Amy Griffith gave a very touching lesson on the Teachings of Jesus from the November 2011 Conference given by Dallin H. Oaks.
What thing ye of Christ?
Amy asked us to take a moment to think about Christ.
What comes to your mind?
Some responses: Love. We are what we believe. It's evident in the way we serve. Hope. One sister who had the honor of visiting Jerusalem said that while there she could picture Christ walking up the stairs being followed by his disciples. It reaffirmed to her that he did actually walk and talk. When she thinks of him she thinks of him as being very real. Comfort. He is there for us now matter or big or little the problem. The great love he has for the children. We are children of God, therefore the love he has for us.
The Only Begotten Son
Heavenly Father had one begotten son. He had to watch him during the Garden of Gethsemene and his crucifixion. How must that feel? Sister Griffeth compared this to her experience as a mother of a son with Cystic Fibrosis. There are two serious aspects to his disease. The first requires very regimented, regular breathing treatments along with a compression vest that he wears. The second part is his diet. His body can not break down the fat in the foods he eats. In order to combat this he is required to eat foods with high calories. He needs these calories to grow. The bigger he is the better his lungs will be. If she does these things he can live to his fifties or sixties. So, no matter how much stress these things can create with a young child, as a mother, she does these things faithfully. Not to compare herself to her Heavenly Father, she explained that the same was with Christ. Because, Heavenly Father allowed these things to happen to his Son, we as his other children have been blessed with a longer, fuller life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved". (John 3:16-17)
Creator
The Apostle John wrote that Jesus "was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:2-3).
Jesus Christ created the world under the direction of Heavenly Father.
Lord God of Israel
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world...I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth" (3 Nephi 11:10,14).
What He has Done for Us
President Oaks told of an experience he had many years ago at a stake conference. He met a woman who had been asked to come back to church but couldn't think of any reason she should. He asked her to consider all of the things the Savior has done for us. Is that not reason enough? He was astonished when she replied, "what has he done for me"?
Sister Griffeth relayed her favorite poem, "Footsteps in the Sand". There are many times in life we can realize that he carried us. One sister shared a line from a song in Cumorah's Hill, "For how could we hope to see his face if never we could see his hand". We need to be able to see His hand in all things.
Light of the World
Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness" (John 14:6).
Doing the Will of the Father
Always Jesus honored the father and followed him. The Savior should be our number one example. He always did everything right. We aren't asked to do everything perfect, we are just asked to try.
Priesthood Power
Sister Griffeth shared a personal experience she had recently when a member of her family needed a Priesthood blessing. She was grateful for her home teachers and the relationship they had with him to feel comfortable going to them when they needed. Never has she felt the Spirit so strong in a Priesthood blessing. The Priesthood is something different in our church. She remembers being in college and it being the first time she had not had the Priesthood in her home. She could feel the difference without it. And appreciated her home teachers at that time as well and the Spirit they brought into their apartment. She made it a priority to marry someone worthy to hold the Priesthood.
Another sister shared her experience of growing up with a non-member father. Her mother committed to having the missionaries in their home regularly in order to have the Priesthood in their home. Now as a divorced mother, she told of how grateful she was that one of our missionaries called telling her he felt inspired to call and ask to come over. She now has them over weekly and told us of what a difference these visits make with her young sons.
The Atonement
Elder Oaks taught us that "the culmination of our Savior's mortal ministry was His Resurrection and His Atonement for the sins of the world. John the Baptist prophesied this when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
At the Last Supper, Jesus explained, according to the account in Matthew, that the wine He had blessed was "my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:38).
The Atonement is a beautiful gift. He thought of each one of us. He understands us even if we think nobody does.
"My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. And whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And no unclean thing can ever into the Father's kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end" (3 Nephi 27:14-16, 19).
The sacrament is given to us so we can renew those covenants. It's a reminder of what our baptismal covenants are.
Elder Oaks left his testimony, "Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself, as I know it for myself."
What think Ye of Christ?
Sister Griffeth left her testimony that when she thinks of Christ, she thinks of Charity. When she thinks of his whole life, she thinks of service. She said, "I saw the Gospel in action recently. I am not one that likes to accept charity. While I love to serve, service is not necessarily as easy to accept. How thankful I am to belong to an organization that teaches us to serve. I hope to be an example of my Savior. Many times in my life He has been the person I have had to rely on. I am thankful for my many blessings and for being a member of this church".
What thing ye of Christ?
Amy asked us to take a moment to think about Christ.
What comes to your mind?
Some responses: Love. We are what we believe. It's evident in the way we serve. Hope. One sister who had the honor of visiting Jerusalem said that while there she could picture Christ walking up the stairs being followed by his disciples. It reaffirmed to her that he did actually walk and talk. When she thinks of him she thinks of him as being very real. Comfort. He is there for us now matter or big or little the problem. The great love he has for the children. We are children of God, therefore the love he has for us.
Heavenly Father had one begotten son. He had to watch him during the Garden of Gethsemene and his crucifixion. How must that feel? Sister Griffeth compared this to her experience as a mother of a son with Cystic Fibrosis. There are two serious aspects to his disease. The first requires very regimented, regular breathing treatments along with a compression vest that he wears. The second part is his diet. His body can not break down the fat in the foods he eats. In order to combat this he is required to eat foods with high calories. He needs these calories to grow. The bigger he is the better his lungs will be. If she does these things he can live to his fifties or sixties. So, no matter how much stress these things can create with a young child, as a mother, she does these things faithfully. Not to compare herself to her Heavenly Father, she explained that the same was with Christ. Because, Heavenly Father allowed these things to happen to his Son, we as his other children have been blessed with a longer, fuller life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved". (John 3:16-17)
Creator
The Apostle John wrote that Jesus "was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:2-3).
Jesus Christ created the world under the direction of Heavenly Father.
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world...I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth" (3 Nephi 11:10,14).
What He has Done for Us
President Oaks told of an experience he had many years ago at a stake conference. He met a woman who had been asked to come back to church but couldn't think of any reason she should. He asked her to consider all of the things the Savior has done for us. Is that not reason enough? He was astonished when she replied, "what has he done for me"?
Sister Griffeth relayed her favorite poem, "Footsteps in the Sand". There are many times in life we can realize that he carried us. One sister shared a line from a song in Cumorah's Hill, "For how could we hope to see his face if never we could see his hand". We need to be able to see His hand in all things.
Light of the World
Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness" (John 14:6).
Always Jesus honored the father and followed him. The Savior should be our number one example. He always did everything right. We aren't asked to do everything perfect, we are just asked to try.
Priesthood Power
Sister Griffeth shared a personal experience she had recently when a member of her family needed a Priesthood blessing. She was grateful for her home teachers and the relationship they had with him to feel comfortable going to them when they needed. Never has she felt the Spirit so strong in a Priesthood blessing. The Priesthood is something different in our church. She remembers being in college and it being the first time she had not had the Priesthood in her home. She could feel the difference without it. And appreciated her home teachers at that time as well and the Spirit they brought into their apartment. She made it a priority to marry someone worthy to hold the Priesthood.
Another sister shared her experience of growing up with a non-member father. Her mother committed to having the missionaries in their home regularly in order to have the Priesthood in their home. Now as a divorced mother, she told of how grateful she was that one of our missionaries called telling her he felt inspired to call and ask to come over. She now has them over weekly and told us of what a difference these visits make with her young sons.
The Atonement
Elder Oaks taught us that "the culmination of our Savior's mortal ministry was His Resurrection and His Atonement for the sins of the world. John the Baptist prophesied this when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
At the Last Supper, Jesus explained, according to the account in Matthew, that the wine He had blessed was "my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:38).
The Atonement is a beautiful gift. He thought of each one of us. He understands us even if we think nobody does.
"My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. And whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And no unclean thing can ever into the Father's kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end" (3 Nephi 27:14-16, 19).
The sacrament is given to us so we can renew those covenants. It's a reminder of what our baptismal covenants are.
Elder Oaks left his testimony, "Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself, as I know it for myself."
What think Ye of Christ?
Sister Griffeth left her testimony that when she thinks of Christ, she thinks of Charity. When she thinks of his whole life, she thinks of service. She said, "I saw the Gospel in action recently. I am not one that likes to accept charity. While I love to serve, service is not necessarily as easy to accept. How thankful I am to belong to an organization that teaches us to serve. I hope to be an example of my Savior. Many times in my life He has been the person I have had to rely on. I am thankful for my many blessings and for being a member of this church".
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