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The words come unto Christ are an invitation, the most important invitation anyone could ever extend or accept. Jesus Christ extends this invitation to each of us because He loves us and knows we need Him. He can help and heal us. He understands us because of His own experiences (Alma 7:11-12). We know that in Him and through Him we can return to our Heavenly Father. As His disciples, we have the responsibility to follow His example and invite others to come unto Him. Those who truly come to him become like Him.
I know that the way to achieve happiness in this life is to come to Christ. I believe in the Book of Mormon and the plan of happiness it teaches. The simplicity of the words and stories are pure. I know that if we want to be near to the Savior and feel His peace, we will loose ourselves in the service of others. Elder Henry B. Eyring has said, “When you give your heart to inviting people to come unto Christ, your heart will be changed. You will be doing His work for Him. You will find that He keeps His promise to be one with you in your service. You will come to know Him. And in time you will come to be like Him and be ‘perfected in Him (Moroni 10:32).”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught that as we labor diligently and bring others to Christ we will wax strong in the spirit of the Lord. We will have the power to teach with authority from God. We will be forgiven of our own sins by the grace of God. We will obtain charity, even the pure love of Christ. And as we bring souls to Christ, we will find him ourselves.
How can we come unto Christ?
Have a desire. Alma 32:26-27, He asks us to “…exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. Desire will develop into a belief, which turns into a testimony and leads you to true conversion. Coming unto Christ is a lot like conversion. It is not a singular event, but ongoing, continuing process throughout your life. Our desire and knowledge will give us the why and how to repent for our sins.
Repent. The most hopeful and encouraging word in our vocabulary! We thank Heavenly Father that we are allowed to change. We thank Jesus Christ that he has given us the ability to be clean again (Holland). If you have sinned, REPENT. A true change of heart and desire to repent happens as we participate in His work.
President David O. McKay – Purpose of the gospel is to make “Bad men good and good men better. To change human nature.”
Take upon His name. Think about the ordinances do we participate in that help us do this. This gospel is about obedience. Those I know in my life who have truly come to him have made covenants to obey him and kept those covenants. Obedience in small things such as going to seminary and taking the sacrament, bring blessings from God. Promised blessings of peace. We must strive to become like Him. Those who truly come to him become like Him. They begin treating others how they would like to be treated, loving with the pure love of Christ.
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Invite. “Teach the gospel always, when necessary use words.” Those we wish to invite observe how we live on a daily basis and know our beliefs even before we share them vocally. Don’t ever become discouraged if some don’t respond to your invitation. Continue loving them and try again later when they may have a more repentant heart and will respond to the spirit. “Remember that only a few responded when the Savior himself offered this invitation during his mortal ministry, but great was His joy in those who recognized his voice and great will be your joy as those you have invited come unto Him.” (Holland) Find ways to share your feelings and experiences with the Atonement. As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase. Elder Bednar has taught, “Our voices become more powerful as we share our experiences with the Atonement working in our own life. If you reflect and give thanks often on this you will find that your personal witness of him becomes much more powerful and it will touch the lives of others. It will warm their heart like nothing else will. This assurance is not easy to feel in a world that says there is no God and no sin, that the way to happiness is found in pleasure.”
Study the Scriptures. If we want to love him we must know him. In order to know him we must study the scriptures and feast upon the words of Christ. In John 14:6 we read, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” I testify that as we study and apply the following attributes and scriptures to our lives – our commitment, ability and desire will be strengthened in bringing souls to Christ. This certainly includes your own.
Suggested Scripture Activity: Provide the following scriptures listed below. After reading, ask the members of your class to turn to their neighbor and share what they’ve learned. Then ask for several to share their thoughts with the group.
Download and Print Cards:
Charity Comfort Covenant Declare
Elect Harken Instrument Invite
Labor Minister Perfect Precious
Prepared Repent Rest Speak Spirit
Doctrine & Covenants 20:59 (INVITE)
They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.
Moroni 7:47 (CHARITY)
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Alma 17:11 (INSTRUMENT)
And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.
Alma 31:35 (PRECIOUS)
Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.
Mosiah 18:9-10 (COMFORT)
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life. Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Mormon 9:27 (HEARKEN)
. . .Hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Doctrine & Covenants 15:6 (WORTH)
For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you. Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments. And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.
Doctrine & Covenants 90:24 (COVENANT)
Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.
Matthew 11:28-30 (REST)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Doctrine & Covenants 11:21 (DECLARE)
Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
Doctrine & Covenants 138:56 (PREPARED)
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
Doctrine & Covenants 29:7 (ELECT)
And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.
Doctrine & Covenants 100:5-6 (SPEAK)
Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
Moroni 10:32 (PERFECT)
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
Doctrine & Covenants 18:15 (LABOR)
And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
Doctrine & Covenants 18:11-14 (REPENT)
For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
3 Nephi 18:32 (MINISTER)
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.
Teach His Doctrine 