President Russell M. Nelson recently issued a very personal invitation to the women of the Church to “study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. Your personal spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed. Part of this endeavor will require you to put aside many things of this world. Sometimes we speak almost casually about walking away from the world with its contention, pervasive temptations, and false philosophies. But truly doing so requires you to examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy.”1
Reading this section while studying October’s doctrinal topic of becoming more Christlike was very enlightening. I made a list of several words and phrases from it that perfectly define characteristics of the Savior or things I can do to become more like Him. That list includes being faithful; walking in the paths of virtue; not murmuring ; being a comfort with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness; expounding scriptures; spending more time learning the gospel; not being fearful; laying aside the things of this world, and seeking for the things of a better; being meek; and keeping the commandments continuously. Acquiring and refining these Christlike attributes will bless me as I “put aside many things of this world”1 and pursue the “personal spiritual endeavor”1 that our prophet has asked us all to undertake.
Keep those words and phrases in mind as we contemplate the admonition found in the Book of Mormon to “be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.”2
Once again, the words higher and holier keep coming to my mind. And it is undeniable that striving to become like the Savior is striving to live in a higher and holier way. President Nelson reminds us that “Jesus … taught, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ His hope for us is crystal clear! He declared: ‘What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.’ Thus, our adoration of Jesus is best expressed by our emulation of Jesus. People have never failed to follow Jesus because his standards were imprecise or insufficiently high. Quite to the contrary. Some have disregarded his teachings because they were viewed as being too precise or impractically high! Yet such lofty standards, when earnestly pursued, produce great inner peace and incomparable joy.”3
The words even as I am may seem quite daunting. However, we can be assured that if our actions and our reactions are aligned with the Savior’s, we will have great inner peace and incomparable joy. In every situation, He is our perfect example. President Nelson said, “As our great Exemplar, Jesus taught us how to live, to love, and to learn. He taught us how to pray, to forgive, and endure to the end. He taught us how to care about others more than we care about ourselves. He taught us about mercy and kindness—making real changes in our lives through His power. He taught us how to find peace of heart and mind.”4
Take a moment to think of the times in your life when you have sincerely tried to be even as the Savior is. Especially during some difficult times in my life, being taught by His example has helped me to know how do things and given me strength to endure things I could never have done on my own.
The Christlike attributes each of us needs to work on will be different. However, I would like to share five specific aspects of the Savior’s life President Nelson once suggested we all should strive to emulate. They are love, ordinances, prayer, knowledge and enduring to the end. As we discuss each of these, ponder on how developing or improving on these specific areas can help you live in a higher and holier way.
Love – The expression of the Savior’s love includes “compassion, kindness, charity, devotion, forgiveness, mercy, justice, and more. … Another expression of our Savior’s love was his service. … All loving relationships are elevated in him. Love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ provides the illumination, inspiration, and motivation to love others in a loftier way.”5 Last year the prophet taught, “With the Savior’s help, we can learn to love as He loved. It may require a change of heart—most certainly a softening of our hearts—as we are tutored by the Savior how to really take care of each other.”6 As we follow His example, we will love in a higher and holier way.
Ordinances – “A second aspect of the Savior’s exemplary life was his emphasis upon sacred ordinances. During his mortal ministry he demonstrated the importance of the ordinances of salvation. He was baptized by John in the Jordan River. … Later the Lord instituted the ordinance of the sacrament and linked it to that of baptism. … During the Lord’s postmortal ministry, the higher ordinances of exaltation have been revealed. He has provided for these ordinances in his holy temples. … His focus on ordinances is a powerful part of his example to us. … Ordinances provide a focus for service of eternal worth.”5 Earlier this year, the prophet said, “The Savior invites all to follow Him into the waters of baptism and, in time, to make additional covenants with God in the temple and receive and be faithful to those further essential ordinances.”7 As we follow His example, we will partake of the sacrament and participate in the ordinances of the temple in a higher and holier way.
Prayer – “Jesus prayed to his Father in Heaven and also taught us how to pray. … The Savior’s example of prayer reminds us that personal prayer, family prayer, and prayerful pursuit of our assignment in the Church should become part of our lives. To know and to do the will of the Father provides great spiritual strength and confidence. To be on the Lord’s side is where we want to be.”5 President Nelson shares the Savior’s ultimate example, “Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world—He who ransomed us with His blood—is our Redeemer and our Exemplar. At the close of His mortal mission, He prayed that His will—as the Beloved Son—might be swallowed up in the will of the Father. In that crucial hour the Savior cried, ‘Father, … not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ So we should pray to God, ‘Thy will be done.’”8 As we follow His example, our time in prayer will be holier.
Knowledge – “A fourth aspect of the Lord’s example is the use of his divine knowledge. … Many non-Christians acknowledge that Jesus was a great teacher. Indeed, he was. But what truly distinguished his teaching? … He taught truths of eternal significance. Only he could have revealed our purpose in life. Only through him could we learn of our premortal existence and of our postmortal potential. … Knowledge ‘of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be’ allows us to act upon true principles and doctrine. That knowledge will lift our level of behavior.”5 Because the Savior taught us truths of eternal significance, and because we know we are children of God, our behavior should be higher and holier.
Endure to the End – “A fifth aspect of the Lord’s ministry … is his commitment to endure to the end. Never did he withdraw from his assignment. Though he experienced suffering beyond our comprehension, he was not a quitter. Through deepening trials he endured to the end of his assignment: to atone for the sins of all humankind. His final words as he hung from the cross were, ‘It is finished.’”5 Do we allow the Savior’s example to endure to strengthen our own commitment to endure to the end? In the many ways we can follow His example to endure, this one President Nelson included resonated with me, “It means that we will never, no never, give up on a loved one who has strayed. And it means that we will always cherish our eternal family relationships, even through difficult days of disease, disability, or death.”5 Do we truly comprehend the eternal importance of the Savior’s enduring to the end? President Nelson puts it into perspective. “What if Jesus had wavered in His commitment to do His Father’s will? His Atonement would not have been accomplished. The dead would not be resurrected. The blessings of immortality and eternal life would not be. But Jesus did endure. During His final hour, Jesus prayed to His Father, saying, ‘I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.’”9 Enduring to the end as the Savior did is our ultimate test of living and loving in a higher and holier way.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.10 Because of His perfect example, we know what we need to do to return to live with our Heavenly Father again. As we strive daily to pursue the incredible charge to become even as He is, a consistent and constant study of His life and teachings will be necessary. President Nelson has taught, “Our busy lives force us to focus on things we do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we focus on who we really are. … When we feast upon the words of Christ, they … become an integral part of our nature.”11
Some of my favorite words of Christ are found in Moroni 7, “Cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—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, … 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 (and daughters) 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.”12
Allowing the words of Christ to become an integral part of our nature will help us on our personal spiritual endeavor to become more like the Savior. Our attitudes and actions will be higher and holier. Then when He shall appear, we will recognize Him because we will be even as He is.
References:
- Spiritual Treasures – Russell M. Nelson
- Alma 7:23-24
- Perfection Pending – Russell M. Nelson
- Jesus the Christ —Our Prince of Peace – Russell M. Nelson
- Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ – Russell M. Nelson
- Four Gifts That Jesus Offers to You – Russell M. Nelson
- “Come, Follow Me” – Russell M. Nelson
- Lessons From the Lord’s Prayer – Russell M. Nelson
- Endure and Be Lifted Up – Russell M. Nelson
- John 14:6
- Living By Scriptural Guidance– Russell M. Nelson
- Moroni 7:46-48