Seek This Jesus

To my daughter,   

                Last night as I was encouraging you to pray, in a moment of doubt you expressed your concern about whether God really was good and wanted the best for you. Recently you have also expressed fears about various challenging circumstances that could happen, such as an earthquake or robbers entering our home. To all of these concerns, I want you to know this: the Savior loves you perfectly, and with faith in Jesus Christ you can get through any difficulty. You can indeed trust Him, and I know that this testimony of Jesus is true: “He doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness” (2 Nephi 26:33). He does that which is good and He wants everyone to come unto Him and feel of His goodness. And how do you know that the Savior loves you? One way is, as Moroni explained, He died for us: “And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity” (Ether 12:33-34). I hope that you know and feel that the Savior indeed loves you and suffered and died for you so that you can overcome every challenge in this life. As you know, the first principle of the gospel is faith in Jesus Christ, and whatever your worry or concern, whatever you are struggling with, the best way forward is to put your faith in Him to help you. Here is His promise: “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me” (Moroni 7:33).

                So how can you develop more faith in Jesus Christ? Mormon recorded one of the most important steps to take as he described how some of the Lamanites were converted and became “firm and steadfast in the faith.” They were “led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them” (Helaman 15:7). As they came to know the scriptures and the words of the prophets, they were able to develop faith in Jesus Christ. That faith helped them change their hearts and to repent. I know that for me, nothing has helped me develop faith and trust in Jesus Christ more than reading daily in the Book of Mormon. The prophets testified again and again throughout its pages of the Savior, His mission, and His power to help each of us. This powerful invitation from Moroni is really the essence of the whole message of the Book of Mormon: “And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever.” I encourage you to do just that, to seek Jesus each day as you study in the scriptures and in particular the Book of Mormon. I know that as you do you will indeed have His grace to help you with every challenge you may face.