Becoming More Christlike

Becoming more Christlike is October’s doctrinal study.  When we are baptized, we promise to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.  What exactly does that mean?   Perhaps the simple words from a Primary song teach us best.  “I’m trying to be like Jesus.  I’m following in His ways.  I’m trying to love as He did in all that I do and say.”1  The Savior is our perfect example!  Some of the characteristics He exemplified are obedience, patience, purity, diligence, humility, faith, hope, and charity.  Acquiring these characteristics throughout our lives will be challenging and ongoing.  Yet that is exactly what we have been instructed to do.  Remember what the Savior told the Nephites when He visited with them after His resurrection.  “What manner of men ought ye to be?  Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”2


We can never be like the Savior if we do not know who He is or how He lived.  This is something King Benjamin warned his people about.  He said, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”3   To truly understand how to be even as the Savior is, a serious study of the His life is imperative.  We must learn as much about Him as we can, knowing how He interacted with others and especially how He interacted with His Father.  Only then can we really learn how to become more Christlike.  When He is in our thoughts daily and our love for Him effects our actions and interactions, as promised in the sacrament prayers, we will be able to have His Spirit with us always.  With that incredible gift, we will be able to develop Chrlistlike characteristics.


One of the things I often pray for is to become more Christlike.  One day I realized the need to be a little more specific in that.  So, now some days I pray for more patience.  Other times it is to be more humble. Often I pray to have deeper charity.  David A. Bednar’s conference talk on meekness really hit home to me!  I had never thought to pray for that!  I have noticed that when I pray for meekness, I seem to have more patience, more humility and more charity, even without specifically praying for them.  Surely that is becasuse, as Elder Bednar reminded us, meekness is “the foundation from which all spiritual capacities and gifts arise.”4  And for that reason I have chosen his talk as our focus, although there are many talks from April’s conference that teach us about other divine characteristics of Jesus Christ and which are equally worth our study.


Sometimes people think of meekness as weakness.  It is definitely not!  Elder Bednar defined it like this, “Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash.  A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others. … Meekness is the principal protection from the prideful blindness that often arises from prominence, position, power, wealth, and adulation.”4


Elder Bednar taught that meekness is “a vital aspect of the Savior’s divine nature that each of us should strive to emulate.”4  To help us to learn more about and better understand meekness, he shared three examples.  First he noted the similarities between the rich young man in the New Testament and Amulek in the Book of Mormon.  While the young man the Savior interacted with had kept the commandments, he could not give up his worldly possessions and continue following the Savior.  On the other hand, after being instructed by an angel, Amulek was “spiritually awakened” and gave up his wealth, his family, and his friends to follow the Savior for the rest of his life.


The second example was Pahoran’s response to a letter he received from Moroni.  To put it mildly, it was a harsh letter!  Moroni wasn’t receiving the support he needed for his army and was accusing Pahoran of not only neglecting their needs but also of being a traitor.  Elder Bednar said, “Pahoran easily might have resented Moroni and his inaccurate allegations, but he did not. He responded compassionately and described a rebellion against the government about which Moroni was not aware.”4  Pahoran’s response to Moroni was, “I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. … In your epistle you have censured me, but it matterth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart.”5   


The last example was President Nelson’s and President Eyring’s response to President Monson’s request given during the April 2017 General Conference.  He implored the members of the Church to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon every day.  Immediately these two apostles of God heeded the counsel of the prophet.  The following general conference, each shared the life-changing experience this had been.  


Elder Bednar said, “I am not suggesting that the spiritually strong responses of Amulek, Pahoran, President Nelson, and President Eyring are explained by only one Christlike quality. Certainly, many interrelated attributes and experiences led to the spiritual maturity reflected in the lives of these four noble servants. But the Savior and His prophets have highlighted an essential quality that all of us need to more fully understand and strive to incorporate into our lives. … Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. This quality helps us to understand more completely the respective reactions of Amulek, Pahoran, President Nelson, and President Eyring.”4


Imagine how our lives will be blessed when we, in meekness, righteously and rapidly respond to the prophet of God, when we willingly submit to God’s will, and when we, with perspective and strong self-restraint, act rather than react. 


So how can we develop this vitally important divine attribute?  Elder Bednar taught, “Meekness is an attribute developed through desire, the righteous exercise of moral agency, and striving always to retain a remission of our sins.  It is also a spiritual gift for which we appropriately can seek. … As we come unto and follow the Savior, we increasingly and incrementally are enabled to become more like Him.  We are empowered by the Spirit with disciplined self-restraint and a settled and calm demeanor.  Thus, meek is what we become as disciples of the Master and not just something we do.”4


Because Jesus Christ is the perfect example of meekness, we know that our greatest learning comes from Him.  His Atonement is the greatest evidence of willingly submitting to His Father’s will.  Think about the events from Gethsemane to Golgotha.  He showed us perfectly what it means to righteously and rapidly respond, to willingly submit and to be blessed with perspective and strong self-restraint to act rather than react.


This is the most supreme act of love that this world has even known.  It can and will bless us every day if we choose to let it.  We need the power of His Atonement to help us change and become more like Him. “Meekness,” Elder Bednar said, “can be received and developed in our lives because of and through the Savior’s Atonement.”4  Without meekness we will never be able to develop the Chrlistlike attribute of charity.


I think some of the most beautiful scriptures are found in Moroni 7:44-48.  Charity and other divine characteristics of Christ are listed in these scriptures and their relationship to each other explained. Verse 48 is my favorite!  “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.”6  I love the words “when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”  Only if we know what meekness and charity look like and feel like will we recognize the Savior.  Only if we are meek and full of charity will we be like Him.


To my favorite scripture, I add one of my favorite hymns.  When I need of a gentle reminder of how I am supposed to be and who I am supposed to become, those scriptures and this hymn help me keep the proper perspective on the things that matter most.


More holiness give me,
More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.

More purity give me,
More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy—
More, Savior, like thee.7


I love my Savior!  I am so grateful for His perfect example.  I know from personal experience that following His example of meekness will bring a settled peace in our lives that can come in no other way. Knowing how He lived and responded to the challenges in His life will help us as we try to figure out our own challenges.  There is nothing we go through in this life that He cannot help us with.  He has showed us how we should live and how we should love.  “What manner of men ought ye to be?  Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”2 


Russell M. Nelson once said, “If you really want to be like the Lord … you will remember that your adoration of Jesus is best shown by your emulation of Him.”8  Our challenge is to love Him enough to become more like Him.

References:

1.  I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus – Children’s Songbook

2.  3 Nephi 27:27

3.  Mosiah 5:13

4.  Meek and Lowly of Heart – David A. Bednar

5.  Alma 61:9

6.  Moroni 7:48

7.  More Holiness Give Me – Hymn 131

8.  Endure and Be Lifted Up – Russell M. Nelson

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