Jesus Christ is the Solution

In a talk titled Focus on Jesus Christ, Brother Milton Carmago said this: “I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ is the solution to even our most difficult problems.” He continued, “The Lord Jesus Christ lives today. He can be an active, daily presence in our lives. He is the solution to our problems, but we must lift our eyes and raise our sights to see Him. He has said, ‘Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.’” His remarks are reminiscent of what Elder Ryan K. Olsen said recently as well: “No matter how difficult or confusing the challenges may be, you can always remember that the answer is simple: it is always Jesus.” Similarly, President Nelson also said in this most recent general conference, “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him!” All these messages encourage us to turn to Jesus Christ for the answers to our challenges and problems. This is perhaps summed up in the Savior’s words to Thomas who asked to know the way: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the way to finding solutions to our difficulties. This of course leads to the natural question: given our specific challenges that we are facing, how do we make Jesus Christ the answer? How do we make Him the way to overcoming trials in our lives?

            One of the answers that Brother Carmago gave to this question is to “focus our attention, our thoughts, and our actions on Christ” through the covenants we have made with Him. After promising to keep His commandments, take His name upon us, and remember Him through baptism, we must strive to continually focus on Him each day as we go through the challenges of mortality. He gave this important counsel as well about focusing on the Savior: “Covenant keeping leads us to seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives it away—'for we know that if we can be worthy of the presence of the Holy Ghost, we can also be worthy to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.’” Thus to seek to have the Spirit of the Lord with us means that we are seeking to live as He would have us live. Part of knowing how Jesus is the answer to our problems means that as we face challenges, we ask ourselves, “What would He have me do? How would He act in this situation?” To answer those questions, though, we have to come to know Him and His character. He invited us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30). As we learn of Him, as He invited, we will come to know what He did and what He taught. We will see how He responded to difficult situations and come to understand how a disciple of Jesus Christ will act. Brother Carmago suggested that part of focusing ourselves on the Savior is indeed to study about Him in the scriptures: “Could I suggest that you begin by making the words of Christ, found in the scriptures, a daily part of your life? There is no prescribed formula for perfect scripture study. It could be 5 or 10 minutes each day—or more if you can. It could be a chapter or a few verses a day.” In the scriptures we will find “good examples of service, virtue, obedience, patience, perseverance, personal revelation, charity, humility, and faith in Jesus Christ.” He continued, “Over time, your consistency in feasting on the word of God will help [you] grow closer and closer to the Savior.” It is through His words found in ancient and modern scriptures that we can come to understand who He is and learn what His gospel teaches us about how to live. Most importantly, His words will bring into our lives the Spirit of the Lord to lead us to answers to our most difficult questions. So with whatever struggles we face, before seeking the advice of the world let us first turn our thoughts to Him, study His words in the scriptures, and listen to His Spirit to understand how He would have us act.