What Manner of Men Ought Ye to Be?

To my daughter, 

                As you continue to get older you will naturally start to ask yourself some questions like these: What do I want to do with my life? What am I trying to accomplish? What kind of person do I want to become? As you think about those kinds of questions, I hope you will ponder this invitation from the Savior who told us all what we should strive for above all else: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). Our greatest aspiration should be to become more like Him. We should strive to speak as He would speak, to treat others as He would treat them, and to serve as He would serve. To do this, we have to know what kind of person He was, and that is why our study of the four gospels is so important this year—in these accounts we get a glimpse into the decisions He made and the types of things that He did. We find stories of how He healed those who were sick, comforted those who mourned, forgave those who sinned, and served those in need. All these stories can inspire us to be more loving, kind, and forgiving.

One of the most important things He taught was this counsel found in the Sermon on the Mount: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). The stories in the four gospels also show how He lived up to this teaching. When the Pharisees and other religious leaders railed against Him verbally, He responded with patience and love and asked them questions instead of showing hatred. On one occasion He responded to His detractors who said He couldn’t forgive sins, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4) When they accused Him of Sabbath breaking He responded, “Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?” (Matthew 12:5) When others accused Him of violating the Sabbath He replied again with a question, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3) And when He was struck in the face as a prisoner for speaking plainly to them, He responded calmly, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?” (John 18:23) In all these examples He answered firmly but patiently and without anger or insulting words. In these and other examples He showed us that we can respond with love to our enemies.

Perhaps one of the most powerful stories about how He showed love even to those who persecuted Him was when the people came by night to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. We read, “Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:10-11) He then did an incredible miracle: “And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him” (Luke 22:51). He healed one of those who was there to illegally apprehend Him, showing love even at that moment of great distress for Him. This and many other examples are evidence of the great love He had even for His enemies. I hope that you and I will seek to show love to all—even those who are mean to us—as we try to be even as He is. Know that I love you and believe in you.

 

Love,

Dad