We Talk of Christ

In her recent address in general conference, Sister Amy Wright encouraged us to focus on Jesus Christ with our children. She urged us, “We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives. If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission, and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living. Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life. If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children.” Her words are a reminder to parents that we need to speak openly and often of Jesus Christ and His role as our Savior. This can come not only as we read scriptures and pray with them, but also as we experience the beauty of His creations with them or listen together to music that testifies of Him or work through their challenges by seeking His help. We have to find a way to follow Nephi’s example by focusing on the Savior: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).      

The quote above by Sister Wright—referring to our actions at risk of being nothing more than a “jaunty pep talk” without a focus on the Savior—reminds me of President Holland’s powerful address many years ago about how the Savior is “an high priest of good things to come.” In that talk he used that same phrase when he said, “Always remember in that biblical story that He was out there on the water also, that He faced the worst of it right along with the newest and youngest and most fearful. Only one who has fought against those ominous waves is justified in telling us—as well as the sea—to ‘be still.’ Only one who has taken the full brunt of such adversity could ever be justified in telling us in such times to ‘be of good cheer.’ Such counsel is not a jaunty pep talk about the power of positive thinking, though positive thinking is much needed in the world. No, Christ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep, and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But even as the Lord avoids sugary rhetoric, He rebukes faithlessness and He deplores pessimism. He expects us to believe!” Yesterday something happened that caused great angst for one of my children, and as I sought to help them I was accused of not caring because I wasn’t as worried about the situation as they were. I assured them that I did care but that I was confident it was going to work out just fine as we prayed and had faith. And it did and was soon resolved. I wish I could be that way in every situation, and surely we all need to work to be of good cheer more often as President Holland suggested. That feeling should come not because we are naïve but rather because we trust in the Lord and His ability to help and strengthen us. As we face stressful situations, especially in front of or with our children, they need to see that we can still be of good cheer and put our trust in Jesus Christ who knows how to “succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). For what good is our faith in Him if it doesn’t help us in the most difficult and stressful times? It should be most evident when we are most in need of help and strength.    

I love the way that Sister Wright ended her address about the Savior as she encouraged us to come unto Him. She testified, “This Jesus should not be a fictional Jesus, or a simplistic Jesus, or a bodiless Jesus, or a casual Jesus, or an unknown Jesus, but a glorified, omnipotent, resurrected, exalted, worshipful, powerful Only Begotten Son of God, who is mighty to save. And as a young child in the Philippines compellingly testified to me one day, ‘We are worth saving!’” We need to help our children come unto this Jesus and learn how to receive His forgiveness and peace and strength.