BYU-Pathway Worldwide Devotional

"Seek This Jesus of Whom the Prophets and Apostles Have Written"

Brian and Melinda Ashton

BYU-Pathway Worldwide

September 20, 2024

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"Seek This Jesus of Whom the Prophets and Apostles Have Written" ^{1

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Ether 12:41}

President Ashton: Our dear BYU-Pathway students and colleagues, one of the main reasons for education is to help us learn and apply truth in our lives. Of all the truths that you can learn in mortality, there is no truth more important than this: Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. ^{2

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President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, italics added). Since the Holy Ghost “is the teacher and witness of all truth” (David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2007, italics in the original), it follows that there cannot be a more important truth. There may be truths that are equally as important, but none more important.} His name is the only name by which we can be saved. ^{3

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See Mosiah 3:17; see also Moses 6:52} Today we desire to bear testimony of Jesus Christ and encourage you “to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written.” ^{4

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Ether 12:41}

Sister Ashton: Each of us lived before this life with God. ^{5

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See Doctrine and Covenants 93:29; see also Abraham 3:21–26} We did not yet have bodies of flesh and bone; rather, we had bodies made of spirit. ^{6

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See Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56; see also Moses 3:5} We wanted to become like our heavenly parents who had physical bodies, ^{7

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See Doctrine and Covenants 130:22} were married and had children, ^{8

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President Dallin H. Oaks has said, “As spirits, we desired to achieve the eternal life enjoyed by our heavenly parents” (“The Great Plan,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020). The blessings of eternal life include marriage within the new and everlasting covenant and “a continuation of the seeds forever and ever” or, in other words, children (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19).} and who possessed all the characteristics of perfection. ^{9

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See Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48} Our Heavenly Father presented a plan by which we could come to earth; receive physical bodies; form families; be tested; and, if we obeyed the conditions of the plan, return to live with God in the celestial kingdom.

President Ashton: However, there were two conditions in the Father’s plan that would have to be overcome. One, during our time on earth we would suffer physical death. And two, because of the Fall of Adam and our own sins, we would also be subject to spiritual death. Both physical and spiritual death would prevent us from being able to return to live in the presence of the Father and become like Him. ^{10

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See 2 Nephi 9:6–9, 16; see also 1 Nephi 10:21; Moses 6:48–49}

A Savior or Redeemer was required to help us overcome physical and spiritual death. This Savior would have to be a God, ^{11

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See Alma 34:10–14} live a sinless life in mortality, fulfill all the demands of justice for everyone who would ever live, ^{12

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See Alma 34:13–16; 42:15} voluntarily give up his life, ^{13

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See Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 27:54 (in Matthew 27:50, footnote a); John 10:17–18} and then break the bands of death by being resurrected. ^{14

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See 1 Corinthians 15:20–22; Mosiah 16:7–8; see also Alma 7:12; 22:14} Our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Redeemer. ^{15

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See Abraham 3:27} Jesus was uniquely prepared for this role and was the only One who could perform this exalted mission.

Sister Ashton: In the premortal life, Jesus Christ was the firstborn of our Heavenly Father’s spirit children. ^{16

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See Colossians 1:15; Doctrine and Covenants 93:21} In His premortal state, Jesus Christ was a God and had achieved the characteristics of perfection. ^{17

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See also John 1:1–2} Under the direction of the Father, Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth. ^{18

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See John 1:3; Doctrine and Covenants 93:8–10} Jesus also accepted the Father’s assignment to be our Savior. ^{19

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See Abraham 3:27}

Jesus Christ was born into mortality as the Only Begotten Son in the flesh of our immortal Heavenly Father and a mortal mother, Mary. Thus, Jesus was both God and man and had power over life and death in His mortal state. ^{20

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See John 10:17–18, see also John 2:19; 5:26} This means that He could voluntarily give up His life and take it up again by choosing to be resurrected. We testify that Jesus did “voluntarily give up His life” on the cross. ^{21

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James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006,
Chapter 35 (Gospel Library App)} His body lay in the tomb for three days. And then early on a Sunday morning, Jesus’s spirit reentered His body, and He was resurrected. Christ’s Resurrection broke the bands of death for all of us and made it certain that we would be resurrected with immortal bodies. ^{22

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See 2 Nephi 9:13} Thus, death is not the end. We can see our loved ones and live with them again.

President Ashton: Jesus “came among men to experience all the natural conditions of mortality.” ^{23

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James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006, Chapter 9 (Gospel Library App)} He had to “increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” ^{24

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Luke 2:52} Jesus experienced difficulties, including pain, ^{25

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See Doctrine and Covenants 19:18} hunger, ^{26

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See Matthew 21:18; Luke 4:2} thirst, ^{27

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See John 19:28} and fatigue. ^{28

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See Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:37–38; Mark 6:31; Luke 8:23–24} He was tempted, and, although He was capable of sinning, ^{29

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See James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006, Chapter 10 (Gospel Library App)} He never did. We testify with the Apostle Paul that Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet [was] without sin.” ^{30

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Hebrews 4:15}

Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ suffered all the demands of justice. ^{31

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See Mosiah 15:9} This means that He experienced all the consequences of our sins, ^{32

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See Doctrine and Covenants 19:15–20; Alma 7:13} as well as the pains, worries, sicknesses, heartbreaks, burdens, and difficulties you and I will ever have. ^{33

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See Alma 7:11–13; Isaiah 53:4–5} In so doing, Jesus made it possible for us to repent and be forgiven of our sins and obtain mercy. ^{34

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See Mosiah 15:9; Alma 34:15–16} He also obtained power to help us overcome all things, ^{35

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See Doctrine and Covenants 76:60} including our weaknesses, imperfections, afflictions, and infirmities. ^{36

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See Alma 7:11–13} It is because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can receive the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to perform and maintain works that we could not do on our own. ^{37

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See Bible Dictionary, “Grace”; Ether 12:41} This assistance includes the strength and perspective to deal with the challenges of life, whether they be big or small. Thus, the Savior can not only cleanse us but also perfect us, as the prophet Moroni taught, “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” ^{38

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Moroni 10:32}

Sister Ashton: Jesus Christ did all of this out of love for us and for Heavenly Father. In fact, the prophet Nephi testified that Jesus Christ “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.” ^{39

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2 Nephi 26:24} Because of His love and suffering on our behalf, Jesus Christ is filled with compassion for us. ^{40

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See Mosiah 15:9; 3 Nephi 17:6}

We testify that Jesus Christ lives! He is not a distant God. Rather He wants to help us find joy in this life and the next. He knows each of us intimately, and that includes you! He will help you as you pray in His name to Heavenly Father and keep the commandments.

President Ashton: Now some seek a Jesus of their own making. But the Jesus we must seek is the One “of whom the prophets and apostles have written.” ^{41

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Ether 12:41} Prophets and apostles are divinely authorized special witnesses of Jesus Christ. If we want to come to know the Savior, we must study His words and the words of His ordained witnesses in the scriptures, general conference, and other messages. The Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ, is particularly helpful in coming to know the Savior. It speaks of Him, His divine character, His mission, and/or His doctrine on nearly every page. It also contains an account of His visit to His people in the Americas. The more we know about Jesus Christ, the greater our capacity to love Him and draw upon His cleansing and perfecting powers. We must also live the doctrine that He taught ^{42

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See John 7:17} and serve Him by serving others. ^{43

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See also Mosiah 5:13} As we do those things, we can come to know the “Jesus of whom the prophet and apostles have written.” ^{44

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Ether 12:41}

President Russell M. Nelson is God’s prophet on the earth today. Here are some of the things he has counseled us to do so that we might know and follow Jesus Christ better:

Study the Savior’s visit to the Nephites in 3 Nephi, and come unto Him so that He can heal you. ^{45

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See Russell M. Nelson, “The Answer is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023}

Take responsibility for your testimony. ^{46

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See Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity” (worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022), broadcasts.churchofjesuschrist.org}

Learn to receive personal revelation. ^{47

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See Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018}

Keep your covenants. ^{48

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See Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Oct. 2022; “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Nov. 2022}

Worship “in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit.” ^{49

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Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” Liahona, May 2024}

“Think celestial!” ^{50

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Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Liahona, Nov. 2023}

Be a peacemaker and forgive others. ^{51

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See Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023}

“Educate [your] minds so that one day [you] can render service of worth to somebody else.” ^{52

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Russell M. Nelson, “Focus on Values,” New Era, Feb. 2013}

And most recently, “reach out to ‘the one’ in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone.”

We promise that as you do these things, you will become a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

Sister Ashton: My experience has been that, as I seek to emulate the Savior and do the works that He did, I come to know Him better. The Spirit teaches me more clearly about His characteristics and His love for me and others. I feel more certain that Christ’s power is active in my life and have more confidence that I can continue to grow and learn to become more like Him. I know that He loves me and you. As we more fully follow the Savior, we will become more like our heavenly parents, whose greatest desire is our return to their presence.

President Ashton: I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. He will again come to earth in glory to rule as the King of kings. Coming to know Jesus Christ is the most important thing we can do in this life. I promise that as you study and obey the words of the Savior and His prophets, including in the Book of Mormon, your joys will be sweeter and more frequent, you will have more strength to deal with your challenges, and you will become more like Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.