Seek This Jesus
Seek This Jesus
By Angela Halliday
When Mormon was finishing his summary of the destruction of the Jaredites, he pleads with the readers of the Book of Mormon to understand how we can avoid the same fate that befell the Jaredites and that befell the Nephites. Their destruction on the earth was complete because of their wickedness, their lack of faith, and their willful rebellion against God. His words in Ether 12:41 are compelling, “I commend you to seek this Jesus.”
As I’ve observed the steady and speedy decline of the standards of righteousness that are generally accepted among the people of the earth over just the past few years, I’ve been struck with both awe and a little bit of terror (in my less faith-filled moments) as the writers in the Book of Mormon really did foresee our day! They saw how much we are like the Nephites and Jaredites. Our tumble down the slope off the path of righteousness toward the river of filthiness, in the mists of darkness, and our yearning to be like the mocking world in the great and spacious building seem to be getting more and more blatant, pervasive and common. (See Lehi’s dream and the current state of things.)
I’ll not attempt to call out the ways that we (people both in and out of the covenant) are doing this—we all have room enough to improve to keep ourselves busy for a long while—but I want to explore and ponder on what could Mormon mean by, “I commend you to seek this Jesus.” Could that be the answer?
Pure and simple.
Yep. It is.
Is He the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Salvation?
Is His name enough?
Is there power in Him enough to save even me?
Yep. Me and you. And everyone.
Where is He?
How can I access Him?
What does it mean to seek Him?
Since I’m not a gospel scholar, but I love the Lord and His word, I’ll just share a few of my current thoughts…
First, Alma the Younger remembered one teaching, and it saved him! He recounted the experience to his son Helaman,
“And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” (Alma 36:17-21)
Second, when we are baptized, we take His name upon us. Since baptism is the first step on our covenant path back to Him, what an amazing thought. He puts His name on us! We carry His name on us for our whole journey. That’s some power! That’s some safety! As we keep these covenants, make more, live worthy of the Holy Spirit and gain line upon line, more knowledge, more power, more of His name, we get closer and closer to Him. My son starts his full-time mission service in a matter of days. His nametag will arrive in the mail any day now. That name tag has HIS name on it. Will people recognize HIS name in my son’s countenance and words? Do people recognize HIM in me and my actions and my words? Is HIS name evident on me?
Third, we seek Him by looking for Him where He is. He is in a child’s face. He is in the mountains and stillness. He is in the temple. He is in the suffering refugees’ camp. He is in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is in the home of the hungry, poor, and sick. He is in the illiterate and in the bomb shelter. He is in the ministering sister’s heart who wants to connect with her assigned and unassigned sisters. He is in the words of the prophets-old and new. He is in General Conference. He is in delivery rooms and birthing areas of all His children coming to earth. He is in His disciples’ ministries no matter where they may be. He is surrounding those on the margins of society. He is in the space where those in a faith crisis are asking honest questions. He is Jesus!
If I am to seek Him. I must look for Him and choose to be and dwell where He is.
If others are seeking Him, I hope they see Him in my countenance.
If we seek this Jesus, we will find Him.
And He is mighty. He will save!
