True Discipleship Requires Sacrifice

"And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him," (Luke 5:11). "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple," (Luke 14:33).

From the beginning of time, true disciples of Christ have made sacrifices. In Moses's day, they offered up the firstlings of their flock in similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Although this practice ended with Christ's eternal sacrifice, we are still required to come unto Him in humility and offer up the sacrifice of our hearts (see 3 Nephi 9:19-20).

A true disciple of Christ sacrifices and forsakes all that he hath. That means, we must sacrifice of our time, our energy, our substance, and our hearts if we want to be one of his followers. We are often lured into a sense of complacency and are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to increase in faith and serve others. We often put ourselves first and are reluctant to change.

Let me give you a personal example. I've always wanted to study from the scriptures daily. I've tried to create a consistent pattern, but my efforts often fail. Why do they fail? Even though my intentions are good, I am often unwilling to truly sacrifice in order to bring my desire to fruition. Specifically, I treasure my morning sleep and find it hard to sacrifice that sleep in exchange for spiritual food. My reluctance has caused me to ask myself:

"Am I willing to forsake all to be a disciple of Christ?"

Many of us want God in our lives, but aren't willing to sacrifice our time and energy to have him there. We are just too busy. We are reluctant to give of our time to study the scriptures. We tire of giving our energy in selflessness. We withhold our substance if we feel it too big a sacrifice.

So I ask, are we willing to forsake all? Are we willing to give up our morning sleep or our favorite television show? Are we willing to give up that new car or gadget? Are we willing to visit those in need when we feel needy ourselves? Are we willing to offer up our hearts?

As we enter this Christmas season, take the time to consider what sacrifices you can make for your Savior, Jesus Christ. As we make put forth a diligent effort, our sacrifices will begin to feel like opportunities. And as we continue to embrace them, we will see that they aren't really sacrifices at all, but blessings from our Heavenly Father.

Take my Yoke Upon you

The greatest gift we have ever been given is the atonement of Jesus Christ. When we become "at one" with Christ, He can not only cleanse us from our sins but also succor us when in need.

When Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, He felt the weight of all of our sins AND the sorrow for our infirmities--all of our heartache, pains, and sufferings of any kind. No matter how alone we may feel at times in our lives, we can turn to the Lord and know that He understands our every pain.

He beckons, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you...and you will find rest unto your souls," (Matt. 11: 28-29)

When we are heavy laden with the sorrows of life, we can come unto the Lord and He can make our burdens feel light. To "yoke" means to become joined or linked together, and often refers to the harness that links oxen together before a cart. So, when we take His yoke upon us, He can help us carry our load so that it feels lighter. He doesn't necessarily take the burdens away from us, but He will carry them with us.

What does this mean for us? When we feel the desire to despair, when we feel as though no one can understand the pains we are coping with, when we feel like our burden is too heavy to bear, we can remember that the Lord suffered ALL for us and knows our infirmities.

The first prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, suffered unimaginable trials. He was persecuted and driven from place to place. His clothes were ripped from his back while his enemies coated his flesh in tar and feathers. He was wrongfully imprisoned. In his most painful hour, he turned to the Lord for comfort and strength. The Lord responded with this message:

"If thou art called to pass through tribulation...If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations...and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?...And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee;...and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (Doctrine & Covenants 122:5-8)

The Son of Man, our Savior Jesus Christ hath descended below them all. He has suffered more than any man on this earth will ever suffer. We should note that He doesn't promise us a life free of suffering. He explains that the trials and sorrows we suffer in this life will "be for thy good." Paul also explains in Romans that, "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, see also 38-39)

When we view our trials and sorrows as opportunities to grow and gain experience, and when we turn the the Lord so that He can help us carry our burdens, our load will be lightened. I can testify that by coming unto Christ, we can find "rest for our souls" and He can help us understand the purpose behind the sorrow we experience.

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As it is Thanksgiving this week, I would also like to suggest that we develop an attitude of gratitude in the trials we face. In 1 Thessalonians, we read, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you," (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice he does not say, "give thanks when times are happy," or "give thanks for all blessings." He says to give thanks in EVERY thing. I suggest that we seek to have gratitude in all situations and all trials. Not only will this help us see the reason behind our sufferings, but it can bring the peace of Jesus Christ into our hearts so that we feel lighter. We all have so much to be grateful for. We would do well to contemplate and meditate on what those blessings are specifically, rather than lumping them all together by saying, "we're thankful for our blessings." Let us take the time to give true thanks to the Lord for all things.

Thoughts on the Atonement

The last few posts have delved into who Christ is, and some of the many acts He has done for us. Allow me a moment to expound on my understanding of the Grace we receive from the Savior through His atonement.

I want to make it clear that the Savior isn’t our last chance, He is our only chance. I often hear from others that Mormons believe we earn our way to heaven. Such a notion is false and misconstrued. Let me make it clear that it is only through the Savior’s grace and atonement that we can be cleansed and live in His presence; in otherwords, we cannot save ourselves.

However, merely saying, “I believe,” is not enough. It reminds me of the scripture in Matthew 15:8, which states, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me," (See also Isaiah 29:13, 2 Nephi 27:25). If we truly believe in Christ, our our words and our actions will indicate our faith in Him and will align our hearts with His. For, "Not every one that saith unto [Christ,] Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of [the] Father which is in heaven," (Matt 7:21).

We show Christ that we believe--that we have faith--by acting. It is through exercising our faith that it is tried and proven to the Lord. What are some actions of our faith? Repentance, baptism, keeping the commandments, serving others, and trying to become more like him. These actions are evidences of our faith in Him and allow His spirit to dwell in our hearts so that we remain near Him, and thus can receive the blessings of His grace.

Furthermore, the person who says, “I believe that Jesus Christ has saved me, so I can live in sin, because I cannot better myself,” does not fully understand the atonement. The scriptures say that Christ does not save you in your sins, but "from your sins,” (Matt 1:21, see also Alma 11:34-37). In other words, His atonement does not save us in sin, but helps us shed our sins so that we can be free from our sins.

How does His atonement help us shed our sins? The atonement is not just a saving power, it is an enabling power. It enables us to repent, to be forgiven, to forsake, and yes, to become perfect. No one can ever say, “this is the way I am; I cannot change,” for that is a falsehood. Can I become perfect on my own? No. Do I have hope of changing and becoming more like Him on my own? No. But I CAN forsake my sins and become perfect by coming unto my Savior, and succumbing to his atonement. If we don't make an effort to shed our sins, we are saying we don’t believe in His atonement--we don’t believe that our Savior can save us, cleanse us, and redeem us.

I testify that through Christ's atonement, we can shed the sins that drag us down. We can overcome our shortcomings and be made, "new creatures," in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ commanded, “I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect," (3 Nephi 12:48, see also Matt 5:48). I testify that he can change us. He has helped me overcome sins and continues to help me daily. His atoning power is real and enables us to become perfect through His blood. I am forever grateful for the gift of his matchless love that saves me from my sins and helps me repent and forsake them.

The Rock, Our Foundation

As a young child, one of my favorite church songs was called "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man, which bases its lyrics on Christ’s admonition following His Sermon on the Mount.

“The wise man built his house upon a rock, and the rains came tumbling down. The rains came down and the floods came up, and the house on the rock stood still. The foolish man built his house upon the sand, and the rains came tumbling down. The rains came down and the floods came up, and the house on the sand washed away.” (Children’s Songbook 281, see also Matt 7:24-27 and Luke 6:48)

As I sang, my hands would form a house on a rock to the beat of the song. I remember how strong the rock felt compared to the wishy-washy sand, and wondered that anyone would build on a sandy foundation.

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The Only Sure Foundation

Christ is called “the Rock” because He is the only sure foundation for us in this life. He only can give us the strength to withstand the storms of the devil and the beatings of the world. In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Nephi states,

“Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall,” (Helaman 5:12).

If we build our foundation upon Him and His doctrine, we cannot fall. In Ephesians, Paul also asks that we, “be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,” (Ephesians 4:14). Those without Christ “are driven about as a chaff before the wind…or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her,” (Mormon 5:16, 18).

So, how do we become like the wise man? How do we build our sure foundation?

In Christ’s admonition, he explains that those who hear his words and do them, are likened unto a wise man, while those who hear his words, but doeth them not, are likened unto the foolish man (Matt 7:24-27). So, to build upon the Rock, “we must be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” (James 1:22). We must heed the counsel He gives us in the Sermon on the Mount to seek first the kingdom of God, to judge not, and to do the will of the Father (see Matt 5-7). We must repent and believe in Him, become as little children, and be baptized in His name (3 Nephi 11:37-39).

I testify that Christ is the only sure foundation and protection from the buffetings of life. When storms cross my path, He helps me stand strong so that the devil cannot drag me down to the "gulf of misery and endless woe." Building on the Rock of our Redeemer brings hope and strength in the face of trials and tempests. If we hear and do his word, “we cannot fall,” for Christ is with us and will not forsake us. I am so grateful that He has never forsaken me in my time of need, and I know He will do the same for all men.

The Good Shepherd

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young,” (Isaiah 40:11).

I love the imagery of Christ as the Good Shepherd. It captures His gentle, loving nature and His devotion to leading, guiding, and protecting us. What can we learn about Christ by viewing Him as the Good Shepherd? The scriptures teach us the following. (See 1 Nephi 22:25, Psalm 23:1, Ezekiel 34:12-16, John 10:2-18, Alma 5:37-39, 57-60)

“He shall feed his sheep,” so that they “shall not want,” (1 Nephi 22:25, Psalms 23:1). Just as a shepherd feeds his sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ is the “bread of life,” (John 6:35); those who come unto Him shall neither hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled with His light and shall not want.

He leads His sheep “beside the still waters” and “in him they shall find pasture,” (Psalms 23:1, 1 Nephi 22:25). As the Good Shepherd, He leads His sheep on safe paths, wherein they can find peace and rest. He can help us stay clear of life’s dangers as we learn to put our faith in Him.

He “seeketh out His flock” and will “deliver them,” (Ezekiel 34:12). When found, he will “will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick,” (Ezekiel 34:16) and will “cause them to lie down,” in His rest (Ezekiel 34:15). He can deliver us from evil and heal our hearts.

He “giveth his life for the sheep,” (John 10:11). The Lord explains in His parable that an hireling careth not for the sheep, and fleeth when he seeth the wolf, (John 10:12). But, the Good Shepherd “lay[s] down [his] life for the sheep,” (John 10:15). Christ gave his life for us so that we might live again.

What must we do to be part of his fold?

We must first learn to recognize the beckoning voice of Christ. “…and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name…and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice,” (John 10:2-4). If we do not learn of Christ or seek after His words, how can we recognize His voice? We must come to know Him in our hearts.

Then, we must follow him. “The good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ…All you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things…And if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep,” (Alma 5:57-60). Jesus added in His own words, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” (John 10:9).

I testify that if we come unto him, he will “carry [us] in his bosom” and “gently lead [us].” I have felt Him gather me in His arms and lead me to safe pastures. Through Him, my heart is full with the hope of everlasting life, such that I need not hunger or thirst. He has given His life, such that we might live if we but heed his beckoning call.

Christ is our Savior

Perhaps the name we hear most frequently for Christ is the Savior, or Redeemer. Why is He called the Savior? What do we need saving from?

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, started their earthly sojourn in the Garden of Eden. They were innocent: They did not know of joy and sorrow, or good and evil. They lived in the presence of God and had all things provided for them. They were to eat freely from any tree, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Moses 3:17). However, the Lord gave them the option to choose. By eating of the fruit, they would obtain knowledge and experience, but they would be estranged from the presence of the Lord and would become subject to physical death.

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they chose to experience mortality and learn from experience. As a result, man became subject to physical death and spiritual death. “…for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual,” (Helaman 14:16). The Lord in his wisdom, foresaw the fall of Adam and Eve and provided a plan for them and their posterity to return to his presence.

The Lord’s Plan: A Savior

During Christ’s mortal sojourn, He performed many miracles and touched many lives. But the most significant act He performed includes His suffering in the garden of Gethsemane and His death on the cross. We call this act the atonement.

“And he was withdrawn from them…and kneeled down, and prayed,
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. …
“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground,” (Luke 22:41-42, 44)

What happened when He knelt down to pray? During this infinite act, He took upon himself the sins of the world and felt the pains and sorrows of every man. “For behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and abominations of his people,” (Mosiah 3:7). He suffered so that we might not suffer. In His own words, He said:

“I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.
“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the cup, and shrink--
“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook…” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19)

After this infinite and eternal act, He returned to His apostles only to be betrayed by Judas and delivered into the hands of men. They beat Him. They spit on Him. They mocked Him. But He suffered it so that his Father’s plan could be fulfilled. They drove nails into His hands and feet and nailed Him to a cross. Though He could save Himself, He allowed Himself to be crucified by the hands of men, to fulfill His purpose on earth. Finally, His suffering ended when He cried with a loud voice, saying, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost,” (Luke 23:46).

As the only begotten of the Father, He had power over death and was resurrected on the Third day--His spirit restored to His body no more to be parted.

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Christ is our Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer. His infinite atonement provides a way for us to be saved from physical and spiritual death. He took upon himself the sins of the world so that we might not suffer if we repent. He is our advocate with the Father; because He led a perfect life and paid the price for our sins, the law of justice is fulfilled in Him and the law of mercy can be extended to us.

Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. “For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12, see also Mosiah 3:17). Without Him, we would not be able to return to our Father in heaven after this life. We would not be able to shed our sins through Christ’s atonement. We would die both physically and spiritually without any hope of redemption.

I know that the atonement is real. I have felt His forgiveness when I have sought repentance for my frequent mistakes. I have experienced the joy that comes through embracing the Savior and letting Him lift the pain of sin. I cannot begin to fathom the suffering He endured to provide us such a gift, which suffering cause Him, the God of all, to “bleed from every pore.” Though unfathomable it is, I know that it happened. He suffered all because He loves us. He wants us to be saved. His selflessness provides the way for all. I am forever grateful for His willingness to submit to the will of the father and fulfill His plan so that we might be saved.

Mormon Beliefs: Part II: The Fall

Heavenly Father sent us here to mortality so that we can gain the experience of living in mortality, which enables us to enjoy His blessings.  Part of his perfect plan was that he would give us “agency” or the ability to choose and act for ourselves, (Joshua 24:15, Old Testament; 2 Nephi 2:26-29, Book of Mormon). Our progression in life depends on whether we choose to follow Jesus Christ, or follow the adversary.

Adam and Eve were given agency in the Garden of Eden, which they used when they chose to eat of the forbidden fruit, subjecting themselves to both physical and spiritual death; physical because they were able to die, and spiritual because they could no longer be in the presence of our Heavenly Father. We believe that the fall of man was part of God’s plan, as it was only after the fall that they could bare children and understand good and evil, thus enabling them to learn and progress, (Genesis 3, Old Testament; 2 Nephi 2:25, Book of Mormon; Alma 12:22-34, Book of Mormon). In our mortal position, we often yield to temptation, sin, and make mistakes. We cannot overcome the effects of sin by ourselves--we are helpless without the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Mormon Beliefs: Part III: Jesus Christ

The Lord chose Jesus Christ before the world was organized to be our Savior and Redeemer, making it possible for us to overcome the effects of the fall. He overcame the obstacle of physical death when he was crucified on the cross and was resurrected on the third day, (Luke 24:1-10, 36-39, New Testament; Helaman 14:15-19, Book of Mormon). His resurrection entitles all of us to receive perfect bodies in the life hereafter, (1 Corinthians 15, 20-23, New Testament; Alma 11:42-45, Book of Mormon). However, to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father again, we must be cleansed from sin, (3 Nephi 27:19, Book of Mormon). Jesus Christ enabled us to overcome our spiritual death through His Atonement. He was sinless, completely obedient to the Father, and remained true though tempted. He took upon himself the sins, sorrows, and heartaches of all the world in the garden of Gethsemane, causing him to suffer beyond comprehension, such that he bled from every pore, (Luke 22:42-44, New Testament; Mosiah 3:7, Book of Mormon). Through this act, he paid the price for our sins so that we can become clean. By exercising faith, repenting, being baptized, and enduring to the end, we can receive these blessings. It is ONLY through our Lord, Jesus Christ, that we can be saved, (John 3:16-17, New Testament; 2 Nephi 2:6-8, Book of Mormon).