Are You Following Jesus This Close Drawing

"Chapter 24: Following the Case of Jesus Christ," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter (2015), 304–fourteen

"Chapter 24," Teachings: Howard W. Hunter, 304–14

From the Life of Howard W. Hunter

President Thomas S. Monson, who served as 2d counselor to President Hunter, said that he "lived as he taught, after the pattern of the Savior whom he served."¹

A shut friend observed that "the traits embodied past our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, were beautifully characterized in President Hunter's remarkable and selfless life. All mankind were his friends."²

Some other associate who worked closely with President Hunter for more than three decades said, "[He] knew instinctively the course he would follow. That course would be to emulate the character of his Savior Jesus Christ."³

Throughout his ministry, President Hunter lovingly encouraged Church building members to follow the Savior'due south instance. In his first argument as President of the Church, he said:

"I would invite all members of the Church building to live with always more attention to the life and case of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the love and hope and compassion He displayed.

"I pray that nosotros might treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness. We do have high expectations of ane another, and all can improve. Our world cries out for more disciplined living of the commandments of God. But the way nosotros are to encourage that, as the Lord told the Prophet Joseph in the wintry depths of Liberty Jail, is 'by persuasion, past long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by dear unfeigned; … without hypocrisy, and without guile' (D&C 121:41–42)."⁴

"If we are to follow the example of Christ and walk in his footsteps, we must seek to do the same things after the pattern he set."

Teachings of Howard W. Hunter

one

Jesus Christ set the perfect example for us.

To be a calorie-free is to be an exemplar—one who sets an example and is a model for others to follow. … [We accept covenanted] to follow Christ, the great exemplar. Nosotros have the responsibility to larn of him, the things he taught and the things he did during his earthly ministry. Having learned these lessons, we are under commandment to follow his example, and these are some of the examples he set for us:

1. Christ was obedient and valiant in the premortal life, thus gaining the privilege of coming into mortality and receiving a torso of flesh and bones.

2. He was baptized in order that the door to the celestial kingdom would exist opened.

3. He held the priesthood and received all the saving and exalting ordinances of the gospel.

4. Jesus served for about three years in a ministry of education the gospel, bearing witness of the truth, and teaching men what they must do to find joy and happiness in this life and eternal glory in the globe to come up.

five. He performed ordinances including the blessing of children, baptisms, administering to the sick, and ordinations to the priesthood.

vi. He performed miracles. At his control the blind were given sight, the deaf heard, the lame leaped, and the dead returned to life.

7. In conformity with the mind and will of the Father, Jesus lived a perfect life without sin and acquired all of the attributes of Godliness.

8. He overcame the earth; that is, he bridled every passion and has risen above the carnal and sensual airplane then that he lived and walked every bit guided by the Spirit.

9. He brought to pass the Amende, thereby ransoming men from the [spiritual and physical] death caused by the fall of Adam.

10. At present, resurrected and glorified, he has gained all power in heaven and in earth, has received the fullness of and is one with the Father.

If we are to follow the instance of Christ and walk in his footsteps, nosotros must seek to practise the same things after the pattern he ready.^v

It is of import to call back that Jesus was capable of sinning, that he could have succumbed, that the plan of life and salvation could accept been foiled, merely that he remained 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 event. If he had been stripped of the faculty to sin, he would have been stripped of his very agency. It was he who had come to safeguard and ensure the agency of man. He had to retain the chapters and ability to sin had he willed so to do.^{half dozen}

To the very end of his mortal life Jesus was demonstrating the grandeur of his spirit and the magnitude of his force. He was not, even at this late hour, selfishly engrossed with his ain sorrows or contemplating the impending pain. He was anxiously attending to the present and futurity needs of his honey followers. He knew their ain safety, individually and as a church building, lay merely in their unconditional honey one for another. His entire energies seem to have been directed toward their needs, thus teaching by example what he was teaching past precept. He gave them words of comfort and commandment and caution.⁷

During both his mortal ministry building among his flock in the Holy Land and in his postmortal ministry building amid his scattered sheep in the Western Hemisphere, the Lord demonstrated his love and business for the individual.

In the press of a multitude, he sensed the singular bear on of a woman who sought relief for an ailment from which she had suffered for some twelve years. (See Luke 8:43–48.) On some other occasion, he saw beyond the narrowly focused prejudice of a condemning crowd and the sin of her who stood accused. Possibly sensing her willingness to repent, Christ chose to see the worth of the private and sent her forth to sin no more. (Meet John eight:1–eleven.) On another occasion, "he took their little children, ane by i, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them." (3 Ne. 17:21; italics added.)

As the trials of Gethsemane and Calvary fast approached, with much weighing heavily upon his mind, the Savior took time to observe the widow casting in her mite. (See Marker 12:41–44.) Similarly, his gaze took in the small-statured Zacchaeus who, unable to run across because of the size of those congregating around the Savior, had climbed a sycomore tree for a view of the Son of God. (Come across Luke 19:ane–5.) While hanging in agony upon the cantankerous, he overlooked his ain suffering and reached out in caring concern to the weeping adult female who had given him life. (See John nineteen:25–27.)

What a marvelous example for us to follow! Even in the midst of cracking personal sorrow and pain, our Exemplar reached out to bless others. … His was not a life focused on the things he did not have. It was a life of reaching out in service to others.⁸

two

Allow us follow the Son of God in all ways and walks of life.

One of the most important questions ever asked to mortal men was asked by the Son of God himself, the Savior of the world. To a group of disciples in the New Globe, a group broken-hearted to be taught past him and fifty-fifty more anxious considering he would soon be leaving them, he asked, "What way of men ought ye to exist?" And so in the same breath he gave this answer: "Even as I am" (three Ne. 27:27).

The globe is full of people who are willing to tell united states of america, "Practice equally I say." Surely we take no lack of communication givers on about every bailiwick. But we have so few who are prepared to say, "Practice as I do." And, of grade, but One in man history could rightfully and properly brand that annunciation. History provides many examples of good men and women, just fifty-fifty the best of mortals are flawed in some way or another. None could serve equally a perfect model nor every bit an infallible pattern to follow, even so well-intentioned they might be.

Merely Christ can be our ideal, our "bright and morning star" (Rev. 22:sixteen). Only he can say without any reservation, "Follow me, learn of me, [and] practice the things yous have seen me practise. Beverage of my water and consume of my bread. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the police and the light. Look unto me and ye shall live. Love one another equally I have loved you" (see Matt. 11:29; 16:24; John iv:13–fourteen; half-dozen:35, 51; 7:37; 13:34; 14:6; 3 Ne. 15:9; 27:21).

My, what a clear and resonant telephone call! What certainty and example in a mean solar day of dubiousness and absence of instance. …

… How grateful we should exist that God sent his Only Begotten Son to earth … to set a perfect example of right living, of kindness and mercy and compassion, in order that all of the rest of mankind might know how to live, know how to improve, and know how to become more godlike.

Let us follow the Son of God in all means and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide. We should at every opportunity enquire ourselves, "What would Jesus practice?" and then exist more courageous to act upon the answer. We must follow Christ, in the best sense of that discussion. We must exist about his work as he was about his Father's. Nosotros should endeavor to be like him, even as the Primary children sing, "Effort, try, effort" (Children'due south Songbook, p. 55). To the extent that our mortal powers permit, we should make every effort to become like Christ—the one perfect and sinless example this world has ever seen.⁹

Once again and again during our Lord'southward mortal ministry he issued a telephone call that was at once an invitation and a claiming. To Peter and his blood brother Andrew, Christ said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19.) To the rich swain who asked what he must do to take eternal life, Jesus answered, "Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor … and come up and follow me." (Matt. 19:21.) And to each of us Jesus says, "If any human serve me, let him follow me." (John 12:26.)¹⁰

Let us study the Master's every didactics and devote ourselves more fully to his example. He has given u.s. "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." He has "called united states to celebrity and virtue" and has "given unto u.s. exceeding swell and precious promises: that by these [we] might be partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet. 1:three–4).^eleven

Those who follow Christ seek to follow his example. His suffering on behalf of our sins, shortcomings, sorrows, and sicknesses should motivate united states of america to similarly reach out in clemency and compassion to those around united states of america. …

… Seek opportunities for service. Don't be overly concerned with status. Exercise you remember the counsel of the Savior regarding those who seek the "main seats" or the "uppermost rooms"? "He that is greatest among y'all shall exist your servant." (Matt. 23:half-dozen, 11.) It is important to be appreciated. But our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, non condition. The faithful visiting instructor, who quietly goes about her work month afterward month, is but as important to the work of the Lord equally those who occupy what some see as more prominent positions in the Church building. Visibility does non equate to value.¹²

One way we can design our lives later the Savior's example is to follow His command to Peter: "Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep" (John 21:15–17).

Our salvation depends on our commitment to following the Savior.

The Lord'south invitation to follow him is individual and personal, and information technology is compelling. Nosotros cannot stand forever between two opinions. Each of us must at some time face the crucial question: "Whom say ye that I am?" (Matt. 16:15.) Our personal salvation depends on our reply to that question and our delivery to that answer. Peter's revealed answer was "K art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). Many, many witnesses can give an identical answer by the same ability, and I bring together with them in humble gratitude. But we must each answer the question for ourselves—if not now, and then later; for at the final day, every knee shall bow and every natural language shall confess that Jesus is the Christ. Our challenge is to answer correctly and alive accordingly before information technology is everlastingly too late. Since Jesus is indeed the Christ, what must nosotros practice?

Christ's supreme sacrifice can find full fruition in our lives only as nosotros accept the invitation to follow him [come across D&C 100:2]. This call is not irrelevant, unrealistic, or impossible. To follow an private means to sentry him or listen to him closely; to accept his potency, to take him every bit a leader, and to obey him; to support and advocate his ideas; and to have him as a model. Each of us can accept this claiming. Peter said, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Pet. ii:21). Just equally teachings that do not suit to Christ'south doctrine are false, and so a life that does not conform to Christ's example is misdirected, and may not achieve its high potential destiny. …

Righteousness must start in our own private lives. It must be incorporated into family living. Parents accept the responsibility to follow the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach them to their children [meet D&C 68:25–28]. Religion must exist part of our living. The gospel of Jesus Christ must go the motivating influence in all that we do. There must exist more striving inside in order to follow the slap-up case set past the Savior if we are to become more than like him. This becomes our great challenge.^thirteen

If we can pattern our life afterward the Master, and take his teachings and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we volition not notice it difficult to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a single, sacred standard of conduct and belief. Whether at home or in the market, whether at school or long later on school is behind the states, whether we are acting totally solitary or in concert with a host of other people, our course will be clear and our standards will exist obvious. We will take determined, as the prophet Alma said, "to stand equally witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may exist in, even until decease." (Mosiah eighteen:9.)¹⁴

We should make room for Christ.

On that dark in Bethlehem there was no room for him in the inn, and this was non the only time during the 30-three years of his sojourn in mortality that in that location was no room for him. Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem to slay the children. There was no room for Jesus in the domain of Herod, so his parents took him to Egypt. During his ministry, there were many who made no room for his teachings—no room for the gospel he taught. There was no room for his miracles, for his blessings, no room for the divine truths he spoke, no room for his love or religion. He said to them, "The foxes take holes, and the birds of the air accept nests; just the Son of man hath not where to lay his caput" (Matthew 8:20).

Even in our day, although ii yard years have passed, there are many who say the same thing that was said on that nighttime in Bethlehem. "At that place is no room, no room" (come across Luke 2:7). We make room for the gifts, but sometimes no room is fabricated for the giver. Nosotros take room for the commercialism of Christmas and fifty-fifty pleasure-seeking on the Sabbath mean solar day, but there are times when there is not room for worship. Our thoughts are filled with other things—there is no room.^xv

While information technology will be a cute sight to see the lights of Christmas … , information technology is more than important to have human being lives illuminated past an acceptance of him who is the light of the globe [see Alma 38:nine; D&C ten:70]. Truly nosotros should hold him upwardly as our guide and exemplar.

On the eve of his nascence, angels sang, "And on globe peace, expert volition toward men" (Luke 2:14). If men would follow his instance, it would be a world of peace and love toward all men.¹⁶

What is our responsibility today as members of The Church building of Jesus Christ of Latter-solar day Saints? Information technology is to come across that our individual lives reflect in word and deed the gospel every bit taught by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All that we practice and say should be patterned after the example of the one sinless person to walk the earth, even the Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁷

Suggestions for Report and Teaching

Questions

Review the many ways the Savior has set the instance for us, as outlined in section 1. How has the Savior's example influenced you? What can nosotros acquire from His example during the last part of His mortal life?
President Hunter counsels united states of america to "enquire ourselves, 'What would Jesus do?' so be more courageous to act upon the respond" (section two). Consider how you can be more than courageous in post-obit the Savior'southward example. How tin we teach this principle in our families?
What can the teachings in section 3 aid us sympathise nearly following Jesus Christ? How might your life be unlike if you did not have the influence of the Savior's teachings and example? How can nosotros make our organized religion more a part of our daily living?
Ponder what President Hunter says nigh at that place being "no room" for the Savior (section 4). How can we make more room for the Savior in our lives? How have yous been blest as you have made more than room for Him?

Related Scriptures

Matthew 16:24–27; John 10:27–28; fourteen:12–15; one Peter 2:21–25; ii Nephi 31:12–13; 3 Nephi 12:48; 18:16; 27:20–22; D&C xix:23–24

Instruction Help

Provide hymnbooks for each person. Invite participants to find and share a hymn that relates to specific passages they read in the chapter.

Are You Following Jesus This Close Drawing,

Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-howard-w-hunter/chapter-24-following-the-example-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

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