Area Leadership Message
We Follow Jesus Christ
The year 2024 was a great learning year for me and an inspiration as I studied the Book of Mormon with Come, Follow Me. It helped me know much more about the Savior’s teachings, the most important principles to follow, and that He is our Savior and Redeemer.
One of the most important events in the Book of Mormon was the Savior’s appearance to the Nephite people, fulfilling prophecies of more than 600 years. During that event, we learn three basic things:
1. Heavenly Father introduced His Son: “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7). Heavenly Father’s command “hear ye him” prepares us to open our ears to hear Him and thus have guidance for every situation in our lives.
2. The Savior Himself, as a resurrected being, introduced Himself: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (3 Nephi 11:10; emphasis added). President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “That appearance and that declaration constituted the focal point, the supreme moment in the entire history of the Book of Mormon.”
3. The Savior, after bearing His testimony and making known that He submitted to the will of the Father, asks His people to “arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 11:14; emphasis added). The command to come to Him after His sacrifice gives us hope and encourages us to do what He asks so we can live with Him forever.
After the Savior‘s invitation to arise and come to Him, Nephi’s people touched the prints of the nails in His hands and feet and knew with certainty that it was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and fell at His feet and worshipped Him. We are taught that to worship God is to love and reverence Him and give service and devotion (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:19). Nephi’s people were willing from that time forth to do what the Savior asked them to do: to participate in the ordinances of the gospel and other practices that manifested devotion and love to God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
With this, the Savior prepared them to receive His teachings and example, which would define the path of being His true disciples.
The Sacrament
First, the Savior commanded them to repent of their sins and then perform the ordinance of baptism (see 3 Nephi 11:23). If we are to be His disciples and dedicated members of His Church, we should remember these two principles each Sunday as we partake of the sacrament. We have the opportunity to express with a broken heart and a contrite spirit our willingness to follow the Savior, repent, and become holy through the Atonement of Christ.
In the ordinance of the sacrament each Sabbath day, we renew our covenant to always remember Him and keep His commandments.
President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, shared in the October 2024 conference: “Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.” President Oaks helps us understand that coming unto Him at all times defines the path for us to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Peacemakers
Second, the Savior taught the people of Nephi:
“He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
“Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away” (3 Nephi11:29–30).
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior taught His disciples how to live in a world of disdain. He declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (3 Nephi 12:9).
President Russell M. Nelson shared in April 2023: “Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. … As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion.”
The Doctrine of Christ
The Savior later taught the people of Nephi fundamental principles by declaring His doctrine: “This is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, … and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me” (3 Nephi 11:32).
The doctrine of Christ includes faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The Lord taught the people of Nephi the importance of following His doctrine by declaring, “This is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them” (3 Nephi 11:39).
As we follow the doctrine of Christ and continue with unshakable faith in Him, feeling a perfect brightness of hope and love for God, feasting upon the word of Christ, and enduring to the end, trusting in Him, and submitting to all that He requires of us, we will have Heavenly Father’s promise to inherit eternal life (see 2 Nephi 31:20).
Understanding the doctrine of Christ and pondering President Nelson’s invitation to be prepared for the Second Coming helps me with my commitment to attend the temple regularly and strive to keep the covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
After teaching these principles to the people of Nephi, the Savior gave them a charge: “Go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth” (3 Nephi 11:41).
As I think about the Savior’s teachings to Nephi’s people in the Book of Mormon, I feel encouraged to follow Him, keep my covenants with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and prepare for the Second Coming as President Nelson has invited us to do. I also realize how worshipping in the temple regularly has helped me.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we listen to the words of God, teach and testify of Him, follow His example, cease to be contentious, and choose to be peacemakers. As we follow the Savior, our faith will be strengthened and will give us power to keep the covenants we have made with Him.
I testify that Jesus Christ lives, that He is my Savior. I testify of the Book of Mormon. I do not doubt that it is the word of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.