Ways We Follow Jesus Christ
We can follow Jesus Christ by joining Him in His work.
Feed My Sheep, by David Koch
When we are baptized, we begin the process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. President Dallin H. Oaks wrote, “One of the most significant meanings of taking upon us the name of Christ [is] a willingness and a commitment to take upon us the work of the Savior and His kingdom.”
The Savior’s work is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Immortality is a gift that Jesus Christ has already guaranteed through His Resurrection. Eternal life is the greatest gift God can give to mankind. It is to live forever as families in His presence.
For us to receive eternal life, we must become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. This means that we receive the restored gospel by having faith in the Savior and His Atonement, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
Anxiously Engaged
We then join the Savior in His work by helping God’s children also become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. This includes sharing His gospel, gathering scattered Israel, fulfilling responsibilities in the Savior’s Church, and striving to become like Him.
President Russell M. Nelson affirmed, “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel.”
To make the Savior’s work our work, we focus on His purposes, keep His commandments, and love one another. While we do His work His way, some things are left for us to figure out on our own. The Savior declared:
“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
“For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.”
As we follow the Savior, join Him in His work, and help others become His faithful disciples, we teach what He would teach, focus on His doctrine, and pay particular attention to those who are poor, needy, and vulnerable. The Savior taught this clearly when He quoted from Isaiah in a synagogue in Nazareth:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
Joining Jesus Christ in His work is exhilarating because His works, designs, and purposes “cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.” For those who feel discouraged, the Lord counseled: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”
The Heart and a Willing Mind
We don’t need to bring extraordinary talents or abilities to the Lord’s work. His requirement is simply commitment and willingness. He has said, “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” The Lord can make the willing able. But He cannot or will not make the able willing. No matter how talented we are, He will not use us unless we are committed to His work and willing to help Him.
Samuel and Anna-Maria Koivisto showed both commitment and willingness. Soon after their marriage, the Koivistos moved from Finland to Sweden to pursue career opportunities. After arriving, Brother Koivisto was invited to visit with President Leif G. Mattsson, a counselor in the Göteborg Sweden Stake presidency. Because Samuel did not speak Swedish, they spoke in English.
Following a brief visit, President Mattsson asked Samuel to serve as a ward mission leader. Samuel pointed out the obvious, “But I don’t speak Swedish.”
President Mattsson leaned over his desk and pointedly asked, “Did I ask if you could speak Swedish, or are you willing to serve the Lord?”
Samuel answered, “You asked if I was willing to serve the Lord. And I am.”
Samuel accepted the calling. Anna-Maria also accepted callings. Both served faithfully and learned to speak beautiful Swedish along the way. Commitment and willingness to serve the Lord have characterized the lives of Samuel and Anna-Maria. They have taught me that when we serve, we use the talents we have, and the Lord then helps us accomplish His purposes.
When we are willing to serve, we strive not to complain or murmur. If we are not careful and do not maintain an eternal perspective and remind ourselves whose work this really is, we might complain, murmur, and waver in our commitment to Jesus Christ. This can progress to outright rebellion against the Lord. Eventually, we can lose the faith we have.
I pray that we can always choose to follow Jesus Christ by joining Him in His work. As we do, we are given “exceeding great and precious promises,” including forgiveness of sin, salvation, and exaltation. Indeed, we are promised the greatest gift God can give—eternal life.