December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
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12<br />
BOOK OF MORMON<br />
PRINCIPLES<br />
Why come unto <strong>Christ</strong>?<br />
How can we find the<br />
way? And how can we<br />
know we are on the<br />
right path?<br />
Come<br />
unto<strong>Christ</strong><br />
BY ELDER ROBERT R. STEUER<br />
Of the Seventy<br />
In a wonderfully fitting conclusion to<br />
the Book <strong>of</strong> Mormon, the prophet<br />
Moroni exhorts us to “come unto <strong>Christ</strong>”<br />
(Moroni 10:30, 32). As I have pondered the<br />
meaning <strong>of</strong> this urgent plea, several questions<br />
have come to my mind: Why come<br />
unto <strong>Christ</strong>? How can we find the way? And<br />
how can we know we are on the right path?<br />
Why Come unto <strong>Christ</strong>?<br />
<strong>The</strong> world <strong>of</strong>fers us many choices <strong>of</strong> whom<br />
or what to “come unto.” Diverse religions,<br />
philosophies, social systems, political ideologies,<br />
and business or personal interests clamor<br />
for our allegiance. Many people believe there<br />
are many roads to heaven and it simply does<br />
not matter which one you are traveling on.<br />
During <strong>Jesus</strong>’ mortal ministry there was<br />
a time when thousands <strong>of</strong> people followed<br />
after Him. Perhaps they were simply curious<br />
or wanted something. He fed them from five<br />
loaves and two fishes and taught them, “I am<br />
[the] bread <strong>of</strong> life” (John 6:48). Learning <strong>of</strong><br />
the obedience that would be required, many<br />
then chose no longer to come unto Him.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> asked His Twelve Apostles, “Will ye also<br />
go away?” (v. 67).<br />
Peter replied: “Lord, to whom shall we go?<br />
thou hast the words <strong>of</strong> eternal life. And we<br />
believe and are sure that thou art that <strong>Christ</strong>,<br />
the Son <strong>of</strong> the living God” (vv. 68–69).<br />
Why come unto <strong>Christ</strong>? Simply stated,<br />
because all other ways do not lead to eternal<br />
life. <strong>Jesus</strong> made this bold declaration:<br />
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no<br />
man cometh unto the Father, but by me”<br />
(John 14:6).<br />
<strong>The</strong> scriptures declare that “no unclean<br />
thing can enter” the holy presence <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
To become clean—to “stand spotless . . . at<br />
the last <strong>day</strong>”—we must be cleansed through<br />
the atoning blood <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> (see 3 Nephi<br />
27:19–20; see also Moroni 10:33). <strong>Christ</strong> is<br />
the only name, way, or means to come unto<br />
the Father (see Mosiah 3:17; Helaman 5:9).<br />
At times we may look in the wrong<br />
places—to other people and other things—<br />
for answers to life’s crucial questions when<br />
we should be looking to the Savior and seeking<br />
guidance from the Holy Ghost. When we<br />
make the decision to look to <strong>Christ</strong> and follow<br />
the noble thoughts and feelings from<br />
within, our character begins to gain substance.<br />
As President David O. McKay (1873–<br />
1970) said, “What you sincerely in your heart<br />
think <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong> will determine what you are
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