Fixing Your Focus on Jesus Christ

In his final address of the most recent general conference, President Nelson urged, “My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always. Never underestimate the profound truth that ‘the Spirit speaketh … of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.’ ‘It will show unto you all things what ye should do.’” This first quote is from the words of Jacob, and I think it is instructive to consider the context of Jacob’s statement. He invited his people this way: “Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.” He then perceived that some questioned why he would speak of this: “And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?” It was after this that he then made the statement that President Nelson quoted: “Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old” (Jacob 4:11-13). So the context of this declaration that the Spirit speaketh the truth was the atonement of Jesus Christ and obtaining a knowledge of that transcendent event. While surely the Spirit can teach us all things, the most important thing that we can learn from the Spirit is what the Prophet Joseph taught: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven.” What we need most to be taught about from the Spirit is that the Savior atoned for our sins, that we can be reconciled to God through Him, and that we will rise from the grave through His supernal power.  

                President Nelson indeed invited us in our quest to have the Spirit to focus on the Savior. His next words were these: “Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ. Talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, feast upon the words of Christ, and press forward with steadfastness in Christ. Make your Sabbath a delight as you worship Him, partake of the sacrament, and keep His day holy.” This is similar to what he said in an earlier general conference talk: “Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.” He similarly connected this focus on Jesus Christ with obtaining the Spirit in our lives: “When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.” He was quoting Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 in which the Savior invited each of us: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” We must seek to have Him a part of all our thoughts, constantly seeking to know what He would have us do and how we can best serve Him. And as we continually turn to Him in our thoughts we can cast out our fears and doubts and anxieties and temptations. Paul put it this way: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). I love that idea—we can cast down our destructive thoughts, we can bring them into captivity as it were so they have no effect on us, and focus instead on obedience to Jesus Christ. As we turn to Him in all our thoughts we can overcome those sins which “easily doth beset [us]” and focus on our reconciliation with God through Him and His great atoning sacrifice (Alma 7:15). President Nelson’s promise is this: “The Lord knows you and loves you. He is your Savior and your Redeemer. He leads and guides His Church. He will lead and guide you in your personal life if you will make time for Him in your life—each and every day.”