So my calling in my ward right now is a Relief Society Teacher. I am assigned the fourth Sunday of every month which means I get to teach the "Teaching for Our Times" lesson. I love studying the words of the prophet and apostles. I then love to share their encouraging and inspiring words with the sisters in my ward. I was thinking about the preparation that I put into my lessons and the thoughts that I have as I prepare. I decided it would be a good idea to blog about them so I can remember them always.
"What thinks Christ of Me?
Elder Neil L. Anderson-April 2012 General Conference
**Anything is blue is a direct quote**
"Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What think ye of Christ?” In the final assessment, our personal discipleship will not be judged by friends or foes. Rather, as Paul said, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” At that day the important question for each of us will be, “What thinks Christ of me?”
**Discipleship is not a competition at all but an invitation to all.
"Jesus’s call “Come, follow me” is not only for those prepared to compete in a spiritual Olympics. In fact, discipleship is not a competition at all but an invitation to all."
I like to compare the World Olympics to our Spiritual Olympics.
World Olympics
- People prepare and train their whole lives
- Only the best are invited to go to the Olympic trials and then through qualifying events to get to the final event.
- Judging could be unfair and biased
- If a gymnast falls off the beam, the score she receives can't be erased. If a high jumper has a shortcoming of 1/100 of an inch, there out of the competition.
- Only one person wins gold.
Spiritual Olympics-Journey of Discipleship
- It doesn't matter what age we are, we can begin to prepare.
- We are already pre-qualified by the choice we choose in heaven to follow Christ's plan.
- We have the perfect coach and judge. Christ is the perfect teacher and friend and he is just.
- We can erase our falls and our shortcomings through repentance.
- We can all win the gold of eternal life.
The Lord blesses us with customized direction through the gift of the Holy Ghost.
**Discipleship is a lifelong migration toward a more celestial world.
Elder Anderson explains that Christ's invitation is a call to daily duty. It is showing love to God by keeping his commandments and serving others. It is having the desire to try everyday and to be willing to sacrifice our time and our talents. If we struggle one day, then we can always be better the next. That is what is so great about the gospel. "It doesn't matter where on the road to following Christ we are, it just matters that we are moving forward."
Wherever you now find yourself on the road of discipleship, you are on the right road, the road toward eternal life. Together we can lift and strengthen one another in the great and important days ahead. Whatever the difficulties confronting us, the weaknesses confining us, or the impossibilities surrounding us, let us have faith in the Son of God, who declared, “All things are possible to him that believeth."
**Discipleship is believing Him in seasons of peace and difficulty.
Jesus told the leader of the synagogue, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Discipleship is believing Him in seasons of peace and believing Him in seasons of difficulty, when our pain and fear are calmed only by the conviction that He loves us and keeps His promises.
I think the most true test of faith is believing in him when I am having trials, but also being grateful in the good times for all my blessings. Knowing that he loves me and is there to support me, and that will be on [my] right side and on [my] left side to buoy [me] up is very comforting.
As you love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, you will feel His love and approval. As you ask, “What thinks Christ of me?” you will know that you are His disciple; you are His friend.
I can't wait for the chance to meet the Savior face to face. It is something that I ponder about often. It is something so exciting to think about. It will be a joyous day. I hope that when he sees me, he will think of me as one of his disciples and as his friend.
I wanted to play this video at church with my lesson, but you can't play youtube videos using the church's Internet. So I ended up just playing the music, but this song always brings me to tears because we can only imagine about how wonderful it will be to see Christ in all his glory and to feel the love he has for each of us as he looks us in the eye. I can't wait for that day.
In a future day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Christ. On that day, our concern will not be, “Do others consider me Christian?” At that time, our eyes will be fixed on Him, and our souls will be riveted on the question, “What thinks Christ of me?”
