Asia Area Presidency Message
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
For each of us, this life is a unique and wonderful journey. We will go through different phases in our lives which are full of new things, new challenges, and new spiritual inspirations. Just like getting on a train with the destination to a far city that we haven’t visited before, we will view new scenes through the windows. There will be buildings in cities, fields, bridges, mountains, and seashores. Our lives are similar to that variety of views as we’re bound to experience joy, hope, success, distress, frustration, and disappointment.
I appreciate that we can experience this abundant life and have a successful journey back to our heavenly home through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is like the rail which leads the trains to its destination. Just as the train needs to stay on the rail to reach its destination, we too need to obey all the commandments of the Lord, receive all the ordinances, and keep all the covenants to return to our heavenly home.
We are the spirit children of God. We have inherited the potential to develop His divine qualities. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become like our Heavenly Father and receive the fullness of joy. It is so vast in its reach and yet so intimate in its effect that it defies comprehension.
The Lord said, speaking of those who repent, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18), “and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42). Whatever the problem, it can be worked out through proper repentance. We can become clean once again.
The Savior said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . As we trust in and pull our load with Him during the journey of mortality, truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light. . . . We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help.”1
As the Lord declared, “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end” (D&C 100:12). Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow, sin, and death but also provides us the strength we need to overcome every mortal pain and affliction.
The Lord said, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
While Moroni pleads, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, . . . love God with all your might, mind and strength, then . . . by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32; italics added).
President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) invited us, “Are we prepared for our journey through life? The pathway can at times be difficult. Chart your course, be cautious, and determine to study diligently, pray fervently, and live righteously.”2
In the document “the Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “We offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.”3
I bear my witness that God lives. He loves us. He listens to our prayers whenever we are joyful, sad, distressed or frustrated. I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the Redeemer. I know His Atonement will help us to have a successful journey back to our heavenly home. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.