Jesus, the center of it all

WE ARE ALL LOST WITHOUT HIM

Missed plane to come to the US.

Have you ever been in a situation in which you were completely powerless? Like youre trying to
grab hold of smoke? Its useless. No matter what you do, how much you try, you cant change
anything. Think about one of those experiences.
o I think of Laura. Go with me to my junior year.
o Think of other ones. You wanna go grocery shopping but has no money or car, your HW
is due and youve wasted time hanging out, or on more serious notes, youre not loved
back by someone youve given your heart to. Your siblings have gone inactive and your
parents are struggling in their marriage. You name it. So many times in life we are
completely, utterly, unescapably lost and powerless.
In these moments, do you think of Jesus Christ? Of the fact that no matter how life falls apart,
He is there for you, with you?
o Isaiah: But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath
forgotten mebut he will show that he hath not.
o For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the
son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.
o Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before
me.
His power is right here in front of us, we just need to reach out and use it.

CHURCH STUFF AND OBEDIENCE

We all do church stuff. Gospel stuff. Thats what the gospel says, thats what LDS do.
o Morning prayers. Evening ones. Bless the food. Tithing. Word of Wisdom. Sabbath.
Visiting people. Teaching. Serving in your callings. Family history and temple work
Why do you obey? Why do you not? What comes to your mind when you consider a
commandment? Is it culture? Is it what mom and dad would hope, is it what your YSA ward
members would hope? Roommates, friends does what someone would hope you do influence
your obedience?
Sure, social conversion is maybe an important first step. But it is the first step. Are you walking
away from it? Are you actively pursuing the change from this what we do to I love the Savior,
and I do this to be close to Him?

TO KNOW HIM

Jesus: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.
o What is the difference between believing and knowing God?

King Benjamin: For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a
stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
o We must obey to know Him, but also we learn that He must be in our thoughts and
heart.
How do you feel about this statement by the Savior:
Jesus: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And
behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the
Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world.
o Think about it: the light and the life of the world. Of your world. Of your life.
Light
Life

COME UNTO HIM

So we need to come unto Him, make Him the center of our actions by making Him the center of
our hearts.
How?
Jesus: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
o 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.
o For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Ok, so come unto me and youll find rest.
o Come unto me by following my example.
*mention a lot of commandments
That is tiresome!
How do we find rest?
Jesus again: 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
o Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
o Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the
vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
o I am the 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.
o If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather
them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
o If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you.

I testify that by abiding in Him, by turning to Him, Hell strengthen and enable us to do much
more than we are able to do. Obeying wont be a burden but the delight of our hearts. It wont
be some annoying thing because we know Him who we serve.

Think about the power that comes from living a life of obedience that is centered in Jesus Christ.
Amaleki: And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the
Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come
unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and
praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

WHAT DEFINES YOU?

Mormon: Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to
declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.