Draw Near Unto Me

In this recent general conference, President Eyring based his remarks on this invitation from the Savior: “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63). President Eyring explained ways that we can do this: “Draw near Him by always remembering Him. Seek Him diligently through scripture study. Ask through heartfelt prayer to Heavenly Father to feel closer to His Beloved Son.”  He related an experience where he had remembered the Savior and felt Him draw near: “When I was young, the sacrament was offered during an evening meeting. I can still remember one specific night, more than 75 years ago, when it was dark and cold outside. I remember a feeling of light and warmth as I realized that I had kept the commandment to gather with the Saints to partake of the sacrament, covenanting with our Heavenly Father to always remember His Son and keep His commandments. At the end of the meeting that night, we sang the hymn ‘Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide,’ with the memorable words ‘O Savior, stay this night with me.’ These words brought an overwhelming sense of the Spirit to me, even as a young boy. I felt the Savior’s love and closeness that evening through the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” He had sought to draw near to the Savior through the sacrament and singing the hymns of Zion, and he felt the Spirit in such a powerful way that he could still remember the experience ¾ of a century later. Surely the Savior will likewise abide with each of us through His Spirit as we humbly come to Him at the sacrament table singing the sacred hymns commemorating His death. President Eyring also described how searching the scriptures also invites the Savior to draw near to us. He described how he read Luke’s account of the resurrection and the Savior’s visit to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and he again felt the power of the Spirit which “warmed [his] heart.” As we try to draw near to the Savior by reading the scriptures that describe Him, He will draw near to us. And over time we can gain the same witness that these two disciples and President Eyring have. He stated, “I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives.” As we sincerely study His word, He promises that we will eventually be able to likewise testify: “These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:34-36).  

                President Eyring also gave one other suggestion on how to follow the Savior’s invitation to draw near to Him: by serving others. He taught, “You will find that the Lord keeps His promise to be one with you in your service, making your burdens light. You will come to know the Savior, and in time you will come to be like Him and ‘be perfected in him.’ By helping others for the Savior, you will find that you are drawing nearer to Him… As you bind up the wounds of those in need, the Lord’s power will sustain you. His arms will be outstretched with yours to succor and bless the children of our Heavenly Father.” Jesus was the perfect example of serving others; He spent His life helping those in need and ministering to those suffering. And so it makes sense that if we want to come to know Him, if we want to understand who He is, we must strive to live like He did. It reminds me of the BYUtv show called Making Good. Kirby Heyborne seeks to find organizations that do good, and then to understand them he goes and volunteers for a time for them. In so doing, he comes to see who they are and what their mission is and the impact they are having. It is in being like them, doing what they do, they he draws near to them and comes to understand them. In the same manner, as we try to go do what Jesus does, we can learn who He really is and draw near to him. As the familiar adage says, we must strive to walk in His shoes to come to know Him. Jesus put it simply: “Follow me” (John 1:43). To follow Him means that we seek to live by the scripture He quoted as the essence of His ministry: “He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound…. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:1, 3). Perhaps as we strive in our own small ways to bind up the brokenhearted and comfort those who mourn, we will feel Him drawing near to us. I love this promise from President Eyring: “Every covenant servant of Jesus Christ will receive His direction from the Spirit as they bless and serve others for Him. Then they will feel the Savior’s love and find joy in being drawn closer to Him.”