A Latter-day Saint Inwardly

To my son,

                This week we have been reading in the book of Romans for the Come, Follow Me lesson. One of the principles that Paul stressed was the need to be truly changed in our hearts. He spoke to those who were still trying to follow the outward practices of the law of Moses (such as rituals of sacrifice and cleansing) even though Jesus had said that these were fulfilled and no longer necessary. Paul encouraged them to change their hearts, not just their outward actions. He wrote, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29). Applying this to our own lives, we should be not just an outward Christian and follower of the Savior, but we should be one “inwardly” as well. It is of course good to keep the commandments outwardly by going to church, partaking of the sacrament, attending the temple, etc., but even more important is to have our hearts changed to become like the Savior. President Oaks taught this in a well-known talk many years ago: “The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” You and I should strive to become more like Jesus in our thoughts and feelings and in our actions as we study His gospel and strive to keep His commandments. We want to be a Latter-day Saint inwardly and outwardly.

                Of course, as we strive to be more like the Savior we will make a lot of mistakes. and sometimes we will struggle to make desired improvements in our lives. That’s why we need the grace of Jesus Christ to help and heal us and give us power to overcome our sins. Paul wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past” (Romans 3:23-25). Christ came to give us grace, which is “divine … help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.” I know that we can access the grace of Jesus Christ every day as we earnestly pray and seek for help in whatever we are trying to do. Even if we feel like we are not good enough, if we keep trying and continue to seek the help of the Savior, His grace will help to gradually change us into being the person we need to become. Paul suggested that we should let “grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21). I encourage you to seek to obtain His help in your life in anything that is difficult, and I promise you will feel His grace to lift you up. I love these words from Brother Brad Wilcox: “Jesus’s grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, you will feel the enabling power and divine help we call His amazing grace.” 

Love,

Dad