospel in my circumstance. A simple prompting came: start a blog and use it to share the gospel.

I acted on this prompting and shared blog posts on social media. I was humbled as this prompting led to many meaningful discussions that not only strengthened the faith of others, but added a wonderful dimension to my gospel study.

So I would invite you to pray and seek your own revelation for how you can share your gospel study experiences with others. I know the Lord will guide you to know what to do. I know that sharing your gospel study experiences with others will bless their lives and add meaning to your gospel study.

Conclusion

I invite you to take the prophets challenge to make your personal and family gospel study more meaningful. Your gospel study will become more meaningful as you use Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families and focus on inviting the Holy Ghost, asking inspired questions, and sharing your gospel study experiences with others.

President Nelson, our living prophet, promised: “The new home-centered, Church-supported... curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family … transform[s] their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.”[12]

I bear my testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. The work of salvation undertaken by this Church is the work of Jesus Christ and is done with His authority and guidance.

“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.”[13]

---

[1] Frequently Asked Questions: October 6, 2018, https://www.lds.org/study/manual/frequently-asked-questions-october-6-2018/faq-october-6-2018?lang=eng, accessed 11/16/2018

[2] Ephesians 2:20, 4:12-14

[3] D&C 1:38

[4] John 10:27-28

[5] D&C 19:23

[6] 1 Nephi 15:24

[7] Jeffrey R. Holland, June 2007 Ensign

[8] David A. Bednar, Face to Face with Elder and Sister Bednar, https://www.lds.org/youth/article/face-to-face-with-elder-and-sister-bednar?lang=eng, accessed 11/16/2018

[9] http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/edify, accessed 11/16/18

[10] D&C 50:23

[11] Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families

[12] Russell M. Nelson, October 2018 General Conference

[13] Richard G. Scott, October 1988 General Conference

The Restoration of the Gospel—The Dawning of a Brighter Day (Gordon B. Hinckley Chapter 1)

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley Chapter 1

From the Life of Gordon B. Hinckley

1. Throughout his life, President Gordon B. Hinckley fostered a deep respect for the people and places involved in the restoration of the gospel. He felt special gratitude for Joseph Smith and his role in the Restoration, and he spoke of “an ever-growing compulsion to bear testimony of the divinity of the Lord and of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” ....

2. At the First Presidency Christmas devotional on December 3, 2000, he shared this personal experience from a visit to the Sacred Grove:

3. “Some years ago I was assigned to the Rochester New York Stake conference. On Saturday I said to the brethren who were with me, ‘Let us get up early in the morning, early Sunday morning, and go to the Sacred Grove before the conference.’ They all agreed. Accordingly, very early on that spring Sabbath, the mission president, the stake president, the regional representative, and I went out to Palmyra and walked into the grove. No one else was there. It was peaceful and beautiful. It had rained during the night. Tiny new leaves were upon the trees.

4. “We spoke quietly one to another. We knelt upon the damp ground and prayed. We did not hear an audible voice. We did not see a vision. But in an indefinable way we were told in our minds, each of us, that yes, it happened here just as Joseph said it happened. It was here that God our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, appeared to the 14-year-old boy and spoke with him. Their matchless light rested upon him, and he was instructed in what he should do.

5. “That sublime occasion, the First Vision, parted the curtains through which came the restoration to earth of the Church of Christ. It came out of the wilderness of darkness, out of the bleakness of ages past into the glorious dawn of a new day. The Book of Mormon followed as another witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. His holy supernal priesthood was restored under the hands of those who held it anciently. Keys and powers were bestowed upon the Prophet and his associates. The ancient Church was again upon the earth with all of the blessings, powers, doctrines, keys, and principles of previous dispensations. It is [Christ’s] Church. It carries His name. It is governed by His priesthood. There is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved. Joseph Smith … became His great testator.” ....

6. A growing church, a church that is spreading across the earth in these complex times, needs constant revelation from the throne of heaven to guide it and move it forward. With prayer and anxious seeking of the will of the Lord, we testify that direction is received, that revelation comes, and that the Lord blesses His Church as it moves on its path of destiny.

7. On the solid foundation of the Prophet Joseph’s divine calling and the revelations of God, which came through him, we go forward. Standing as the 15th in line from Joseph Smith and bearing the prophetic mantle which came upon him, I solemnly declare my testimony that the Prophet Joseph’s account of [the events of the Restoration] is true, that the Father … bore witness of the divinity of His Son, that the Son instructed the boy prophet, and that there followed a train of events which led to the organization of “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” [D&C 1:30].

Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2002 General Conference

8. "This is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. We as a people are Latter-day Saints. We testify that the heavens have been opened, that the curtains have been parted, that God has spoken, and that Jesus Christ has manifested Himself, followed by a bestowal of divine authority. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this work, and it is built upon a “foundation of … apostles and prophets” (Eph. 2:20).

9. "This wondrous Restoration should make of us a people of tolerance, of neighborliness, of appreciation and kindness toward others. We cannot be boastful. We cannot be proud. We can be thankful, as we must be. We can be humble, as we should be. We love those of other churches. We work with them in good causes. We respect them. But we must never forget our roots. Those roots lie deep in the soil of the opening of this, the final dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times....

10. "God be thanked for His marvelous bestowal of testimony, authority, and doctrine associated with this, the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

11. "This must be our great and singular message to the world. We do not offer it with boasting. We testify in humility but with gravity and absolute sincerity. We invite all, the whole earth, to listen to this account and take measure of its truth. God bless us as those who believe in His divine manifestations and help us to extend knowledge of these great and marvelous occurrences to all who will listen. To these we say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and women everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true, for I know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen" (Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2002 General Conference).

The Lord Restored Through Joseph Smith:

·         The Gospel of Jesus Christ which enables us to access the full blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

o   Faith, repentance, covenants, Holy Ghost, enduring to the end

·         The Priesthood authority and keys needed to administer the ordinances and covenants of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

·         The Church of Jesus Christ and modern day prophets and apostles that help us to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know God's will.

·         True doctrines, such as the Plan of Salvation, that provide context (i.e. the "why") for the Gospel and the Atonement and answer to life's most important questions.

Q What is the value of a testimony of the Restoration? How has your testimony of the restoration blessed you?

Q What can we learn from those who have lost their testimonies of the restoration about how to keep ours?

We can become as an ensign to the nations from which the people of the earth may gather strength.

12. My brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike....

13. It is not always easy to live in the world and not be a part of it. We cannot live entirely with our own or unto ourselves, nor would we wish to. We must mingle with others. In so doing, we can be gracious. We can be inoffensive. We can avoid any spirit or attitude of self-righteousness. But we can maintain our standards. …

14. Beginning with you and me, there can be an entire people who, by the virtue of our lives in our homes, in our vocations, even in our amusements, can become as a city upon a hill to which men may look and learn, and an ensign to the nations from which the people of the earth may gather strength....

15. Let us glory in this wonderful season of the work of the Lord. Let us not be proud or arrogant. Let us be humbly grateful. And let us, each one, resolve within himself or herself that we will add to the luster of this magnificent work of the Almighty, that it may shine across the earth as a beacon of strength and goodness for all the world to look upon.

Q How can we apply President Hinckley's invitation?

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).

Walking the Savior's Path of Charity (Howard W. Hunter Chapter 20)

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter Chapter 20: Walking the Savior's Path of Charity

Charity is the pure love of Christ and will not fail.

1. “A new commandment I give unto you,” [Jesus] said, “That ye love one another; … By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35.) This love that we should have for our brothers and sisters in the human family, and that Christ has for every one of us, is called charity or “the pure love of Christ.” (Moro. 7:47.) It is the love that prompted the suffering and sacrifice of Christ’s atonement. It is the highest pinnacle the human soul can reach and the deepest expression of the human heart. … Charity encompasses all other godly virtues.... It is the greatest of all divine attributes.

2. The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly. It is without envy or pride. It is selfless because it seeks nothing in return. It does not countenance evil or ill will, nor rejoice in iniquity; it has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence. It refuses to condone ridicule, vulgarity, abuse, or ostracism. It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture.

3. "The most cherished and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the measure of our love, the greater is our joy. In the end, the development of such love is the true measure of success in life.... When Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment to “love one another; as I have loved you,” He gave to them the grand key to happiness in this life and glory in the next. [Love] is the one trait that, if developed, will most improve our lives" (Joseph B. Wirthlin, October 2007 General Conference).

Loving others is “a more excellent way.”

4. In an important message to the Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo just one year before his tragic and untimely martyrdom, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: "... we must love others, even our enemies as well as friends.” (History of the Church, 5:498–99.)

That is magnificent counsel today, even as it was [then]. The world in which we live, whether close to home or far away, needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides the only way the world will ever know peace. We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us.

As a young man, Brother Vern Crowley said he learned something of the crucial lesson the Prophet Joseph had taught the early Saints in Nauvoo when he told them to “love others, even our enemies as well as friends.” This is a good lesson for each of us.

After his father became ill, Vern Crowley took responsibility for running the family wrecking yard although he was only fifteen years of age. Some customers occasionally took unfair advantage of the young man, and parts were disappearing from the lot overnight. Vern was angry and vowed to catch someone and make an example of him. Vengeance would be his.

Just after his father had started to recover from his illness, Vern was making his rounds of the yard one night at closing time. It was nearly dark. In a distant corner of the property, he caught sight of someone carrying a large piece of machinery toward the back fence. He ran like a champion athlete and caught the young thief. His first thought was to take out his frustrations with his fists and then drag the boy to the front office and call the police. His heart was full of anger and vengeance. He had caught his thief, and he intended to get his just dues.

Out of nowhere, Vern’s father came along, put his weak and infirm hand on his son’s shoulder, and said, “I see you’re a bit upset, Vern. Can I handle this?” He then walked over to the young would-be thief and put his arm around his shoulder, looked him in the eye for a moment, and said, “Son, tell me, why are you doing this? Why were you trying to steal that transmission?” Then Mr. Crowley started walking toward the office with his arm around the boy, asking questions about the young man’s car problems as they walked. By the time they had arrived at the office, the father said, “Well, I think your clutch is gone and that’s causing your problem.”

In the meantime, Vern was fuming. “Who cares about his clutch?” he thought. “Let’s call the police and get this over with.” But his father just kept talking. “Vern, get him a clutch. Get him a throwout bearing, too. And get him a pressure plate. That should take care of it.” The father handed all of the parts to the young man who had attempted robbery and said, “Take these. And here’s the transmission, too. You don’t have to steal, young man. Just ask for it. There’s a way out of every problem. People are willing to help.”

Brother Vern Crowley said he learned an everlasting lesson in love that day. The young man came back to the lot often. Voluntarily, month by month, he paid for all of the parts Vic Crowley had given him, including the transmission. During those visits, he asked Vern why his dad was the way he was and why he did what he did. Vern told him something of their Latter-day Saint beliefs and how much his father loved the Lord and loved people. Eventually the would-be thief was baptized. Vern later said, “It’s hard now to describe the feelings I had and what I went through in that experience. I, too, was young. I had caught my crook. I was going to extract the utmost penalty. But my father taught me a different way.”

A different way? A better way? A higher way? A more excellent way? Oh, how the world could benefit from such a magnificent lesson. As Moroni declares: “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world. … In the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way.” (Ether 12:4, 11.)

Q What experiences have helped you learn that charity is “a more excellent way”?

Q How can we replace feelings of anger, resentment, impatience, or dismissiveness with feelings of charity?

We need to walk more resolutely the path of charity that Jesus has shown.

5. [Jesus] said “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). He will measure our devotion to him by how we love and serve our fellowmen.

6. An old axiom states that a man “all wrapped up in himself makes a small bundle.” Love has a certain way of making a small bundle large. The key is to love our neighbor, including the neighbor that is difficult to love. We need to remember that though we make our friends, God has made our neighbors—everywhere. Love should have no boundary; we should have no narrow loyalties. Christ said, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:46).

7. In our worship services, we often sing a lovely hymn with text written by Susan Evans McCloud. May I recall a few lines of that hymn for you?

Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own. …

Who am I to judge another

When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden

Sorrow that the eye can’t see. …

I would be my brother’s keeper;

I would learn the healer’s art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother’s keeper—

Lord, I would follow thee.

(Hymns, 1985, no. 220.)

8. We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown. We need to “pause to help and lift another” and surely we will find “strength beyond [our] own.” If we would do more to learn “the healer’s art,” there would be untold chances to use it, to touch the “wounded and the weary” and show to all “a gentle[r] heart.” Yes, Lord, we should follow thee.

Q How can we better recognize the opportunities we have to be more loving?

Q How can we develop greater love for others?

Q What are some ways we can more actively show our love to our families? To those we hometeach? At church? At work/school?