What Seek Ye?

John the Baptist declared to his followers as Jesus walked by, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Two of the disciples that heard this started to follow Jesus, and “then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?” (John 1:38) That is an important question for us all to consider: what do we really want in our life? What are we seeking? Perhaps the most important decision we will make in our lives is this: will we seek Jesus in our life? Will we choose to follow Him? He gave this invitation to those anciently and would give the same to us today: “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Life will bring us all challenges, and if we want our burdens to be lighter, if we want help beyond our own abilities, if you want strength in time of need, seeking to follow Jesus Christ is the way. Moroni gave this invitation to all of us: “And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever” (Ether 12:41). We all should seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written. As we do so, we will find His grace to help us.

               One important way for us to seek the Savior is to read and ponder the words of the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ. My testimony of the Savior came first because I read in the Book of Mormon, and I know that there is power in reading the book each day because it draws us closer to Jesus Christ. I love this promise that the book gives us: “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out” (Helaman 3:29-30). The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and as we “lay hold” on it by reading and studying and applying its words, we will feel the power of God in our lives to lead us and protect us. We can each choose to seek out the Savior by reading in the Book of Mormon every day. Here is President Nelson’s promise: “My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.” We must each decide on our own what we are seeking in life, and if we choose to seek the Savior, especially through the words of the Book of Mormon, we will have help and strength and happiness far more than if we try to go about our life without Him.