Followers of Christ BY ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS (November 2013)
INTRODUCTION
Talk about Bayside Nondenominational Church.
I enjoyed the meeting - It was different than our meetings - the rock band was loud and irreverent - the lyrics were good - the energy was stirring - (we have less enthusiasim in our meetings) -
The pastor taught James 2
Less ward family flavor, no larger organization to be part of, less doctrinal unity (Becca comment)
Talk about Bayside Nondenominational Church.
I enjoyed the meeting - It was different than our meetings - the rock band was loud and irreverent - the lyrics were good - the energy was stirring - (we have less enthusiasim in our meetings) -
The pastor taught James 2
Less ward family flavor, no larger organization to be part of, less doctrinal unity (Becca comment)
READ A
A - Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.
READ B
Quotation B
“Come, follow me,” the Savior said.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
For thus alone can we be one
With God’s own loved, begotten Son.
READ C
C - Like all other Christians, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study the life of our Savior as reported in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I will review examples and teachings contained in these four books of the Holy Bible and invite each of us and all other Christians to consider how this restored Church and each of us qualify as followers of Christ.
Q: According to Elder Oakes, Why do we study the life or our Savior? [one reason is to consider how each of us qualify as followers of Christ- and our Church as well]
SAY: Elder Oaks, in his talk, reviews many of the teachings of our Savior including: Baptism, repenting and preaching repentance, keeping His commandments, sacrament, prayer and Chist like qualities. We will get to as many as we can.
READ D
D - [Jesus] affirmed that keeping His commandments would require His followers to leave what He called “that which is highly esteemed among men” and “the tradition of men” He also warned, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”.
SAY: Keeping His commandments would require His followers to leave what Jesus called that which is highly esteemed among men.
Q: What do think Jesus meant by this saying? What is esteemed among men? [having money, power and influence]
Luke 6:13 ¶No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
READ E
E - Latter-day Saints understand that we should not be “of the world” or bound to “the tradition of men,” but like other followers of Christ, we sometimes find it difficult to separate ourselves from the world and its traditions. Some model themselves after worldly ways because, as Jesus said of some whom He taught, “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God”). These failures to follow Christ are too numerous and too sensitive to list here. They range all the way from worldly practices like political correctness and extremes in dress and grooming to deviations from basic values like the eternal nature and function of the family.
Q: How can we tell if we are bound to the tradition of men? (I think it is hard since our traditions are part of our everyday lives).
LEARNER INVOLVEMENT
LEARNER INVOLVEMENT
READ F
F - Jesus’s teachings were not meant to be theoretical. Always they were to be acted upon. Jesus taught, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man” and “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing”.
READ G
G - As Jesus taught, those who love Him will keep His commandments. They will be obedient, as President Thomas S. Monson taught this morning. Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places. The Savior taught this principle and how we should be reminded and strengthened to follow it when He instituted the ordinance of the sacrament
F - Jesus’s teachings were not meant to be theoretical. Always they were to be acted upon. Jesus taught, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man” and “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing”.
READ G
G - As Jesus taught, those who love Him will keep His commandments. They will be obedient, as President Thomas S. Monson taught this morning. Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places. The Savior taught this principle and how we should be reminded and strengthened to follow it when He instituted the ordinance of the sacrament
Q: How does partaking of the sacrament strengthen us to follow Him?
.... always remember Him Q: What do you do when you realized you forgot the Lord as you walk your daily path?
READ Alma 34:15-16
15 And thus he shall bring asalvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
READ Alma 34:31
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
Q: What does it mean for the great plan of redemption to immediately be brought unto to you?
LEARNER APPLICATION
[I repent, I ask for forgiveness, I
resolve to do better]
SAY: As we move from grace to
grace, every improving, every progressing, are we encircled by Christ’s mercy?
READ Alma 34:15-16
15 And thus he shall bring asalvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
READ Alma 34:31
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
LEARNER APPLICATION
SAY: Elder Oakes said that Jesus' teachings were not meant to be theoretical.
Q: What do you think He meant by that statement?
IF: Missionary work go to AA
IF: Rescue and Serve, go to BB
IF: Learning to Forgive, go to CC
IF: Helping the needy, go to DD
IF: Becoming perfect, go to EE
AA - Some whom Jesus called to follow Him did not respond immediately but sought a delay to attend to proper family obligations. Jesus replied, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. Many Latter-day Saints practice the priority Jesus taught. This includes the wonderful example of thousands of senior missionaries and others who have left children and grandchildren to perform the missionary duties to which they have been called.
Q: How would we apply this counsel?
BB - In our efforts to rescue and serve, we follow our Savior’s unique example and tender teachings about love: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” . He even commanded us to love our enemies . And in His great teachings at the end of His mortal ministry, He said:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
Q: How would we apply this councel?
CC - As part of loving one another, Jesus taught that when we are wronged by persons, we should forgive them . While many struggle with this difficult commandment, we all know of inspiring examples of Latter-day Saints who have given loving forgiveness, even for the most serious wrongs. For example, Chris Williams drew upon his faith in Jesus Christ to forgive the drunken driver who caused the death of his wife and two of their children. Only two days after the tragedy and still deeply distraught, this forgiving man, then serving as one of our bishops, said, “As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice.”
Q: How could we apply this counsel better in our lifes?
DD - Most Christians give to the poor and the needy, as Jesus taught. In following this teaching of our Savior, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members excel. Our members make generous contributions to charities and give personal service and other gifts to the poor and needy. In addition, our members fast for two meals each month and donate at least the cost of these meals as a fast offering, which our bishops and branch presidents use to help our needy members. Our fasting to help the hungry is an act of charity and, when done with pure intent, is a spiritual feast.
Q: How could we apply this counsel better in our lives?
EE - As part of His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”. The purpose of this teaching and the purpose of following our Savior is to come to the Father, whom our Savior referred to as “my Father, and your Father; and … my God, and your God”.
READ
From modern revelation, unique to the restored gospel, we know that the commandment to seek perfection is part of God the Father’s plan for the salvation of His children. Under that plan we are all heirs of our heavenly parents. “We are the children of God,” the Apostle Paul taught, “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. This means, as we are told in the New Testament, that we are “heirs … of eternal life” and that if we come to the Father, we are to “inherit all things” —all that He has—a concept our mortal minds can hardly grasp. But at least we can understand that achieving this ultimate destiny in eternity is possible only if we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. We seek to follow Him and become more like Him, here and hereafter.
CONCLUSION
I testify that as we are constantly changing to be more like Christ, we are actually repenting. As the Hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints" tells us, Grace shall be as your Day. We are in Christ grace as we exercise faith in Christ and change. This is enduring to the end. Amen.
Q: How would we apply this counsel?
BB - In our efforts to rescue and serve, we follow our Savior’s unique example and tender teachings about love: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” . He even commanded us to love our enemies . And in His great teachings at the end of His mortal ministry, He said:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
Q: How would we apply this councel?
CC - As part of loving one another, Jesus taught that when we are wronged by persons, we should forgive them . While many struggle with this difficult commandment, we all know of inspiring examples of Latter-day Saints who have given loving forgiveness, even for the most serious wrongs. For example, Chris Williams drew upon his faith in Jesus Christ to forgive the drunken driver who caused the death of his wife and two of their children. Only two days after the tragedy and still deeply distraught, this forgiving man, then serving as one of our bishops, said, “As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice.”
Q: How could we apply this counsel better in our lifes?
DD - Most Christians give to the poor and the needy, as Jesus taught. In following this teaching of our Savior, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members excel. Our members make generous contributions to charities and give personal service and other gifts to the poor and needy. In addition, our members fast for two meals each month and donate at least the cost of these meals as a fast offering, which our bishops and branch presidents use to help our needy members. Our fasting to help the hungry is an act of charity and, when done with pure intent, is a spiritual feast.
Q: How could we apply this counsel better in our lives?
EE - As part of His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”. The purpose of this teaching and the purpose of following our Savior is to come to the Father, whom our Savior referred to as “my Father, and your Father; and … my God, and your God”.
READ
From modern revelation, unique to the restored gospel, we know that the commandment to seek perfection is part of God the Father’s plan for the salvation of His children. Under that plan we are all heirs of our heavenly parents. “We are the children of God,” the Apostle Paul taught, “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. This means, as we are told in the New Testament, that we are “heirs … of eternal life” and that if we come to the Father, we are to “inherit all things” —all that He has—a concept our mortal minds can hardly grasp. But at least we can understand that achieving this ultimate destiny in eternity is possible only if we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. We seek to follow Him and become more like Him, here and hereafter.
CONCLUSION
I testify that as we are constantly changing to be more like Christ, we are actually repenting. As the Hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints" tells us, Grace shall be as your Day. We are in Christ grace as we exercise faith in Christ and change. This is enduring to the end. Amen.
"Come, Come ye saints,
No toil nor labor fear;
But with joy, wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day"
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