"Look to Christ and Live"
President Kim B. Clark
April 7, 2007
At this long-awaited and very important rite of passage in your lives, Sister Clark and I extend to you our congratulations and our love.
We are here today to celebrate your graduation from BYU–Idaho. For a few moments I invite you to consider with me another kind of graduation–the graduation from mortal life and the great valedictory talks given at that time by three Book of Mormon prophets: Nephi, Alma, and Moroni. Given at the end of their mortal lives, these talks contain the most important messages they wanted to leave at their parting. I believe these messages are particularly important for you, because of who you are and the work the Lord has for you to do.
Brothers and sisters, it is your destiny to live in a remarkable time. It is a time of turmoil and great wickedness, but also a time of miracles and heavenly blessings. In the light of what lies ahead, we have sought to prepare you to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and leaders in your families, in the Church, and in the world around you. The talks we consider today are about Christ and about being His disciples.
For each of these great prophets, I will give you a passage from their speech and then some practical ideas about how you might implement in your lives what they have taught. I pray that the Holy Ghost will be with us today, that you and I will be edified and rejoice together.
Nephi
Our first prophet is Nephi. In his great sermon about the strait and narrow path, Nephi said:
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.1
Elder Eyring has taught us that the strait and narrow path moves uphill.2 There are mists of darkness and other kinds of opposition, but the way is sure. Nephi’s great counsel is to be steady, persistent, and diligent in our faith.
Here is something practical you can do to press forward with steadfastness in Christ: establish an architecture of righteousness in your daily life. Build your personal life around a structure of four righteous activities you do regularly without fail. One, have personal prayer morning and night. Two, get up early and study and search the scriptures for at least 30 minutes every day. Three, always hold a temple recommend and, if you live close enough, go to the temple every week. And, four, do missionary work. Share your testimony of the gospel. Invite people to come to Church, to read the Book of Mormon, and to hear the discussions. Build that structure with faith in Christ, and do not let anything break it. Be steady and persistent, and look to Christ and live!
Alma
Our second prophet is Alma the Younger. In his last message to his sons he gave them, and us, this wonderful counsel:
O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea . . . let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.3
Alma counsels us to recognize our total dependence on the Savior, to keep His commandments, and to trust in Him and rely on Him in everything we do. Jesus himself taught us:
“I am the true vine . . . ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”4
Here are some practical things you can do to abide in the Savior: every Sunday as you partake of the sacrament, prayerfully renew your commitment to “always remember him and keep his commandments.”5 Reflect on your gratitude for the Atonement, on its power in your life and your need for the blessings and strength that are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask your Heavenly Father to show you where you need to repent. Listen for His counsel, and then do it. Always keep the commandments of God, no matter what. Always trust in the almighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to Christ and live!
Moroni
Our third prophet is Moroni. In the aftermath of the destruction of his people and with knowledge of our day, Moroni wrote these powerful words of invitation and exhortation:
And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift . . . . 6
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him . . . . 7
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. Amen.8
Brothers and sisters, if you would seek Jesus, lay hold upon every good gift, and be perfected in Him, you must serve at the frontier of the kingdom. What do I mean by the frontier of the kingdom? I believe there is a spiritual frontier in every ward, in every stake, in every calling in the Church, where the Lord is breaking new spiritual ground. And there is a frontier inside each of us, where our own spiritual growth occurs. The Savior always works at the frontier; that is where you will find Him.
Here is something very practical you can do to find Jesus and be perfected in Him: always accept and always magnify callings in the Church and always volunteer to be of service in the kingdom. If your bishop calls you to be the nursery leader, or the Scoutmaster, or the Laurel advisor, or anything else, accept and magnify. You will find the Savior there. When opportunities come to volunteer for service, be the first person with your hand in the air, the first person with your name on the sign-up sheet. When the call goes out to shovel the sidewalks or visit someone less active or take a meal to a ward member, be the first one to stand up and say, “Here am I, send me.” Serve at the frontier and look to Christ and live!
In closing, I would like to leave you with a request and my testimony. Here is the request: When you leave here today, please take the Spirit of Ricks with you. Please take BYU–Idaho and what it means and what it stands for with you. You now represent the university. I hope and pray that wherever you go, whatever you do, people around you will see in you the principles, the purposes, and the spirit of BYU–Idaho.
Brothers and sisters, I bear you my testimony that Jesus Christ is the Holy One of Israel, the Promised Messiah, the living Son of the living God. I know this is His Church restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet of the Lord on the earth today. This is the Lord’s work. You are the Lord’s chosen servants, called forth in this time and in this place to become true disciples of the Savior. You have a great work to do in the kingdom. I pray with all my heart that you will be steadfast in Christ, always abiding in Him and trusting in His almighty power, and always serving with Him at the frontier of this glorious work.
Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, look to Christ and live! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
1 2 Nephi 31:19-20
2 Henry B. Eyring, “Raise the Bar”, BYU–Idaho Devotional, January 25, 2005.
3 Alma 37:35-37
4 John 15:1, 5
5 D&C 20:77
6 Moroni 10:30
7 Moroni 10:32
8 Ether 12:41
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