My Farewell Talk "We Follow Jesus Christ"

We follow Jesus Christ and His marvelous example in many different ways. We follow Him by partaking of the Sacrament each Sunday, we follow Him by showing love for those around us-especially our enemies, and we follow Him by being under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. These are ordinances and doctrines that were initiated at the Last Supper by our Savior, Jesus Christ. And these are ways in which we can show our love for Him. Elder Cook, in April’s General Conference, gave a talk entitled “We Follow Jesus Christ.” And I will be drawing quotes from that for my talk today.

Each week we are given the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. Elder Cook, said “If we are to be His disciples and to be committed members of His Church, we must remember and reverence the sacrament. It allows each of us to express with broken hearts and contrite spirits our willingness to follow the Savior, to repent, and to become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ.” (End quote.) By taking the sacrament, we are humbling ourselves before God and showing Him our willingness to remember and follow His Son. We are also renewing our baptismal covenant, in which we covenanted to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to stand as a witness of God, and to keep His commandments. I am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to partake of the sacrament each Sunday.

Elder Cook said “How we relate and interact with each other is a measure of our willingness to follow Jesus Christ.” We are given the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is sometimes a difficult task, but it can be done. We have a wonderful example to follow, an example that no one can deny. Christ, even though he was betrayed, forgave. In our lives, there will be times when others will betray us. It may be a close friend, or just an acquaintance. But whatever the case, and whoever it is, we need to forgive them. One of the greatest gifts we’ve been given is the gift of forgiveness. We are promised that if we truly repent of our sins, we will receive the peace that comes through the power of forgiveness. In addition, forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give to others and to ourselves. Elder Cook went on to say that “If we show love and respect even in adverse circumstances, we become more like Christ.”

Life’s journey was never intended to be easy. We know there will be times of trial and sadness. But those are the times in which we need to follow the Savior the most. One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:13, which says “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We don’t have to go through this life on our own. We have the Father and the Son, and we have the Holy Ghost sent to us, to be a comforter and a guide. However, we must always be living in a way that will invite the Holy Ghost to be with us. Elder Cook said “If we want to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we must find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live so we are worthy to receive and act upon His promptings.” If we are humble to God’s will, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions the Holy Ghost makes to us, we will find peace and joy, and we will be able to find our way through this journey.

To help us along the path of life, we have the Savior’s teachings to follow. “By following His teachings, we can inherit a place in the celestial kingdom. He did His part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation.” (Gospel Principles) During the course of our lives, we need to develop a number of Christlike attributes. (Uchtdorf) These attributes are found in the scriptures. They include “knowledge, humility, charity, love, obedience, diligence, faith, and hope. Elder Uchtdorf shared a story in his talk “Christlike Attributes-the wind beneath our wings.” He said:

"During my professional life as an airline pilot, I sometimes had passengers visit the cockpit of my Boeing 747. They asked about the many switches, instruments, systems, and procedures and how all this technical equipment would help such a huge and beautiful airplane fly.

As with all pilots, I enjoyed the fact that they were impressed by the apparent complexity of this plane and that they wondered what kind of magnificent and brilliant person it takes to operate it! At this point of my story, my wife and children would kindly interrupt and say with a twinkling in their eyes,'Pilots are born with a great measure of natural humility!'

To the visitors in my cockpit, I would explain that it takes a great aerodynamic design, many auxiliary systems and programs, and powerful engines to make this flying machine equal to the task of bringing comfort and safety to those joining the flight.

To simplify my explanation by focusing on the basics, I would add that all you really need is a strong forward thrust, a powerful upward lift, and the right aircraft attitude, and the laws of nature will carry the 747 and its passengers safely across continents and oceans, over high mountains and dangerous thunderstorms to its destination.

Christlike attributes are the basics. They are the fundamental principles that will create "the wind beneath our wings." As we develop Christlike attributes in our own lives, step-by-step, they will "bear [us] up as on eagles' wings" (D&C 124:18). Our faith in Jesus Christ will provide power and a strong forward thrust; our unwavering and active hope will provide a powerful upward lift. Both faith and hope will carry us across oceans of temptations, over mountains of afflictions, and bring us safely back to our eternal home and destination."

Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They should be a part of our daily lives, and all that we do. We can use them to help lift others, and we can use them to strengthen ourselves. Alma 7:23-24 says:

“And now I would that ye should 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 things 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.”

I have seen many examples in my life of Christlike attributes. Growing up, especially in young women’s I was always taught about charity and love, and each of my young women’s leaders from Sister Teuscher (when I was a beehive) to Sister Cameron and Sister Mason (when I was a laurel) have been top notch examples of those. They always showed us their love for the young women, but most importantly-their love for the Savior and His gospel. Many around me have been good examples of faith- Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, Faith in His eternal plan, also important-Faith in themselves and those around them. My Grandpa, before he passed away, wrote his obituary and in it he said “faith gave him the knowledge that this earth life is short, and that we are all destined for greater things.” Because of that simple testimony of faith, my testimony and my faith have grown. My parents have taught me to be diligent and work hard, and to also gain knowledge. They have always been supportive in what I choose to do, and they encourage me to always do my best. My sister, Alyssa, has been the greatest influence on me, and has been a faithful follower of Christ. Her example of faith, commitment, charity, love, patience, and humility have helped me to become a better person. She always strives to do what’s right, and she’s always there when I need someone to talk to.

When we follow Christ, our happiness increases. We are able to magnify the light of Christ in our lives, and we are able to draw closer to Him. Elder F. Enzio Busche gave an amazing talk in a BYU devotional several years ago, and I have found a lot of insight from reading and listening to it. He lists a bunch of ways in which we can become true Disciples and followers of Christ. He said:

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.

* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

When we put Christ first in our lives, and choose to follow Him at all times-even through adversity, we will be blessed. We will have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, who will lead us and guide us along our journey. The Lord has provided us with a high ground, where we can go to feel safety and peace. To get to that high ground we must follow the teachings of the Prophet. He is an inspired man, who speaks in behalf of the Lord. He is a true follower of Christ and will never lead us astray. We follow Christ by partaking of the Sacrament each week, we follow Him by showing love for those around us-especially our enemies, and we follow Him by being under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost.

When we follow Christ and His teachings we are on the correct path to our Heavenly Home; where we can live in peace and love for all time and eternity. That is where I want to be, in the company of my family and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.