Another talk based on a list and I missed the start of it while processing Laura’s accusations.
Thirty-four years ago, my missionary companion and I met and taught a very intellectual man who was a contributing writer for a local newspaper in Davao City, Philippines. We enjoyed teaching him because he had a lot of questions and was very respectful of our beliefs. The most memorable question he asked us was “What think ye of Christ?” We of course excitedly shared our feelings and bore testimony of Jesus Christ. He later published an article on the same topic that contained wonderful words and phrases about the Savior. I remember being impressed but not necessarily lifted. It had good information but felt hollow and lacked spiritual power.
There is a qualitative difference between “knowing about” and “knowing” the Savior.
As I studied and pondered, I came to the stark realization that what I know about the Savior greatly outweighed how much I really know Him. I resolved then to put forth more effort to know Him. I am very grateful for the scriptures and testimonies of faithful men and women disciples of Jesus Christ. My own journey over the last few years has taken me down many roads of study and discovery. I pray that the Holy Ghost will convey to you today a message far greater than the inadequate words that I have written.
I feel that I know Christ better than the average person in addition to knowing about Him. I take joy in knowing about Him primarily because of my knowledge of Him. Without knowing Him I know that what I know of him would be hollow.
- We need to recognize that knowing the Savior is the most important pursuit of our lives. It should take priority over anything else.
- As we are increasingly coming to know the Savior, scriptural passages and the words of the prophets become so intimately meaningful to us that they become our own words.
- An increasing understanding that the Atonement of Jesus Christ applies to us personally and individually will help us know Him.
- Because of His atoning sacrifice, the Savior has power to cleanse, heal, and strengthen us one by one.
Years ago, at the invitation of my file leader, I read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and marked the verses that referenced the Lord’s Atonement. My leader also invited me to prepare a one-page summary of what I learned. I said to myself, “One page? Sure, that is easy.” To my surprise, however, I found the task to be extremely difficult, and I failed.
I have since realized that I failed because I missed the mark and had incorrect assumptions.
- I expected the summary to be inspiring to everyone.
- The summary was meant for me and not for anyone else.
- It was meant to capture my feelings and emotions about the Savior and what He has done for me.
- I expected the summary to be grand and elaborate and contain big words and phrases.
- It was meant to be a clear and simple declaration of conviction.
- In essence it is a testimony distilled into written form.
- I expected it to be perfect, a summary to end all summaries—a final summary that one cannot and should not add to—instead of a work in progress.
I would like to try my hand at writing such a summary (and distilling it down to a single page).
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