Sunday Lesson: Dec 20th

The last lesson of our Ezra Taft Benson manual was taught on December 20th; entitled A Christ-Centered Life. Our teacher first asked us to think of someone who is Christlike in your life. Many examples were given of people we know who live their life in close connection with our Savior. Pres. Benson said, "I testify to you that there is no greater, more thrilling, and more soul-ennobling challenge than to try to learn of Christ and walk in His steps. Our model, Jesus Christ, walked this earth as 'the Exemplar.' He is our Advocate with the Father. He worked out the great atoning sacrifice so we could have a fullness of joy and be exalted in accordance with His grace and our repentance and righteousness. He did all things perfectly and commands that we be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect."

We should ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do? or What would He have me do?" Walking in His way is the greatest achievement of life. However, Pres. Benson reminds us that we can only do this with the Savior's help. He said, "I know the Lord lives. I know that He loves us. I know that apart from Him no one can succeed, but as a partner with Him no one can fail. I know that God can make a lot more out of our lives than we can." In John 14:5-6 Christ says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Perhaps the most important way we can become more like Christ is through our thoughts. In Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 it says, "Look unto me in every thought." Looking unto the Lord in every thought is the only possible way we can be the manner of men and women we ought to be. Pres. Benson teaches, "If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, then we must think Christlike thoughts. Let me repeat tha: If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, we must think Christlike thoughts." If our thoughts are centered on Christ, our actions will be too.

"To be like the Savior - what a challenge for any person! He is a member of the Godhead. His is the Savior and Redeemer. He was perfect in every aspect of His life. There was no flaw nor failing in Him. Is it possible for us . . . to be even as He is? The answer is yes. Not only can we, but that is our charge, our responsibility. He would not give us that commandment if He did not mean for us to do it."

In 2 Peter 1:5-7 the apostle Peter teaches us the process whereby we can become as our Savior. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." These virtues are part of the Savior's character. These are the virtues we are to emulate if we want to be more like our Savior. 

Pres. Benson gives us his testimony; "The Savior declared that life eternal is to know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ (John 17:3). If this is true, and I bear you my solemn witness that it is true, then we must ask how we come to know God. The process of adding one godly attribute to another, as described by Peter, becomes the key to gaining this knowledge that leads to eternal life. Note Peter's promise, which immediately follows the process described:

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8).

Pres. Benson goes on..."I pray that these qualities and attributes of the Savior may abound in us so that when we stand at the Judgment and He asks each one of us, "What manner of man are you?" we can raise our heads in gratitude and joy and answer, "Even as thou art."