Discipleship: Following in the Savior's Footsteps

If you were to ask me what the greatest problem among mankind is, there would be many to choose from. But, I think many of them stem from a simple human frailty. There is something about our nature that compels us to compare ourselves to each other. This becomes a serious problem for many that can lead to low self-esteem, to be overly concerned with appearances both physical and material, to feed some with thoughts and acts of theft and violence. It creates a great amount of poison from seemingly harmless thoughts of comparison. The problem becomes that “as a man thinketh, so is he.”

We worry about what other people think, we worry that we are somehow inferior to them, that their life is somehow easier or better than our own. Sometimes we worry about it so much we seek out those that we feel we can be better than until we convince ourselves we are superior rather than inferior. We compare. We judge. We’re miserable because of it, but it becomes an addiction. Perhaps that’s why the Savior spent so much time telling us to “judge not”. The more time we spend consumed in negative thinking, about ourselves or others, the less of our hearts are available to feel the Savior’s love for us. The less we are able to see ourselves as He sees us.

Thus, He gave us the parable of the mote and the beam.

Matthew 7:3-4— And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

And the example of the adulterous woman.

John 8:2-11— And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

In both messages there is a theme of discouragement for judging others. In neither instance are the individuals free from fault. There was room for improvement, but it is the Lord who decides what our path should be and how we can change for the better. There is only one standard we should be comparing ourselves to: the Lord’s. His view and expectations of us are all that truly matter. We are told to seek out Christ and feel of His love, not to form opinions about how other are doing on their own journey.

He sees into our souls and wants us to become all that He sees. That is an independent and unique journey for each of us. He does not compare us to our neighbor, so neither should we.

What kinds of things can keep us from having a close relationship with someone? What kinds of things can get in the way? Prejudices, pride, anger, insufficient communication, selfishness and many other things can lead to a rift between us, and the people around us. Sadly, this is a common occurrence in the world today. It is even sadder to consider that these differences with our fellow man not only separates us from them, but also separates us from the Savior. Anger, grudges and contention chase the Spirit from our hearts.

3 Nephi 11:29— For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

As uncomfortable as these situations can make us, it is nothing compared to the emptiness that can follow from the loss of peace in our lives and the loss of the Savior who could bring that peace back. The Lord’s answer to this problem is simple and straightforward.

3 Nephi 12:23-24— Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—
Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.

As with many things the Savior asks of us, the path may not be easy. Some differences are easier to repair than others. But He has assured us that reconciliation is the way to His peace.

This process takes an amount of humility and self-control. When we carry the burden of hate and discontent it poisons so much of our lives. Yet, the Lord asks us to give it away to make room for His love and joy. The longer we hang onto these parts of ourselves the less of His tender mercies we are able to feel in our lives.

It may be something small: the fight you had with your spouse over how to load the dishwasher. It may be something big: the scars of an abusive childhood. The process is the same.

The Lord requires us to forgive and put away the past, just as we ask Him to do for our own sins and imperfections. Even when the sin against us seems unforgivable, He has asked us to let it go. In that process we turn over the pain, the worry, and the emotional scars to His care. The great blessing of the atonement then allows Him to succor us, no matter the state, or feelings of the other party.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said:

“We see the need for [forgiveness] in the homes of the people, where tiny molehills of misunderstanding are fanned into mountains of argument. We see it among neighbors, where insignificant differences lead to undying bitterness. We see it in business associates who quarrel and refuse to compromise and forgive when, in most instances, if there were a willingness to sit down together and speak quietly one to another, the matter could be resolved to the blessing of all. Rather, they spend their days nurturing grudges and planning retribution. …

“If there be any who nurture in their hearts the poisonous brew of enmity toward another, I plead with you to ask the Lord for strength to forgive. This expression of desire will be of the very substance of your repentance. It may not be easy, and it may not come quickly. But if you will seek it with sincerity and cultivate it, it will come. …

“… There is no peace in reflecting on the pain of old wounds. There is peace only in repentance and forgiveness. This is the sweet peace of the Christ, who said, ‘blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ (Matt. 5:9.)” (“Of You It Is Required to Forgive,” Ensign, June 1991, 2, 5)

We can not affect how other people will treat us. But, we always have the freewill to decide how we will treat others, and how we will react to their treatment of us. May we learn to focus more on peace, a soft answer, and a spirit of love than we do on hurtful words and actions.

Recently, I’ve been studying the ways the scriptures talk about friendship. These stories are usually sweet and poignant.

Jonathan was a friend who put David’s needs above his own and protected David from danger.
Ruth went beyond that which was required of her and reached out to Naomi in comfort and friendship.
Job’s friends mourned with him, and tried to help Job carry his burdens during his trials.
There are friends who trust you with their lives.
There are friends who defend your integrity.
There is also a story of Moroni, in the Book of Mormon, that tells of the years he spent wandering and alone, the last of his people. He had no family and no friends, but he had plenty of enemies that wanted him dead. My heart cries out for the pain and sorrow his life must have contained during that time. It is a great blessing to have these true friends in life. It is also a blessing that is often overlooked.

But, perhaps the best description of a friend comes from Jesus Christ, Himself.

John 15:13-14- But, perhaps the greatest statement on friendship comes from the Savior Himself.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

I can think no greater compliment than to be called Christ’s friend. He carries the best attributes of a friend. Not only those I have identified from various scriptures, but every good gift of friendship that can be conceived. He will never abandon us. He will always stand behind us, support us, and guide us. He offers peace and comfort. He offers council, and understanding. He atoned for our sins, so that we could stand before God clean. He died for us, and was resurrected, to open the gateway for our restored lives as well. He is the Exemplar, the Savior, the Elder Brother, the Good Shepherd, and the Advocate. He is our friend.

All He asks in return is to live up to the potential for good that He knows we have by following His commandments. I want and need His divine friendship, so I will follow.

There are things we do because we have to, things we do because we are expected to, and things we do because we want to. Where does service fall in this continuum? Sometimes, I think, it happens because of all three.

When we are facing difficult challenges in our lives, or are in desperate need of a blessing from God it is appropriate to reach out to others. We give a piece of ourselves away, because we are asking the Lord to fill an even larger void. It may be a “have to” for us. We may give up the bonus check we’d been counting on so that a child can get braces to help them feel better about themselves. There are plenty of reasons service can occasionally be a “have to”.

Sometimes service comes from an expectation. Our friend calls with a need and we help, not necessarily because we have the time or feel a significant inner pull to do so, but because someone is counting on us.

In the best instances, we do it because we want to. We do it out of love.

Often, our motivations can change mid-stream. Beginning may have purely selfish motives, but the service softens and transforms our heart. No matter how it starts, service can be some of the sweetest experiences we will have on this earth. Those are the times we should seek out. When service comes from our very souls and we begin to understand the unconditional love of the Savior. We become more like Him.

So, the question becomes: how can we strive for this type of service more often? How do we draw closer to Him by reaching out to our fellow man?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an organization made up of volunteers, so there are a lot of opportunities to serve others within the church. Though this is not the only place we choose to volunteer, it generally offers ample and frequent opportunities to forget ourselves and serve the Lord. When we are asked by our leaders to fulfill some responsibility within the church it is generally referred to as receiving a calling, or in other words God is extending a call for us to serve Him.

Sometimes it’s something that seems small and easy for us to accomplish. Other times it seems to be something far beyond our capabilities. In any case, the most crucial part of accepting a call is confirming with the Lord, why He has chosen you to serve. The reasons behind our service can run the gamut of intentions, just like any other act of kindness. But, it’s always best if we turn ourselves over to the Lord, place ourselves in His hands and ask Him to help us do what He has asked.

No matter the task, when we invite the Lord into our heart and soul it will always end up being a service of love that draws us closer to the Savior. No matter the opportunity, place the Lord and the other person above yourself. Find out from Him how best to be His instrument. Then tune your spirit to listen for His guidance. The Savior’s love will flow through your soul and touch the heart of another. You’ll both grow in His love. And that’s what discipleship is all about.

I’ve been thinking today of a parable the Savior told.

John 10:1-7 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow: for they know his voice.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

I’ve been thinking about hearing the Savior’s voice, knowing Him, and following Him with full faith. I’ve been wondering how often I let other voices sneak into my life that try to distract me from my Master. I’ve been praying for the strength to know the difference and “follow not the stranger”. I want to always be found in the Good Shepherd’s fold. I want to always be one of His lambs. I can’t think of a better place to be. That is a disciple’s true desire: to emulate and follow Christ by coming to know Him personally, to understand who He is and what we mean to Him.

His voice will always lead us to do good, to feel the comfort and safety of His love even in the darkest hours of our lives. We find it in the scriptures as we read and study him . It’s in the inspiring words of those in our congregations and families. It’s there in the smile and wave from a neighbor. The freshly fallen snow, the blossoms in spring, the cry of a newborn, all testify of Him. Are we listening?

I think of the story of Elijah from the Old Testament, when he is called to the mount to stand before the Lord. A strong wind comes, but the Lord was not in it. An earthquake comes, but the Lord was not in it. Fire comes, but the Lord was not it. Then, Elijah hears the still small voice of the Lord. Sometimes we forget the part of the story that explains the Lord came with the wind and the earthquake and fire, but it was not until there were no distractions that Elijah recognized His presence and heard His voice.

1 Kings 19:12 – And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice

It may not be strictly true, but I wonder sometimes if the Lord had to send the large and noticeable things in order to get Elijah’s attention, to help him focus and really hear what the Lord had to tell Him. I also wonder if this same thing happens in my own life. Have there been times when I’ve been called to come closer to the Lord, but He has needed to use something large to get my attention and humble me so that I am ready to listen?

How many times during the day do I miss the ways the Good Shepherd calls to me? What does it take for me to hear those calls? It takes awareness. It means noticing the Lord’s hand in everything around us, becoming in tune with His many blessings and His Spirit. Then, it takes quite, pondering, searching, and reaching deep into our soul. Then, His voice is heard.

Does God still talk to man? Does the Savior still call for His sheep to follow Him?

Yes.

The real question is— Are we listening?

There is a story in the Book of Mormon concerning a vision seen by Lehi and then by his son Nephi. It is commonly referred to as “The Tree of Life”.

In this vision, Lehi finds himself in an unknown and dark world. He desperately begins to search for some source of light, or of guidance to remove him from the situation he is in. Eventually, Lehi finds a “rod of iron”. He grabs on to this symbol of security and begins to follow its path. The iron rod ends at a beautiful tree filled with fruit that is delicious, desirable, and puts joy in the heart.

After Lehi tells his family about the vision, explaining the presence of the rod and tree as well as many other aspects of the scene, his son Nephi wants to know more. He wants to understand what his father’s words can tell him about the gospel and how he should live his life. When he asks God for understanding Nephi is granted a view of the same events; however, he is also provided with a guide to help him understand what he is seeing.

Each piece of the vision tells Nephi something else about the world he lives in and God’s eternal plan for man’s happiness. Central to this happiness are two pieces of the vision: the rod and the tree.

When grasped firmly, the rod provides a sure and straight path to the tree. Nephi learns that this rod is available to all men; some will hold to it firmly, some will begin with it in their grasp then let go, some will refuse to use it at all. Whatever the choices of man, the rod is there as a guide. The rod that is offered to each of us is the word of God, His scriptures, the doctrine of Christ. It is His gospel that can make our steps sure and steady. It is His rod of truth that will take us to the presence of the Father to dwell in joy and peace. The tree represents this goal: the love of God toward each of us and His beckoning call to eternal life.

“And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and 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.” 1 Nephi 15:23-24

It’s a simple message, really. But, it holds a significant promise. The doctrines of Christ will lead us home.

So, then the question becomes: How do we take hold of the rod? The Savior provides the answer.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

This is the prayer that Henry B. Eyring shares for the youth. But it’s message and promises are applicable to each of us as well.

“The pure gospel of Jesus Christ must go down into the hearts of young people by the power of the Holy Ghost. It will not be enough for them to have had a spiritual witness of the truth and to want good things later. It will not be enough for them to hope for some future cleansing and strengthening. Our aim must be for them to become truly converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ while they are young.
Then they will have gained a strength from what they are, not only from what they know. They will become disciples of Christ. They will be His spiritual children who always remember Him with gratitude and in faith. They will then have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. Their hearts will be turned outward, concerned for the temporal and spiritual welfare of others. They will walk humbly. They will feel cleansed, and they will look on evil with abhorrence.” We Must Raise Our Sights, Henry B. Eyring

In the scriptures we find the doctrine of Christ, we begin to understand His ways, and hear His voice calling us toward eternity. To be a disciple of Christ, each individual needs to learn how to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. Each one of us needs to understand His words through diligent study, every day rather than casual reading. We are told to gain a firm grip on the rod, not a light touch, so that we may not become lost to a confusing world. That grip, the diligence we put into learning and exemplifying the doctrines of Christ, is what writes a testimony of the Savior onto our hearts and keeps our feet firmly planted on His paths.

Think back on a time in your life when you faced a challenging or dark time. It is a natural response within the disciple to go to the Lord with a pleading in our heart and a hope for relief. What do we ask for? The righteous desires of our hearts.

I doubt that many of us would ask to win the lottery. If the issue is money our prayers are more likely to be a plea for “just enough”: enough to see us through. No matter the need, we entreat our Heavenly Father to see us through with righteous desires.

Please, don’t let me be late for work.

Please, let me find a way to help my teenage son.

Please, guide the surgeon’s hand so that all the cancer can be removed.

Whatever the need, we turn to Him to succor our wounds and bring peace to our lives. We ask Him for a blessing, we trust in the author of our faith, we do the best we can, and then we wait.

What if the blessing we think we need does not come? What if the heavens seem silent in response to our pleadings? What if the answer is no?

Life on this earth is a difficult path to conquer. It is full of trials and sadness, but it is also full of blessings and joy. Sometimes, in the middle of the sorrow it becomes very easy to forget the moments of happiness. Our vision narrows and even though we are desperately reaching for Christ and His blessings, we can not see the full picture.

What if being late for work meant you avoided the accident you would have been in? The “what ifs” that go with larger trials are just as large. It becomes impossible to know what would have been, even when we think we know what could have been had our righteous desires been answered. It’s still a matter of perspective. We do not have the view of the eternities that God has. We know ourselves well, but not as well as He knows us.

There is great wisdom in His plan and a design to His will. The Savior taught this during His ministry. Jesus told us that He came to earth to do the will of His father. He taught us to do our best and pray, “Thy will be done.” He also became the ultimate example of this in the garden of Gethsemane.

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39

It is a hard thing to trust in the wisdom of God, yet we must. His design and purpose is to see us through to eternal joy in His presence. He does not take pleasure in our pain. He gives us the tools and the strength that we will need to face our trials— whatever they may be.

Take your trials to the Lord. He has promised to help us bear our burdens. He has promised to hear and answer our prayers. But, He did not promise that His answer would always be yes, only that His answer would always be in our best interest.

There is a hymn that I enjoy that helps me keep this perspective even when heart wants to pull me in another direction.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.

“Lead, kindly Light,” Hymn #97

He keeps His promises if we will let Him. If we show ourselves willing to submit to His will, instead of turning away, the end will always be better than the beginning.

By the time I was about 10 years old until late into my teens, my father held some rather significant leadership positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This meant that often, we were the only ones, or the last ones to be inside the church building at the end of the day. When this happened I had a responsibility. While my father packed up his briefcase and closed down his office, I was supposed to go around the entire building and ensure that all the lights were out and all the doors were locked.

If you have never been inside of an LDS chapel, most are shaped into a square. The largest areas where the congregation all meets together and sometimes a gymnasium take up the center of the building. The ancillary classrooms and offices all wrap around these from a continuous hallway that forms a U shape. Occasionally, other small hallways will branch off leading to other tucked away areas, but for the most part it’s a very simple and straight forward pattern.

My job required me to walk from one end of the large U around to the other end of the U, checking all the doors, windows and lights as I went. Then, I cut through a small passage way between our main chapel and the gymnasium to return to my father’s office in time to depart. Many would consider this quite the adventure, but not a real problem. Unfortunately, I was a very creative child. This made my adventure a little more daring than most would find it.

Church building or not, I was sure that once the lights went out there were monsters, muggers, and boogey men lurking in every door way and waiting to pounce around every corner. It was a very long, very dark walk. Often, I’d catch myself holding my breath as I swiftly walked down the dark hallway not releasing it until I reached the next outside access. Since these doors were all glass, the street lamps from outside could shine a small amount of light into the building at these points. I lived for those small pockets of light.

Aside from taking place in a church building, what does this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Simply that, as I got older I began to discover there were many ways to find yourself either in the dark or in the light. It can also be a measure of our character when we assess how comfortable we are with the amount of light or darkness that we find in our lives.

Christ has said He is the Light of the World.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

It is His light, His power that gives life, power and influence on everything around us. It represents His law and gospel that can illuminate our way back into His presence. Because we are all God’s children, we are blessed with a small portion of this light when we come into this world. Some call it the conscience. It the basic part of our nature that gives us a sense of right and wrong. It is this light of Christ that influences all people toward goodness. If we are mindful of that light, it can lead us to Christ and His gospel. If we walk away from it, we will find ourselves in darkness. Eventually, if we drag our feet long enough, we may lose sight of the light all together. The more we crave and seek out the light, the brighter its influence and comfort in our lives will be.

As disciples of Christ, may we always find ourselves bathed in the light of His goodness and truth. If the path becomes dark may we run, not walk, toward the nearest source of light.

The path of a disciple is not necessarily easy to walk. In fact, in our desire to follow the Savior we are given a special command: “Be ye therefore perfect,” Matthew 5:48. It’s a little unsettling if you dwell on it as a single command. How can we possibly be perfect?

For me personally, the things that keep me from perfection are mostly small, but they come every single day of my life. Large transgression, or small, our human nature and the restrictions of a mortal life, hold us far below the nature of our Father in Heaven. Still, the call is issued. Be ye perfect. When we are called, a disciple will follow, no matter where the path may take us.

Thankfully, with this command comes the understanding of Heavenly Father. He understands our imperfections and He has provided a way. He has provided the Savior Who’s atoning sacrifice makes up the difference IF we choose His path. That’s the key to answering the Lord’s call for perfection: we choose to walk the Lord’s path and do the best we can. Then, as we walk the path, He keeps our footsteps sure and leading toward perfection.

Our part is to find the path and stay on it. This is where repentance comes into play. It is still easy to lose our way. Repentance is a disciple’s most valuable course correction.
The word “repentance” is built around the Greek word for a change of mind. We change our minds and hearts to become more like Jesus Christ.

Repentance is the recognition of actions that keep us from the Savior’s way.

Repentance is our ability to back up.

Repentance is our commitment to learn from our mistakes and never to return there again.

Repentance is our chance to re-focus on what really matters – we re-focus on the Savior and our desire to be like Him.

Repentance is a privilege and precious tool given to His disciples.

We want to walk His path. We are His disciples. He will guide us toward perfection with the blessing of course corrections along the way.

I recently ran across a statement in a fictional book that struck a chord with me. It was discussing the conflict around making difficult decisions and facing problems in life.

“There’s a test for every man and woman. They’re all different, but they all require your heart.”

I firmly believe that our Heavenly Father knows us personally. We were with Him before we came to this world. If faithful, we will return to live with Him after this world. He gave us the chance to have mortal bodies and dwell away from Him to grow: to experience knowledge and faith, to try that faith and determine our devotion to the things that truly matter. He places us exactly where we need to be, whether the road may seem smooth or rough, it is designed by the Master with us in mind.

Recently, we’ve talked about what is found in the heart of a disciple. It’s the things of the spirit that hold us to something of a higher plane. Where do these convictions come from? What turns our hearts away from the world? Believe or not, it’s the things we most try to avoid. It’s our trials and how we handle them. These things leave the deepest impressions that carry us through and draw us closer to Jesus Christ.

So, what does the disciple do? If our biggest challenge in this life is how we face our, well, challenges. What makes the difference? The disciple’s heart.

In the scriptures, the heart is at the core of what our Father in Heaven asks of us. His holy words refer to it as a “broken heart and contrite spirit”. It is the act of turning our will over to Him. It is having our hearts softened to His gospel. It is humbly pursuing His course for our lives with faith in His promises. That is the essence of the disciple’s heart.

If our focus and intent is to bring ourselves closer to a Christ-like life, we face challenges with a willing heart—one that is softened and opened to God’s will and guidance.

When times of trial come, the most important step we can take is to go to the Lord and say, “I don’t know what is to come, I don’t know where I must place my feet to move through this successfully, but I give You my heart. I’m willing to try following you and trust in Your care through this trial.” It’s not always easy to do. If it were, it probably wouldn’t carry the deep blessings that it does. When we manage to offer a willing heart, even when we don’t know what the outcome will be, it opens up the possibility of peace, comfort and guidance through the Spirit. These same blessings cannot come from the heart that is closed and focused only on the trial; the pain and confusion it brings.

That’s the challenge and the blessing of this life. It’s our ability to say: “I understand I have a path to walk, a trial specific to my needs and strengths. I give You my willing heart. Take me on Your path, where ever it may lead.”

The family is a basic unit of society. However, its definition and expectations tend to also change with the whims of society. The Lord’s view of the family does not change. It is the most important aspect of our lives here on earth and is central to His plan for our happiness.

In 1995 the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a scriptural proclamation to the world about their stand on the family. In it, the marriage relationship is clearly explained based on scriptural and gospel principles. In short, marriage is to be a partnership and ideally it is a progressive and wholesome relationship between two disciples and God, Himself. Members of the LDS Church believe that marriage, and the family unit it forms, is an eternal contract between a man and a woman and Heavenly Father. They are bound together in a commitment to goodness and happiness and desire to support each other in becoming more Christ-like.

If this is the goal of a marriage, how do our individual roles as disciples of Christ help us toward this type of eternal happiness? Simply put, we practice the same Christ-like traits within our home that we take with us out into the world.

In Genesis 2, the Lord councils Adam and Eve to cleave to each other and become one. When problems arise, our partner is still our first priority. Disciples look to their mate first and remain together and unified with the Lord in their goals and purposes. They do not turn to extended family and friends for comfort and council. They do not speak ill of their partner in front of others.

Marriage and family leaves little place for selfishness. Here, the world would have us think otherwise. But the Lord has said forget yourself and serve, consider another’s needs above your own and yours will be met as well. Following the example of Christ, you should never let a day go by where you have not considered your partner’s happiness and well-being.

Marriage is the ultimate act of charity. It is work and requires us to call into play every attribute of goodness and kindness that we can to support and help each other. When we remember to bring God into our marriages, we draw closer to Him and to each other. No family unit will reach perfection and exclusive happiness in this life. It is a process and commitment to those principles that focus on eternal goodness and a path that will lead us there. It takes firm and sometimes overwhelming commitment, but the Lord has promised us it is worth it. He has never hinted that His paths are easy. He has only assured us that the blessings would be obtainable within our best efforts and joyful in their outcome.

How do you create memories for things that are special to you? Do you keep a journal or photo album, or do you have some other favorite method of bringing back good feelings and joy from past experiences?

The covenant of baptism is one of the most joyful and sacred blessings in a disciple’s life. Unfortunately, if we do not take the opportunity to remember the covenants we have made, and the feelings associated with them it becomes very easy for these promise to become lost in the less important stresses of every day life. Because of our Heavenly Father’s great love for us and His understanding of our human frailties, He gives us an equally sacred method to remember this experience by. Every week, as we gather on the Sabbath, we are given the opportunity to take the sacrament. The Lord has commanded us to take advantage of this opportunity. He has promised us that if we will go to Him to renew and remember our baptism covenants, it will also renew our strength and conviction to follow Christ and give us added protection from the evils we encounter every day in the world.

“And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9).

As Christ faced His last evening with the disciples, before His ultimate sacrifice, He had two specific things to teach them. These were the things he wanted to have the greatest impression on them. The first was His example of service and a commandment to become like Him. Just as it was for them, it is our willingness to do service and our desire for goodness that bind us to Him. The second was the sacrament. Jesus Christ gave them an ordinance specifically designed to help His disciples remember Him, be close to Him, and honor the promises they made to Him.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

Jesus brought this same ordinance to the Americas when He visited its people after His resurrection.

“And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his Disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him.

And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth.

And when the Disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the Disciples and commanded that they should eat.
And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.

And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the Disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.

And this shall ye always observe to ado, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.

And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his Disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it.

And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled.

And when the Disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.

And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. (3 Nephi 18:1–12)

At baptism we commit ourselves to Christ and show ourselves willing to carry His name in every aspect of our lives, to try to live His gospel and become like Him. When we take the sacrament we return to that sacred promise. We place ourselves in a holy atmosphere where we can sit at the Father’s feet and assess our lives and dedication to Jesus Christ. We thank Him for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice that we remember through the bread and water. We thank Him for the chance it gives us to repent, to seek forgiveness and begin each day with a greater conviction to bring our lives into harmony with the gospel and His commandments. We walk away blessed with the spirit of Jesus Christ to build us up and guide us through life until we meet and renew our covenants again.

Within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the very first covenant, or promise, we make with God is baptism. When we recognize our testimony of Jesus Christ and feel those first stirrings that encourage us to be more like our Savior, we want to cast off as much of the world as we can and form a connection with the Heavens. When we are baptized, that connection is made.

One invitation to be baptized is found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

“All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.” D&C 20:37

Baptism within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serves a couple of purposes.

First, it establishes our alignment with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With baptism our membership in the gospel is established. Our name is recorded with the millions of others who have made the same commitment.

Second, it establishes the connection between us and Jesus Christ. Because of the priesthood authority present in the ordinance, we make promises with Heavenly Father and in return He makes promises with us.

Third, it opens the way for us to make more covenants and receive more blessings from our Heavenly Father. Step-by-step we commit, promise, and turn our lives over to Him.

In all of these, the central theme is Jesus Christ. When we choose to enter the waters of baptism:
We are inviting Him into our lives.

We are promising to carry His name.
We choose to honor and represent Him in every aspect of our lives.
We are committing ourselves to try our best every day to live His commandments.
We step out of the darkness of the world to join His flock and grow in His light.

In return He promises us the gift of the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion and give us the knowledge and guidance we will need to continue our course of faithfulness.

Elder Robert D. Hales once said: “The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world. The Holy Ghost gives us the strength and courage to conduct our lives in the ways of the kingdom of God and is the source of our testimony of the Father and the Son. As we obey the will of our Father in Heaven, this priceless gift of the Holy Ghost will be with us continually.” (Robert D. Hales, “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 6–9)

With the Lord’s help we become who we want to be, disciples of Christ who carry His name in our lives and His image in our joyful countenance.

I love the story of the woman with the “issue of blood” told about in Mark 5:25-34. It’s a story about reaching for Christ, very literally. The woman had a problem that she’d carried for years. There was no help for her, until she heard of Jesus and her faith was renewed and shown a focus. When Jesus came through the streets and crowds thronged to meet Him, her only desire was to get close enough to touch Him. She knew that a brief touch with something so good and so pure would have a deep impact on her life. She had faith in His divine ability to make her whole again.

It couldn’t have been an easy thing to come that close to Christ through the masses of people pressing for His attention. She managed however, for just a brief moment, to extend her hand and touch His garment. That simple act of faith granted her the richest of blessings: she was healed.

The amazing part is that this small gesture did not go unnoticed by the Savior. He knew that there had been a need and a part of Himself had been extended to fulfill it. He immediately asked, “Who touched my clothes?” and the woman came and “fell down before him, and told him all the truth.”

When was the last time you reached out to touch the Savior? Like the woman in the scriptures I often find myself with issues that affect my heart, my life and my soul that I am unable to conquer on my own. At these times I can become lost in the crowds, or I can fight my way back to where I belong- within reach of my Savior.

If I reach out daily with sincere and thoughtful prayer,
If I humble myself and tell Him all,
If I try to stay close to Him by living as He would,
If I remove those things from my life that block me from being near Him, then
I am within reach.

For those brief moments, a part of Him fills me. He carries my sorrow, and speaks peace to my heart. He gives me the courage to face my trials once again and promises that my faith will make me whole. He knows my touch, He knows me.

“Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” 3 Nephi 9:14

There are some things that we must learn with our head. There are other things that we can only learn through the heart. Spirituality is one of those things. Yes, there is an element of intellect involved. We have to study what we know about God, Jesus Christ, and the world in general and understand the beliefs of any religion we are a part of.

Still, what really holds us there has very little to do with logic or learning. It’s definitely a matter of the heart. That’s where a true testimony of our convictions comes from, that’s what holds us to a course as disciples of Christ; to be better and do better. It’s not easy, but we know it’s right. Our heart holds us to the course of happiness when our mind would have us believe a different path might be easier, or more rewarding, or what ever argument would pull us in another direction. Our heart, the feelings we have for the Savior, gives us a sense of greater purpose that is sometimes foreign to the world around us.

This point is illustrated over and over again in the scriptures.

Mormon 9:27 instructs us to come unto the Lord with all our heart.

Matthew 22:37 tells us to love the Lord with all our heart.

Proverbs 3:5 bids us to trust the Lord with all our heart.

Lastly, Matthew 6:21 cautions us that what our heart loves will be what we treasure above everything else.

A disciple’s heart will treasure the Lord. If it does not, we may not have the strength of conviction and love that will hold us to the course when the winds of the world try to lead us astray.

There is a specific example from the Book of Mormon that I’d like to share with you. It concerns a young man named Nephi and his two older brothers: Laman and Lemuel.

The Book of Mormon begins with Nephi’s words.

“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.” 1 Nephi 1:1

Now, it is important to note that Laman and Lemuel grew up in this same household, but their perceptions of the Gospel were vastly different from Nephi’s. Though they would share many of the same spiritual experiences, including seeing angles and many miracles, Laman and Lemuel did not believe. They did not put their trust in the Lord and they often fell away from His paths. Why is that? Here is the main difference.

“Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” 2 Nephi 4:16

Nephi’s heart was centered on the Gospel. In contrast, his brother’s closed their hearts.

“Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?” 1 Nephi 17:45-46

Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel is focused on the condition of our hearts. My favorite description regarding the nature of a disciple’s heart is found in the Book of Alma.

“And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?” Alma 5:12-16

Take a moment today to ponder the feelings and emotions that drew you to Christ. What fueled your yearning to learn His word? Where was your heart that you wanted to be like Him? Write them down, remember them. Seek out those feelings again and again as you serve Him, and enjoy the strength and testimony that follows.

“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” Alma 5:26