So here was the reoccurring thought: "What we need to know in this lifetime is that Jesus is the Christ and He is the Only One who can save us." Great thought. Powerful lesson. Now the hard part: How do I apply this to my life in a meaningful way? After a lot of pondering, I settled on two applications.
First application: I need to be clearer about how the Savior is included in all aspects of my life. In my scriptures, I have two post-its. On the first post-it is a scripture from 2 Nephi 11:4 which reads: "All things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him." And on the second post-it is a quote which reads: "If everything given of God from the beginning bears record of Christ, then it follows that our understanding on any particular matter is incomplete until we see how it bears record of Christ." (James L. Ferrell, The Hidden Christ).
At home and in church, there's a lot of discussion about qualities we should work on, principles to understand, laws (the Law of Chastity is always an interesting topic for Youth) and doctrines to know. We talk about the do's and the don't's and the why's and why not's. Of course, we talk of Christ as well. But I feel, too often, we simply imply how the Savior is connected to all of these things. And though implications are good (they are better than nothing), in today's world, implications about the Savior will not be enough to sustain us.
In the October 2017 General Conference for the LDS Church, Sister Sharon Eubank talked about the need to be articulate. She stated:
"Being articulate means to clearly express how you feel about something and why... Each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons for our faith. How do you feel about Jesus Christ? ...Why do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture? Where do you get your peace? Why does it matter that the prophet has something to say in 2017? How do you know he is a real prophet? Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel--on social media, in quiet conversations with your friends, when you're chatting with your grandchildren. Tell them why you believe, what it feels like, if you ever doubted, how you got through it, and what Jesus Christ means to you. As the Apostle Peter said, 'Be not afraid ... ; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:14-15)'."So, again, I repeat: In today's world, implications about the Savior will not be enough. Learning to be articulate about who the Savior is and how He is connected to us and these modern times will do much in helping us not only navigate these crazy times, but also in helping us find peace, strength, and salvation in Him. As one teacher recently taught in our Young Women class, there is a difference between knowing the Plan of Salvation, and knowing that Jesus Christ IS the Plan of Salvation. Articulating the difference will bring greater clarity, light, truth and knowledge.
Second Application:To simply read The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ. The Spirit of this book is undeniable. The Testament of Christ contained therein is simple, profound, and clear. The Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. What more needs to be said?
So, there it is. One thought and two applications to help me get through the year. Nothing fancy. Nothing new. Just thought it would be important to articulate it somewhere lol ;)
