Becoming Christ-Like

This is a talk that I gave in church a few months ago.  I encourage all to read it.

Qualities of a Christ-like life

Sacrament Meeting address

Good morning brethren and sisters.  It is truly a pleasure for me to visit with you today. 

There is a story told of three religious men.  One was a Catholic Priest, another was a Baptist Minister and the third was a Mormon Bishop.  I suppose it could have even been Bishop Sears, but I don’t know.

The Catholic Priest and the Baptist Minister had a tradition of going fishing on Saturday morning.  It was their way to begin personal preparation for preaching their sermons on Sunday.  They were visiting with the Bishop and invited him to go fishing with them on a specific day. 

The Bishop was agreeable and when the appropriate day came along he was ready.  He had his carbon fiber fishing pole, his best reel, the best fishing lures he could find, his hip waders, a vest to keep his supplies, and a large bag in which to put his catch.  He didn’t want the others to out class him. 

Along came the Priest and the Minister.  They looked him over in amazement.  Then they showed him their willow rods and line attached at the end.  They had no reels.  They had no bag, no hip waders, and no vest.

The Priest said to the Bishop.  We’re going fishing, but we don’t intend to catch any.  The point of this outing is to help each other with our sermons, to bounce ideas off of each other.  The fishing poles are only to make people think we’re busy and to keep them from interrupting us. 

The difference was only in communication.  The message given to the Bishop was not the message he received.

For over 40 years I have enjoyed the opportunity to speak to audiences large and small.  I have taught small classes and I have addressed large halls filled with people.  I don’t say these things to show how important I am, for truly I do not consider myself to be an important person.  The principles I will teach today are those learned over a lifetime.  I am still lacking in some of them because I surely am not perfect.

 It is my prayer that the message I give today will be the message you will receive.  My purpose is to teach principles that I hope will assist each of us.

(Reverence)

Have you ever sat in a pew before Sacrament Meeting and just listened?  Have you ever just sat quiet and listened to the prelude and maybe even hummed along?           

Have you ever even heard the prelude music?  Did you know that today’s prelude music was primary reverence songs?

When we are so noisy that we cannot hear and enjoy the prelude and postlude music, we are also too noisy to hear the promptings of the spirit.

This room, this chapel is the most sacred room that the Washington 11^th Ward will visit today.  It is the most sacred room outside the temple.  Do you know why?

The ordinances of the sacrament, which are designed to prompt memory of the body and the blood sacrificed by our Savior, are the most sacred ordinances in which we may partake outside the temple.  These two ordinances offer us unbound blessings. 

For those of you that don’t remember them, or were not paying proper attention to the Sacrament Prayers I will read them to you.

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his spirit to be with them.

President Boyd K. Packer said that we actually take upon us the name of Christ as we work for the dead in the temple because we are doing work for others who cannot do it for themselves.  But we agree that we are WILLING to take upon us the name of Christ when we are baptized and when we partake of the Sacrament.

The prayer on the water is similar but not exactly the same:

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them.

We gain a promise.  If we live up to our part of the covenant, we are promised that “we may have his Spirit to be with us.”

Having the Spirit of the Lord, or the Holy Ghost, with us constantly is a wonderful blessing.  If we listen to its promptings it will lead us to prosperity of body, of spirit, and of life.

When Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden they were still taught by the voice of the Lord.

Moses 5:4-7

4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

In times of old, the saints offered burnt sacrifice to honor the expected sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Today we partake of the sacrament for the same purpose: to honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary.  These things are sacred and should never be trivialized.

This room is sacred because of the emblems of the Sacrament which are offered to all provided they will participate. 

When we speak loudly, when we are in conversation with others and are in competition with the quiet organ music, we are not reverent.

Becoming Christ-like requires reverence.

(Charity)

A few days ago, we were just sitting in our house minding our own business.  I was working on my book, and I received a gentle prompting indicating that Sister Black and I should go purchase a fresh flower and go to the 3^rd floor of the hospital.  We were prompted to visit someone who needed a lift.  We had no idea who that would be.  We have never done this kind of thing before, so we had no idea what reception we would get when we got there.

When we arrived at the nurses’ station we told the staff what we wanted to do.  We were directed to speak to the charge nurse.  After we explained our purpose for being there, we were directed to visit an older lady who was to have been released that day, but her transportation didn’t come to pick her up.  She was going to be transported to a care center in Beaver for three months before going home. 

We noted that she was an oncology patient but we didn’t ask her name or even what her reason for being in the hospital could be.  It wouldn’t have been ethical for us to do so.  We just presented her the flower we brought and chatted for about half an hour.  She was so grateful.  She said over and over how much she appreciated the flower and our little visit.  She seemed to me to have been lonely.  I wondered if she had received any visitors during her stay in the hospital.

When we left her room, we went back to the nurses’ station and told them we were finished and we thanked the charge nurse for directing us to this particular patient.  We enjoyed our time there and we wanted to be sure the staff understood that.  We will continue to visit the hospital, care centers, rehab centers and rest homes periodically to help lift the spirits of those who have few or no visitors.

Charity is not just the giving of tithing and fast offering or even giving to the humanitarian effort of the Church.

Alma wrote in Mosiah 18:8-10

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Charity is lifting others to at least the same level that we have attained or higher.

Bette Midler sang:

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.

Becoming Christ-like requires charity.

(Humility)

Ammon was one of the sons of King Mosiah.  He decided he wanted to go into the land of Ishmael to teach the Gospel to the Lamanites.  He entered into King Lamoni’s territory.  King Lamoni had established a policy of arresting anyone who dared venture into his kingdom.  Then they would bring the prisoner to the king to be interviewed.

King Lamoni asked Ammon what his purpose was in coming into his kingdom.  Did he want to live there?

Ammon responded that he did want to live there and perhaps even live out his life among King Lamoni’s people.  King Lamoni commanded his servants to untie Ammon and then King Lamoni offered his daughter to Ammon to be his wife.  Ammon declined, but said that just he wanted to be King Lamoni’s servant.

It was time for the king’s flocks to be watered.  There was a place designated for the watering of flocks, but there were bullies that hung around the watering hole.  These bullies would scatter the king’s flock and run off the shepherds.  On this occasion, the king’s servants were again run off and the flocks scattered.

Now the king’s servants were frightened. They feared the king would kill them for having lost the flocks.  Ammon rejoiced that he would have an opportunity to show the king’s men his power that he had been given by the Lord.  He thought by fighting these bullies he would find favor with the king’s servants and maybe would have a chance to teach them the gospel.

Ammon calmed them down and he accompanied them to re-gather the flocks.  When they got the flock gathered up, they went again to the watering hole to water the flock.  Again, the bullies came to scatter the flocks.  Ammon told the other servants to stand around the outside of the flock and keep them from scattering. 

Ammon himself would go talk to the bullies.  The bullies were not afraid.  They attacked by throwing stones at Ammon and Ammon defended himself by casting stones back at them with a sling.  Some of them were killed by his stones, but Ammon was not hurt by the bullies’ stones.  The bullies then decided they should stop casting stones and come at Ammon with clubs.

Alma 17:37-38

37 But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm.

38 Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few.

After the flocks were watered, Ammon continued taking care of his duties.  The other servants went in to tell this wonderful story to King Lamoni.  King Lamoni asked his servants, “Where is Ammon?”

Ammon was just taking care of his duties.  He wasn’t telling his own story to make himself more important before the King.  He was just going about his duties as he felt he should.

Ammon was humble enough not to brag about how good or strong he was.  He hoped he would be able to teach the gospel to King Lamoni and his people not by telling how great he was, but instead by just serving honorably.

Becoming Christ-like requires humility

(Obedience)

I told you that I am writing a book.  It is an autobiography of my life.  I was prompted to write it and for some reason there is an urgency to get it finished.  I don’t know why there is such an urgency.  Writing my story has not been easy.  I have never been one to write in a journal, so writing this story and telling the stories of my life and finding the poems I have written, has been difficult.  So why am I doing it?  Because I have been directed of the Lord to do so.  I would probably not write it otherwise.

Jesus Christ was born to a mortal mother and a perfected celestial father.  He is literally the Son of the Living God.  We don’t know very much about his life before age 30, but we do know that when he was 12 years old he ditched the family to go hang out in the temple.  Mary and Joseph and the rest of the family were on their way back home to Nazareth after going to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover.  They were a full day’s journey along the trail before they realized Jesus wasn’t with them.  They hurried back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus.  They looked everywhere.  Nobody they talked to knew where Jesus was.  It took them 3 days to find him.  He was in the temple, “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 

All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 

When Mary and Joseph found him, she said unto him, “Son, why has thou thus dealt with us?”

His answer: “How is it that ye sought after me?  Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

He was being obedient.

Towards the end of his life, when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed to his Father:

Matthew 26:39

“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”.

And even later he prayed:

John 17:4

“….I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

Jesus Christ was obedient

Becoming Christ-like requires obedience.

(Prayer)

When I was preparing to serve my mission, didn’t think I knew enough to be an effective missionary.  Every night I would get on my knees and pray.  I knew that the rights of the Aaronic Priesthood were the keys of the administering of angels.  I didn’t understand what it meant, but I thought it would be worth a try. 

I prayed for an angel to come and teach me all that I should know as a missionary.  I wanted a messenger from Heaven.  I wanted some confirmation of my testimony.

I was disappointed in my expectation, but I did eventually get an answer to my prayer.  I was given to know that the teachers at the Language Training Mission were the “angels” I requested.

How do we offer effective prayers?

Jesus gave us an example. 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I was tempted to sing this.  You should be thankful that I did not.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:31

31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;

Elder Richard G. Scott taught:

“Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”¹

“It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.”

The invitation to pray; to seek out answers to our own personal questions or problems, to seek approval for decisions we have made, to seek understanding, is a marvelous opportunity.

Moroni admonishes us to pray about the Book of Mormon:

Moroni 10:4-5

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Answers to prayer are not generally verbal.  We do not generally hear a voice.  We sometimes do not even have a feeling or sense of Heavenly Father’s will.  Sometimes the answer to our prayer is:  It doesn’t matter.

Prayer is fruitless if we do not take the time to listen for the answer.  If we just say the words and then jump up and go about our business we will likely not hear the answer.

Becoming Christ-like requires prayer.

(Faith)

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews said this:

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

And in Alma 32:21 we read:

21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

          Joseph Smith taught that Faith is the driving force for anything temporal.  By faith we know that the sun will set in the west.  By faith we know that our car will start.  By faith we know that there will be school tomorrow.  By faith you know that the lights will come on when the switch is activated.  By faith we know there is clean water at our fingertips.

          But faith is also the driving force for spiritual things.  By faith we petition our Father in Heaven for blessings.  By faith we expect a response.  By faith we know that the plan of happiness will be effective for us.  By faith we know that the resurrection will have an effect on each member of the human race.

          Faith is the primary force of our lives, but we can lose faith.  We can lose faith that our car will make it home.  We can lose faith that Heavenly Father exists and even cares about us.  We can lose faith in our family. 

Loss of faith is the primary focus of Satan.  He wants us to lose faith.  He is anxious that we not regain faith when we are struggling to return to the straight and narrow path. 

Satan fights against us when we are trying to gain worthiness to enter the temple.  He will put strong roadblocks in our path.  But by exercising faith we can resist his tantalizing temptations.  By faith we can reach our goals.  Faith is an action word.  Faith requires work for there can be no success without both faith and work. 

The Apostle James said in James 2:26:

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Becoming Christ-like requires Faith

(Virtue)

From “Preach My Gospel”

Virtue originates in your innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. 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 clean and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting 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.

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.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:24

24 And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me.

Becoming Christ-like requires Virtue.

I have given you seven qualities that will help us to become more Christ-like.

A Christ-like individual is

Reverent, Charitable, Humble, Obedient, Prayerful, Faithful, and virtuous.