Here is a talk that my son gave at church today. He was the companion speaker for a high council speaker.
Today I will talk about how to develop Christlike
characteristics.
In
Preach My Gospel, there is a section titled “How Do I Develop Christlike
Attributes.” Much of my talk will come
from this book. Writing this talk has been good preparation for my mission,
since Preach My Gospel is an essential tool used by missionaries every day. I
know it’s not a coincidence that I was asked to speak about this topic, and I’m
very thankful for this opportunity to study about Christ and share my testimony
with all of you.
At the
beginning of His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ walked along the shore of the Sea
of Galilee and called out to two fishermen named Peter and Andrew. He said, “Follow me and I will make you
fishers of men”. The Lord invites each of us to follow His example and to
become like Him. The restored gospel allows each of us to become like Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior has set the perfect example, and He
commands us to become as He is. We can try hard to learn of Him and seek to
incorporate His attributes into our lives. Through the power of His Atonement, each
of us can achieve this goal and help others to achieve it also.
In Preach
My Gospel focus there is a lot of focus on HOW to do things —how to
study, how to teach, how to manage time wisely. Just as vital as what you do,
however, is who you are. Preach
My Gospel says “You need to BE a Christlike missionary, not just DO missionary
things.” This applies not only to missionaries but to everyone. Each of us needs to learn to BE Christlike
members of the church and not just DO Mormon things.
I
looked up the definition of character online and one definition said “the way
someone thinks, feels, and behaves.” This
definition confirms that how we think and feel inside is just as an important
part of our character as our actions and behavior is on the outside.
I really
like this and believe in its truth. I agree that actions speak louder than
words, but I also know that your actions need to be performed sincerely and for
the right reasons in order to get the most out of what you’re doing.
For one Family
Night last year, my parents had each of us do an “Attribute Activity” in Preach
My Gospel. The goal of this activity was
to help us see which attributes we each needed to work on developing. It listed
statements and we had to decide how true each statement was about
ourselves. We could respond with numbers
1 through 5, 1 meaning “never” and 5 meaning “always.”
Here are
a few of the statements from the activity:
·
I believe
in Christ and accept Him as my Savior.
·
I try to
understand others’ feelings and see their point of view.
·
I am kind
and patient with others, even when they are hard to get along with.
·
I am
dependable—I do what I say I will do.
·
I study
the scriptures daily.
·
I am able
to wait for things without getting upset or frustrated.
·
I work
hard until the job is completed successfully.
This activity helped each of us
recognize our weaknesses and strengths.
We need Heavenly Father’s help to develop these attributes and He will
help us when we ask Him.
There are 9 attributes listed in Preach My Gospel
that we are encouraged to develop. These attributes are Faith, Hope, Charity,
Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, and Obedience.
The first attribute is Faith in Jesus Christ
You’ll notice that the attribute
isn’t just plain old “faith” but rather “faith in Jesus Christ.” When
you have faith in Christ, you believe in Him as the Son of God, the Only
Begotten of the Father in the Flesh. You accept Him as your Savior and Redeemer
and follow His teachings. You believe that your sins can be forgiven through
His Atonement. Faith in Him means that you trust Him and are confident that He
loves you.
Faith leads to action, including
repentance, obedience, and dedicated service. When you have faith in Jesus
Christ, you trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments—even when you do
not completely understand the reasons for them. You accomplish what the Lord
wants you to accomplish. You help bring about good in your own life and the
lives of others. You are able to do miracles according to the Lord’s will. Your
faith is shown by your actions.
Doubt and
fear are opposed to faith. In Doctrine
& Covenants 6:36 it reads, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear
not.” We are living in a time when
people have lots of fears and doubts. I
know that as we strive to increase our faith in Jesus Christ we can feel peace
in our lives.
Our faith
will increase through scripture study, prayer, service, and obedience to the
commandments.
Faith includes confidence in the
mission and power of the Holy Ghost. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ I
have received answers to my prayers.
The second attribute is Hope
Hope is an abiding trust that the
Lord will fulfill His promises to you.
When you have hope is shows through your confidence, optimism,
enthusiasm, patience and perseverance. It is believing and expecting that
something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and
difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together
for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. The scriptures often
describe hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal
life in the celestial kingdom.
President James E. Faust
taught: “Hope is the anchor of our souls… Hope is trust in God’s promises,
faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the
future… “The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of
God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death”
Elder
Neal A. Maxwell encouraged us to reach out to all who, for whatever reason,
have ‘moved away from the hope of the gospel.’
We should “reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down.” Helping others feel hope is something we can
all do.
A man
once asked Jesus, “Which is the great
commandment in the law?” Jesus replied: “Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” Matthew 22:36–39.
I
remember learning about charity in a Sunday school class when I was a young
teenager. My teacher told us that charity is “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). My friends and I made the
acronym TPLOC out of the definition, and it’s stuck with me ever since. Charity
includes God’s eternal love for all His children. He wants us to seek to develop that kind of
love too. When you are filled with charity, you obey God’s commandments. You also do all you can to serve others and share
the happiness of the gospel with them.
Charity
is a gift from God. The prophet Mormon said that we should “pray unto the
Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48). As we choose the right and pray
to have more charity, our love for other people will naturally increase. You will come to feel a sincere concern for
the eternal welfare and happiness of others. You will see them as children of
God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father, and you will work
hard to help them. When you have
charity, you avoid negative feelings such as anger and envy and you avoid
judging others. You try to honestly understand them and their points of view. Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will
develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of
yourself.
The 4th attribute is Virtue
Virtue starts in your innermost
thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of your thoughts and behavior based on
high moral standards. In order to be guided by the Holy Ghost we need to be
virtuous because the Spirit does not dwell in unclean tabernacles. What you
choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is
a strong measure of your virtue.
Virtuous people are spiritually clean
and pure. They focus on righteous thoughts and put unworthy thoughts that lead
to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They obey God’s commandments and
follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for the strength to resist
temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of any sins or
wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend.
In Preach My Gospel it says, “Your
mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only
one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of
darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no
power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a
memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of
temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist
persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin. You can become pure
and virtuous.”
The 5th Attribute is Knowledge
The Lord
commanded, “Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” It is important to
seek knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge. Each of us should study the
scriptures every day, and also study the words of the living prophets like in
the General Conference talks. Through study and prayer, you can find answers to
specific questions, challenges, and opportunities. The Holy Ghost will enlighten
your mind, teach you, and help you understand the meaning of the things you
study personally or that you learn at church. The Holy Ghost can also help you as you strive
to learn at school. I have seen this happen
in my own life.
The 6th attribute is Patience
Patience is the capacity to endure
delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or
anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are
patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and
hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith—you must wait for the Lord’s
promised blessings to be fulfilled.
You need patience in your everyday
experiences and relationships. Some of you
parents of toddlers or teenagers may really agree with me on that one. We need to be patient with everyone, even ourselves,
as we work to overcome faults and weaknesses.
President Monson said, “Life is
full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There
seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is
that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting
that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.”
The 7th attribute is Humility
Humility
is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor
for what is accomplished. This includes gratitude
for blessings and acknowledging our constant need for the Lord’s help in our lives.
Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength.
When you
humbly trust the Lord, you can know that His commandments are for your good.
You can be confident that you can do whatever the Lord requires of you if you
rely on Him. The opposite of humility is pride.
Pride is not good. To be prideful means
that you trust yourself more than you trust God or His servants. It also means
to put the things of the world above the things of God. Prideful people take
honor to themselves rather than giving God the glory. Pride is competitive;
those who are prideful seek to have more than other people and they presume
they are better than others for various reasons. Pride often results in feelings
of anger and hatred, and it is a huge stumbling block.
The 8th attribute is Diligence
Diligence
is steady, consistent, and energetic
effort in doing the Lord’s work. The Lord expects you to work diligently—and
with great effort and care. Diligence in
our responsibilities (rather that is a full time mission or a church calling) is
an expression of your love for the Lord and His work. When you are diligent,
you find joy and satisfaction in your work.
Look for
things that need to be done. Don’t wait for your leaders to tell you what to
do. Continue until you have done all you can, even when you are tired. Focus on
the most important things and avoid wasting time. Pray for guidance and
strength.
In regards to a mission, President
Ezra Taft Benson said, “I have often said one of the greatest secrets of
missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he
gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit,
he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no
homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and
interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is
no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.” This applies to everyone, not just
missionaries. I think that if you center
your life on doing the Lord’s will, it will lighten your load and help you be
happier.
The last, but not least, attribute is Obedience
Obedience is the first law of heaven.
It is an act of faith. In life, you may sometimes be required to do things you
do not completely understand. As you obey, you increase in faith, knowledge,
wisdom, testimony, protection, and freedom. Strive to be obedient to the Lord,
the living prophet, and your local church leaders... and to your parents.
I like what Elder L. Tom Perry
said about obedience: “The discipline contained in daily obedience and clean
living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety
from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality.” We all need that armor to help us in our
daily lives.
I want to share an experience
that my Aunt Noma had many years ago.
She is a seminary teacher in Wyoming and she loves to share the
gospel through personal stories. This story is one of the favorites, especially
this time of year. I will read the story
that she wrote in her own words so I don’t mess it up:
Twenty-six years ago, Derrik and I were dirt poor newlywed college students, both completing our senior year at BYU, working, and barely surviving financially. We were sitting in church, and a lady stood up and gave a talk on tithing. She told a story about a person who was @ $56.32 short on rent, but she acted in faith and paid her tithing anyway. The next day she looked in the kitchen garbage and saw a white envelope. She opened it and found.... $56.32!! Did this story spark a little cynicism in me? Oh, yes. I leaned over to Derrik and mumbled, "We're poor, and we pay our tithing. Why don't I ever find money in the garbage?" (Not a proud moment.)
The next day was President's Day, so there were no classes. While Derrik was reading the newspaper (which must have been free, because we couldn't afford a subscription), I walked by and saw a 1/4 page color ad for Shamrock Shakes. I had never heard of them, and I was completely smitten and infatuated. I suggested to Derrik that we celebrate our holiday by going to McD's and getting a Shamrock Shake. He reminded me of the hard truth that we were poor college students and couldn't afford to run off to McDonald's on a whim. I knew he was right. So I sulked my way to the kitchen and started cleaning. As I went to take the garbage out, I grumbled, "Yeah, I pay my tithing and I can't even afford a Shamrock Shake. Why don't I ever find money in the kitchen garbage?"
Garbage in hand, I murmured my way outside to the apartment dumpster. As I threw the garbage into the dumpster, a movement by my foot caught my attention. I looked down, and I was standing on a $10 bill. I bent down and picked it up. It was a windy day. I looked up and down the street to see who might have lost it. No one was outside. At which point I lost all dignity as I ran into my apartment waving the $10 bill over my head, yelling, "Derrik, Shamrock Shakes! Shamrock Shakes!" We indeed got our Shamrock Shakes that afternoon (in addition to Big Macs and fries)!
This unconventional experience reinforced some great lessons. First, Heavenly Father is completely aware of the least of us down to the smallest details, and He cares. He knows us personally. And He hears our murmuring. (After the minty nirvana left my tongue, I was somewhat spiritually embarrassed by my behavior.) Next, we are blessed for obedience, even if our hearts need to make some progress. And finally, I know He has a sense of humor. Because I can only imagine how much fun it was arranging for me to stand on that $10 bill, knowing that hundreds of Seminary students would be subjected to the story at least annually.
This story is an example of
obedience and also patience (or lack of patience in my Aunt’s case ha ha).
Now that
we know the Christlike attributes that we need to develop, you may be asking
yourself how we can actually do this.
Here are some practical
suggestions from Preach My Gospel. Some of
this might sound like homework, but I promise you will be blessed if you try it
out:
·
Figure
out the attributes you wish to develop.
·
Write a
definition and description of the attribute.
·
Record
questions to answer as you study.
·
List and
study thoroughly passages of scripture that teach about the attribute.
·
Record
your feelings and impressions.
·
Set goals
and make plans to apply the attribute in your life.
·
Pray for
the Lord to help you develop the attribute.
·
Evaluate
your progress periodically in developing each attribute.
Developing these attributes is a
lifelong goal. But you can follow
Christ’s example and develop His attributes one action and one decision at a
time.
Changing to become more Christlike
requires exercising faith, repenting, keeping covenants, receiving an increased
measure of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
You can also ask yourself these
questions:
· What must change in my heart, mind, and actions to
develop this attribute?
· How will keeping covenants help me develop this
attribute?
· How will developing this attribute help me qualify
for the Holy Spirit?
In a talk entitled “The Character of Christ” by Elder David A. Bednar,
he quoted Elder Maxwell as saying,
"There would have been no Atonement
except for the character of Christ."
This statement shows the importance of character. The Savior
has perfect attributes and characteristics. Without these, the
Atonement would have been impossible. And without the Atonement we
would all be lost.
Through this glorious Atonement we are able to repent and perfect our
own character as we strive to be like our Savior. Because of the Savior’s
Atonement we can be freed from our sins and live again after we die.
My challenge to you today is to think about these nine Christlike
attributes and choose one to improve on. Faith, hope, charity,
virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, and obedience.
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