Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke to students at BYU-Idaho on Sunday in the BYU-Idaho Center.
In his devotional address entitled “Drawing strength from the Savior’s love,” Elder Soares spoke about the recent Easter holiday and its significance. He showed everyone the Church’s newest easter video.
Elder Soares went on to talk about all Christ endured to be the Savior of the world.
“My dear friends, Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice was the ultimate and most glorious expression of love for all of God’s children,” Elder Soares said. “With meekness and humility of heart, He descended below all things and accepted being despised, rejected and humiliated by men, having been wounded for our transgressions and iniquities. He suffered these things for all, taking upon himself the sins of the world thus becoming our ultimate spiritual caregiver.”
Following these statements, Elder Soares shared ways people can come closer to Christ. He mentioned prayer, scripture study and the importance of enduring trials.
“Another special blessing that comes from experiencing the Savior’s love in our lives is increasing our hope in Him and in the plan of redemption that he offers us through Him and His glorious atoning sacrifice,” Elder Soares said. “The hope the Savior offers is the light that guides us through darkness. It is the assurance that no matter how overwhelming or difficult your journey is, peace, healing and recovery are possible.
Elder Soares said the best way to come unto Christ is to study His life and His character.
“When we intentionally study his life and His perfect example and His commandments and strive to discover the aspects of who Christ is, we set the ultimate standard for how we should live, the example we should follow and the commandments we should keep,” Elder Soares said. “In our quest to become as He is, we realize our dependence on Him and His atonement. It is through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can find the purity and peace we seek as we strive to submit out will to the will of the Father, just as the Savior did.”
Elder Soares said everyone is born with a seed of divinity and it connects them with their Heavenly Father.
“His love is eternal and real,” Elder Soares said. “With His arms ever outstretched, He calls each of us saying come unto me.”