June: John 14-17
At the very beginning of the great intercessory prayer in John 17, Jesus says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Coming to know our Father in Heaven and his Son is not easy, and indeed, I don’t think it was meant to be. Following the pattern of Joseph Smith, we can start with a serious study of the scriptures and then going to Him in prayer. Ultimately, we move forward, following Christ in faith. Though we may stumble, Christ will see our efforts, even in the mistakes. As our hearts are stay contrite and filled with love, we will find Him.
Knowing Him through Scripture Study
In 1985 Bruce R. McConkie gave his final testimony in General Conference. Thirteen days later he passed away. I remember that day because I didn’t always agree with that apostle in the past, but his words shook me with truth, and I could feel the Spirit bear witness to me of what he said. He said, “In the coming days I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feed and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.”
About the scriptures he said, “…they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance. I have thereby heard his voice and know his word.” Each of us should get to the point where we feel the scriptures are ours.
I’ve got my favorite bits. Parts of Psalms, Isaiah, Revelations, most of the Gospels, especially John 17, D&C 93, Nephi’s soliloquy, King Benjamin’s address, the book of Ether and the lonely ending of Moroni. But I could work on loving them more. Reading and listening to the scriptures lets me learn more of how he works through the lives of others and then is able to work through me.
Knowing Him through Prayer
Twenty-two year old Oliver Cowdery wanted to translate the Book of Mormon and prayed for help. He was granted the ability to try but found it difficult. In response to his prayer, he received the revelation known as D&C 6. He was told “Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind… if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart… Did I know speak peace to you mind? What greater witness can you have than from God.” (D&C 6:15-23)
As we counsel with the Lord, it’s important that we don’t counsel the Lord. There is a difference. He will answer in His time, not ours. I often am reminded of the boy Joseph when he went to the sacred grove. He prayed to ask which church to join when suddenly he felt a darkness surround him which had such a powerful effect on him as to bind his tongue. It must have been a horrible experience. Imagine if he stopped praying then. He could have said his answer is that there is only evil in the world. There is no god. But he continued and through him restored the priesthood to the earth, temple covenants and the truths that had been lost.
Am I continuing to pray even when it is hard? Am I treasuring in my heart previous answers to give the strength to wait on the Lord for when he will show his holy arm?
Knowing Him by Following the Righteous
There is a line from the hymn “True to the Faith” that always comes to my mind when I sit in the temple, “with the faithful ones redeemed who have loved and kept his word.”
Elder Grow spoke of being called to serve with Elder Maxwell who said upon being diagnosed with cancer, “I don’t want to live on the sidelines.” Through painful Chemo treatments he continued to serve and fight with all he had so he would either be healthy on this side of the veil or work on the other. His cancer went into remission for an addition seven years. Elder Grow spoke of watching the faithfulness of this good apostle and how it changed him.
Wherever we are, there are good people, following the Lord that we can learn from and associate with. Being part of the fellowship of the saints can lift us in important ways. Sometimes the Lord even puts us in places not only to meet people only we can serve but also to meet people that will strengthen us in ways no one else can.
Knowing Him By Becoming Like Him
Pres. Nelson said, “Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are not, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance–of doing and being a little better each day.
When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy–the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!”
Repentance always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but the idea of reconciling each day with Christ works for me. At the close of the day, I can approach God and ask how I did, review my choice and together figure out how to proceed. When I finish my prayer, if I can feel that deep connection, I know I’m okay. Through daily, turning to him and trying to be like Him, I come to know Him more deeply.
Jesus ended his prayer by clarifying our responsibilities to become like him. He spoke of those who the Father had given him and said “they have kept they word” (v.6), “They have known that all things are of thee” (v.7), and “I pray for them, not for the world.” (v.9)
So those are the things we need to work on. Obedience, realizing everything we do and are should be of God and that we are not of the world. That we love and serve the world, but stay separate from it and turn to Christ through our covenants.
Women Read Scripture 