For years I rode the train from Stafford, VA to Washington DC each day. It gave me about an hour each morning and evening to study for my classes, listen to music, pray, and ponder about questions as they came to me. Over the course of a year or so, one question I asked on and off was how to develop a direct relationship with the Savior. For example, when I pray, I speak to Heavenly Father and receive guidance through the Holy Ghost, so I am directly interacting with the two of them. I understood Jesus Christ to be my advocate with the Father. At times I would picture it almost as if He were there next to Heavenly Father, sort of whispering to Him on my behalf. I could be thankful for what He did for me in the atonement, but the communication relationship seemed indirect and impersonal.
From the conference talk by Elder Jose L. Alonso titled “Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives” I read "The profound questions of the soul, those that surface in our darkest hours and highest trials, are addressed through the unwavering love of Jesus Christ." In Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus himself said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The load of normal life with added feelings of guilt can become a heavy load indeed. The Lord’s grace takes our guilt, making our load lighter. When we understand His love for us even our normal life-load seems lighter when we consider the future promised.
From the conference talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook titled “Be One with Christ” I read "I recalled the Savior’s pleading Intercessory Prayer (John 17) in our behalf. This prayer occurred in literally the closing hours of His mortal life as recorded in the Gospel of John." I see John 17 as a master class in clarity between the dogma of the Trinity and the doctrine of the God Head. It is clear that we are to be one with Them and with each other even as They are one with each other, meaning in the same way that They are one. Not one in body, but in every other way. Continuing from Elder Cook’s talk, "In today’s world, it is easy to focus on material and occupational success. Some lose sight of eternal principles and choices that have eternal significance. We would be wise to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel to 'think celestial'.”
During the sacrament ordinance we say we are willing to take His name upon us. In the temple, we are not just willing to take His name, but in two places we symbolically take His name upon us in a more literal and direct way. Likewise, we finish our prayers saying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’. This was another of my train-pondering topics. What does that even mean? I’m sure there are many likely meanings, but at least one of them includes approaching deity with both the privileges and obligations of a follower of Jesus Christ. We say to God that we subject ourselves to and claim the blessings of the grace of Him who atoned for us. In this way, we directly align ourselves with Jesus and commit to a direct association.
Back to my consideration of how to have a more direct relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought of two times when Jesus acted as an advocate. The first was mentioned earlier during the intercessory prayer in John 17. The other happened in 3 Nephi 17:15-18.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.
18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.
In both cases, Jesus was not at a distance whispering to the Father on behalf of others. Instead, he knelt alongside them and prayed to God on their behalf. This changed my perspective. From that point on, instead of seeing Jesus at a distance as I pray, I now see him as kneeling beside me, joining me in prayer to Father, speaking in my behalf. My part of that process is to repent daily for my shortcomings and serve others. Like everyone else, I have earthly responsibilities such as earning a living, taking care of my home, furthering my education, and spending time with my family among other things. Yet these things need to be secondary. Although most things in this life rarely workout perfectly, yet I know to build my direct relationship with Jesus Christ, I need to trust Him to make things right though the power of his grace. This trust includes things both spiritual and temporal, but to tell you the truth I’m not sure I understand the difference. For what spiritual thing do we experience that does not require some sort of physical act? What physical experience does not in some way or other affect our spirit?
I hope I will do my part in order to grow a more direct relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope the same for you as well.
From the conference talk by Elder Jose L. Alonso titled “Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives” I read "The profound questions of the soul, those that surface in our darkest hours and highest trials, are addressed through the unwavering love of Jesus Christ." In Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus himself said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The load of normal life with added feelings of guilt can become a heavy load indeed. The Lord’s grace takes our guilt, making our load lighter. When we understand His love for us even our normal life-load seems lighter when we consider the future promised.
From the conference talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook titled “Be One with Christ” I read "I recalled the Savior’s pleading Intercessory Prayer (John 17) in our behalf. This prayer occurred in literally the closing hours of His mortal life as recorded in the Gospel of John." I see John 17 as a master class in clarity between the dogma of the Trinity and the doctrine of the God Head. It is clear that we are to be one with Them and with each other even as They are one with each other, meaning in the same way that They are one. Not one in body, but in every other way. Continuing from Elder Cook’s talk, "In today’s world, it is easy to focus on material and occupational success. Some lose sight of eternal principles and choices that have eternal significance. We would be wise to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel to 'think celestial'.”
During the sacrament ordinance we say we are willing to take His name upon us. In the temple, we are not just willing to take His name, but in two places we symbolically take His name upon us in a more literal and direct way. Likewise, we finish our prayers saying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’. This was another of my train-pondering topics. What does that even mean? I’m sure there are many likely meanings, but at least one of them includes approaching deity with both the privileges and obligations of a follower of Jesus Christ. We say to God that we subject ourselves to and claim the blessings of the grace of Him who atoned for us. In this way, we directly align ourselves with Jesus and commit to a direct association.
Back to my consideration of how to have a more direct relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought of two times when Jesus acted as an advocate. The first was mentioned earlier during the intercessory prayer in John 17. The other happened in 3 Nephi 17:15-18.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.
18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.
In both cases, Jesus was not at a distance whispering to the Father on behalf of others. Instead, he knelt alongside them and prayed to God on their behalf. This changed my perspective. From that point on, instead of seeing Jesus at a distance as I pray, I now see him as kneeling beside me, joining me in prayer to Father, speaking in my behalf. My part of that process is to repent daily for my shortcomings and serve others. Like everyone else, I have earthly responsibilities such as earning a living, taking care of my home, furthering my education, and spending time with my family among other things. Yet these things need to be secondary. Although most things in this life rarely workout perfectly, yet I know to build my direct relationship with Jesus Christ, I need to trust Him to make things right though the power of his grace. This trust includes things both spiritual and temporal, but to tell you the truth I’m not sure I understand the difference. For what spiritual thing do we experience that does not require some sort of physical act? What physical experience does not in some way or other affect our spirit?
I hope I will do my part in order to grow a more direct relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope the same for you as well.
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