1998
In Remembrance of Jesus
April 1998


“In Remembrance of Jesus,” Friend, Apr. 1998, inside front cover

In Remembrance of Jesus

(Adapted from an October 1997 general conference address. See Ensign, November 1997, pages 24–26.)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

The time had come for Christ’s ministry on earth to end. It was the Passover season. The people were celebrating and rejoicing in the goodness of God for having saved their forefathers from the plagues that had come upon Egypt in the days of Moses. Jesus had assembled His Apostles in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. Soon He would make His atoning sacrifice so that all mankind—those who had lived before that time, those who were then living, and all those who would yet live on earth—would be able to return to Heavenly Father’s presence if they would repent from their sins and be obedient to His commandments.

For all who come unto Christ and take His name upon them through baptism, there is great responsibility to be worthy to participate weekly in the sacrament to renew their baptismal covenant, take His name upon them, renew their promise to keep all of His commandments, remember Him, know Him, and understand His greatness.

When we are baptized in His name and always remember Him and keep His commandments, He gives us the greatest blessing He can give us: to always have His Spirit to be with us. We are not left alone. We have the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us in an otherwise very dark and dreary world. Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Where the light of Christ is found, the darkness of Lucifer, even Satan, must depart, defeated.

May we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, and always remember Him in all that we do and all that we say—may we follow His light and choose the right.

Painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch