My journey to know Jesus Christ has been very similar to the hike we took together in an earlier post. I have been blessed with an ever-increasing amount of light from my Father in Heaven. As the light grows brighter I have been able to appreciate more of the detail and beauty of the gospel message. But, rather than just tell you of my journey, let me ask a series of questions and share some thoughts that will allow us to walk together towards knowing the Savior.
In all our experiences in life there are the things that we do and then there are the things that we feel. We learn in our minds by the choices we make about the activities we participate in, the people we associate with, and the study in which we engage. We learn in our hearts as we contemplate the feelings that accompany our life experience. It is when the message received in our mind is confirmed by the feelings of the heart that we experience revelation.
For example, do you remember your earliest days of learning the gospel? It may have been your parents, a friend, or missionaries that introduced you to the gospel message. What caused you to accept their message? Were you somehow impressed by the goodness radiating from those who taught you? Did you see the blessings of obedience in their lives? Do you remember how you felt as you heard the gospel message? Did it sound good and uplifting and thrill your soul? Did you hope that it could be true? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you have experienced the Spirit of Jesus Christ reminding your spirit of what we knew in the premortal world.[1]
After we hear the gospel we begin to have hope of eternal life through the redemption and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also come to know that our lives are not in harmony with all of the teachings of the gospel. So, we begin to repent and call upon God for forgiveness. Have you ever felt the weight of knowing that something in your life is not in harmony with God’s teachings? Have you felt that burden lifted as you repented and moved on living in a little better harmony with the gospel? Repentance and forgiveness bring joy and relief from the burden of sin.
Many of us were baptized at a young age and may not remember that day. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to attend baptisms of friends and family members. Once we are twelve years old we have the blessing of doing baptisms for the dead. Whether it was at your baptism or at any other baptism, have you ever felt the spirit whisper of the cleansing power of the Savior? Not long ago I had the privilege of going to the temple with the young women from our ward. One of these young women brought the name of her grandfather to be baptized and confirmed in the temple. I got to baptize this young woman’s father in behalf of her grandfather as she looked on. Our eyes filled with tears as we felt the gratitude of her grandfather from the other side of the veil. The spirit whispered and we were uplifted.
Following faith, repentance and baptism we are promised the gift of the Holy Ghost. Often we hear in talks of dramatic stories where the Holy Ghost directs someone to leave a dangerous situation. These are great stories of blessing to those who experienced them. But, we are not promised that we will be saved from all danger by the Holy Ghost. Rather, we are promised by Jesus Christ that the Holy Ghost “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” and “he shall testify of me.”[2]
Have you ever been reading your scriptures and had a verse grab your attention? Have you ever stopped to ponder that verse and felt it speak to your heart? Have you ever looked for similar verses and had your understanding of a gospel principle confirmed and expanded? These are all done by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Do you remember hearing a talk or a lesson and feeling challenged to make a change in something you were doing or not doing? Did you feel that your life could be brought into better alignment with the teachings of the Gospel? Did you feel a little closer to God because of that effort to change? This is part of enduring to the end.
The atonement provides more than just the power to erase the stains of sin. It also offers us the chance to become better than we currently are. It is the power of change in our lives. Once we have forsaken the worst of our sins, Jesus Christ is still the power that allows us to grow and progress toward our Father in Heaven. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can approach the Father.
In the temple we learn the way back into the presence of our Father in Heaven. The temple is, itself, a great symbol of Jesus Christ. If we will approach the temple as if we are approaching the Savior we will be refined and purified through our temple worship. We will be taught of how we are literally transformed and prepared in all ways to enter the presence of God.
Have you ever felt a little closer to God in the temple? Have you ever had a principle of the gospel become clear as you pondered the symbols in the temple? Have you ever felt the cares of the world left behind and your soul lifted as you participated in temple ordinances? It is in the priesthood ordinances that we find the key to the knowledge of God.[3] These flashes of insight are an important part of the Lord’s promise to manifest Himself to His people in mercy in His house.[4]
Would you like to see Jesus Christ? Have you ever done something kind for someone else and felt your own burdens become easier to bear? Have ever served another person and felt your love and care for them grow beyond what you expected? Have you ever put someone else’s needs ahead of your own and been surprised at the deep impact this can have? When we serve those around us we are in the service of Jesus Christ and we see Him in the service of others.
Jesus said:[5]
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
We can be where the Savior is if we will serve Him by serving our brothers and sisters.
Were you able to answer “yes” to any of the questions I asked? If you did then you have felt the quiet whisperings of the Spirit in those situations I asked about. In fact, you are much like the Lamanites spoken of by Jesus Christ who “were baptized with fire and with the holy Chost, and they knew it not.”[6] If in reading this post you have been reminded of past spiritual experiences I would ask Alma’s question, “Can you feel so now?”[7]
Each week as we partake of the sacrament we have the opportunity to turn our minds to Jesus Christ. I have found a question that is of great help to me. The question is, “when is the last time I felt the Spirit in my life?” If I have not felt, and acknowledged feeling, the spirit since the last time I partook of the sacrament then I know there is something out of line with the gospel in my life. I can prayerfully ask what I need to do and my loving Father in Heaven will bring to my mind that which I need to work on next. Remember the question, “When is the last time I felt and acknowledged feeling the Spirit?”
Remember that we are, in fact, eternal spirit beings living in mortality in order to become like our Father in Heaven. We were born into mortality as infants that could not walk, talk, feed ourselves, or even understand the loving language of our parents. But, over time and with effort we learn and progress to become adults.
Similarly, when we are born again we are as spiritual infants. The language of the spirit feels good but we do not yet understand it in full. The language of the spirit is quiet and is best heard while we are praying, serving others, reading the scriptures or worshiping in the temple. These are the things we should be doing because they are things that will bring us closer to Jesus Christ. By following the gospel path we will grow and progress in the things of the Spirit to the end that we may return to live with our Father in Heaven. Sometimes the path seems difficult. I believe, though, that there is no challenge that we may face in this life that cannot be overcome through the power of Jesus Christ.[8]
[1] See D&C 84:
44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.
[2] See John 14: 26, 15:26
[3] See D&C 84:
19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
[4] See D&C 110:
7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.
[5] See John 12: 25-26
[6] See 3 Nephi 9: 20
[7] See Alma 5: 26
[8] See Ether 12:
27 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.
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