Like Him

I have been inspired recently by a simple, but profound and important principle that has made me think a lot about what it means to really be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

At our stake conference recently we were reminded very sweetly, but with some urgency:

    "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
    "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:47-48)

Of all the good things we could be doing or focusing on, we must simply remember that all that really matters is that we are becoming more like Him, our Savior Jesus Christ.  We should honestly ask ourselves, "Am I like Him?"  We can ask as we serve in our callings, "How will this draw us to Him and make us like Him?"  We should pray, "How can I be more like Thy Son?"  And then listen and follow.  He will teach us and purify us and make us holy, make us one.

We are taught in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  We may ask how can we know Him.  It is through the Holy Ghost.  We should do what leads to the Spirit in our lives and then do what the Spirit leads us to do.  Relatedly, we are promised the Spirit in our lives ALWAYS as we worthily partake of the sacrament.  What a blessing each week that we can participate in this sacred and holy ordinance - it is not common, but a wonder!  The Savior sustains, lifts, delivers us, makes us completely clean and new, and promises His Spirit as we repent and promise to remember Him.  Sacrament meeting is memorial service for Jesus.  He invites us to come!

A few other tidbits from stake conference that I think were very instructive:
* The Savior can fix anything!  We need not worry, but come to Him!
* Abide with me; 'tis eventide:  "O Savior, stay this night with me; Behold, 'tis eventide."
* President Howard W. Hunter said, "If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong."
* Mosiah 25:10:  "When they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God."
* Abraham 3:17:  "There is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in his heart to do but what he will do it."
* Stay with Him.  Go no more out!  Watch with Him one hour.  Don't be offended.  Don't be weary.  Be a "follower of righteousness" (see Abraham 1:2).  Pray always.  Surround ourselves with goodness, so that there's no room for monsters under the bed.  ;)  Seek Jesus (see Ether 12:41).
* Go to the temple.  "Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest." (D&C 84:20)


I also just finished ready a really great book - In His Steps by Charles M.Sheldon (apparently there is also a movie).  In this book a community church decides for a year to live by their answer to the question "What would Jesus do?" in everything that they do.  This commitment changes individual lives and the community.  People get outside themselves and their comfort zones and focus on loving and serving and living like Jesus would in their position.  It is a powerful example of putting beliefs into action, and it is a different application for each one, but a great reminder to ask and to DO it!  <3


While thinking about this topic I also came across a talk given by President Ezra Taft Benson at BYU in March 1979 called "In His Steps."  He encourages us to grow as Jesus did and "increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."  President Benson teaches:

"God can reveal to you your talents and your strengths so that you will know upon what you can build. Be assured that in all your righteous endeavors you can say, as Paul said in Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

We follow a perfect leader—not just one who tells us to do what he thinks we should do, but the only one who can say that we should be as He is in everything. In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi, chapter 27, verse 27, the Lord asked the question, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” And then He answered by saying, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”

There is a lot to do, but it's wonderful to be reminded of our purpose and path....to be like Him!