How Serious Are We About Our Own Everlasting Life?

As we celebrate the greatest event in the history of mankind this Easter, our hearts turn to our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We remember His infinite Atonement, His perfect life, His divine mission, and His glorious Resurrection. We express gratitude for the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) declared by the angels at His birth, heralding the arrival of the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.

Today, we continue to rejoice in the good tidings declared by living prophets, seers, and revelators, who prepare us for the triumphant return of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

We live in perilous times, as prophesied by the ancient Apostle Paul (see 2 Timothy 3:1–13). We have been forewarned of the calamities of these latter days, but we are not left without hope. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us all things we need to know and do to prepare for what lies ahead. From the gospel, we learn of our kind and loving Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness (2 Nephi 2), which was introduced to us in the premortal existence. In that great council, the Father presented His plan, and His Beloved Son offered Himself to fulfill it. Sadly, Lucifer rebelled, seeking his own glory, and was cast out, taking a third of our brothers and sisters who chose to follow him (see Moses 4:1–4).

How blessed we are to have chosen to follow Jesus Christ, who humbly submitted to the Father’s will and made the ultimate sacrifice to atone for us.

Heavenly Father was, and is, serious about our salvation and exaltation. He sent His Only Begotten Son: “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). Jesus Christ was, and is, serious about our eternal life. He came to earth to do the will of the Father, offering His life so that we might live eternally. If the Father and the Son are so committed to our salvation, we must ask ourselves: How serious are we about our own everlasting life?

The Saviour Himself emphasized the seriousness of removing anything from our lives that hinders our journey toward eternal life. He said:

“If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell. . . .

“And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell. . . .

“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Mark 9:43, 45, 47).

Are we willing to forsake sin and worldly distractions to follow Him wholeheartedly?

The restored gospel helps us avoid being deceived by the philosophies and traditions of men: “And that wicked one [Satan] cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:39).

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live forever. He loved us first (see 1 John 4:19), and now He asks us to love Him first—above worldly possessions, professions, pleasures, and distractions. He invites us to “cease from all [our] light speeches, . . . from all [our] lustful desires, from all [our] pride and light-mindedness” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:121).

Casualness in our discipleship leads to spiritual casualties. We are commanded to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (see Matthew 22:37).

We demonstrate our love by keeping His commandments, honouring our covenants, and partaking of the sacrament to always remember Him. We remember Him by worshipping Him in our homes, at church, and in the temple. We show devotion by paying tithes and offerings, praying and fasting, studying the scriptures, and serving in our callings. We keep the Sabbath day holy, minister to others, and care for those in need. We remember Him by making our discipleship our highest priority. We look to Him in every thought (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:36), walk with Him in every step (see Moses 6:34), and trust in His promise that He will lead us along (see Doctrine and Covenants 78:18) and “will never leave [us], nor forsake [us]” (Hebrews 13:5).

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

This Easter, we rejoice in the empty tomb, for He is risen! I testify that Jesus Christ lives. He is our Saviour and Redeemer, and He will return to the world as the King of kings and Lord of lords. There is power in His name to heal, to comfort, and to bring peace, for He declared, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Let us be serious with our everlasting life—serious enough to endure to the end, to make it to the gate where the Holy One of Israel will welcome us with the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23). “The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:18).

I know these promises are true, and they are available to all who are serious about their everlasting life.