Rely on this Redeemer

Shortly after leaving Jerusalem, Lehi taught his family about the coming of the Messiah.  Nephi wrote about his father’s teachings in these words: “Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:6).  I think in the past I have generally considered this verse as relating to the way that Christ saves us from the death brought by the Fall of Adam and from an eternal separation with our Father in Heaven.  In other words, I’ve thought of it as speaking of how Christ will in the distant future allow us to overcome physical death as well as return to our Father in Heaven of the judgment.  But perhaps here the message is more relevant to us today than that, for we don’t just need Christ so we can be rescued from an endless state of misery in the next life.  We need the Savior’s help in our problems now, and so to receive that aide we must “rely on this Redeemer.”     

           Other scriptures encourage us similarly to relay on the Savior, to put our trust fully on Him to get through the great challenges of this life.  Nephi wrote towards  the end of his record, “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” (2 Nephi 31:19).  We are to rely “wholly” upon the strength that comes through Christ, and here Nephi is clearly talking about our life in mortality, not the blessings to come in a far distance future.  Ammon spoke to his brethren and confirmed that in their mission as they went forth door to more among the people, they had to rely on the “mercies of God” to see them through (Alma 26:28).  Moroni summarized Nephite worship to describe how new converts were remembered and nourished, “relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith” (Moroni 6:4).  This reference to the “author and finisher” of our faith suggests that Christ’s saving power and help is available not just at the end of the journey in the next life, but also from the beginning and every point in between.  In our dispensation the Savior suggested that those who accept the gospel, in particular the descendants of the Lamanites, are to “rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:20).  Another revelation chastises David Whitmer because he relied too much on men instead of God: “You have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:1).  We too must learn to do the same, to cling to the Savior and His commandments and His prophets and His revelations above anything else.  He is the way, the truth, and the life, and we must rely on Him not just to get to our heavenly home in some distant future, but also to overcome the difficult problems we face in the here and now.