Becoming a friend of Christ

June: John 14-17

After teaching about the blessings of filling hearts with Christ’s love, Jesus encourages the apostles to “continue in my love.” He says, “abide in my love,” and “love one another as I have loved you.” He knows their hearts will be broken as they see him die on the cross, but they will also be expanded in glorious ways when they learn the truth and power of the resurrection.

He then says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” He then adds, “ye are my friends, IF ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Unlike the unconditional love of his children that God has for each one of us, there is a higher relationship that Christ was teaching that is earned. To be considered a “friend,” we must obey whatever he asks of us.

In our dispensation, Joseph Smith received a revelation two years after the church was organized. At this time many of the twelve were returning from their missions to the eastern states and others were being called elsewhere. In this time of sacrifice where many had given up so much and dealt with much persecution, which was to be only the beginning of the horrible abuse they would suffer, Jesus said to those early church leaders, “My friends, for henceforth I will call you friends.”

The similarities of their situation to the original twelve was clear. They were at a critical point in establishing the church of Jesus Christ on the earth and were focused on their missionary efforts. Then next year, shortly before the groundbreaking of the Kirtland temple, another revelation used this same title to Joseph and Frederick G. Williams, who were working on translating the Bible, Sidney Rigdon who was called as a missionary and Newel K. Whitney who was the presiding Bishop. Jesus said, “I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me.”

It would seem that whatever part of the vineyard we serve in, if we follow the Lord’s direction and the counsel of our leaders, we can also feel that greater portion of love that would make us worthy to be a friend of the Savior.

Friends are an interesting concept. We have acquaintances, neighbors, co-workers and service projects, but a friend feels different. The other relationships are mostly obligation. True friendship feeds you instead of making you empty. There is a comfort to feeling like you belong together and you can drop all your pretense. Friendships are one of the greatest gifts of life, but they also have a huge effect on behavior.

Elder Rasband spoke of a recent survey of selected wards and stakes in the church. They found that “persons whose friends did not marry in the temple usually didn’t marry in the temple. The same fact pertained also to full-time missionary service. The influence of one’s friends appeared to be a highly dominant factor–even equal to parental urging, classroom instruction, or proximity to a temple.” (Rasband, Oct 2016)

Pres. Monson taught, “The friends you choose will either help or hinder your success.”

Knowing that, Christ should be our best friend. To do that we need to be sincere in our prayers and respect the promptings given us, for the Holy Ghost speaks “the words of Christ, and the words of Christ will tell you all things that you should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3)