Sunday Lesson, Dec 18th

Following the Example of Jesus Christ

Our lesson in Relief Society today was on following the perfect example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In President Hunter’s very first statement as President of the Church he invited members to give more attention to the example of Jesus Christ and to try to emulate His love, hope, and compassion. He said, “I pray that we might treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness…” he continued that this is the way to encourage those around us to be better rather than being critical of each other.

Jesus Christ set the perfect example in every area of His life. The amazing thing we need to remember, though, is that He was capable of sinning and chose to remain true. “Had there been no possibility of his yielding to the enticement of Satan, there would have been no real test, no genuine victory in the result…he would have been stripped of his very agency.” This makes His perfect example even more meaningful!

Jesus’ example of interacting with others is powerful. When the woman with the issue of blood touched Him, He recognized her humility and faith. He stopped and sought her out and helped her know that her faith had made her whole. Similarly with the widow who cast in two mites to the treasury, Jesus recognized her faith and giving heart and taught, “she of her want did cast in all that she had…”. He recognized the good in others and helped others see it as well. President Hunter reminds us that Jesus’ life was focused on “reaching out in service to others.”

Jesus taught, “What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am” (3 Ne 27:27). No other man can make such a claim. From Him we learn to be patient and loving, no matter what; no matter what the people in our lives are choosing to do. President Hunter taught, “His sufferings on behalf of our sins, shortcomings, sorrows, and sickness should motivate us to similarly reach out in charity and compassion to those around us”.

Since we are blessed with a testimony of Jesus Christ, we must be committed to following His example and living His Gospel. We need to make sure we are making room for Him in our lives. President Hunter explains how to do this, “All that we do and say should be patterned after the example of the one sinless person to walk the earth, even the Lord Jesus Christ.”