What Manner of Men?

Our Heavenly Father sent us to this beautiful earth so that we might become like Him by receiving and gaining dominion over a body and by learning from our own experience to choose good and reject evil. To make our perfection possible, He sent His Son to atone for our sins and Adam's transgression, teach us the truth, and show us by His perfect example the way back to Our Father. Jesus said to the Nephites and Lamanites gathered at the temple in Bountiful:  "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." 3 Nehpi 12:48.  He subsequently asked their leaders rhetorically, "what manner of men ought ye to be"?  And then He answered, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am."  Jesus is our perfect example, and He invites us to come and follow Him.  "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.

One day a rich young man came to Jesus seeking counsel.  He was like many of us.  He kept the commandments and did his best to please God.  In our way of thinking, he attended church, said his prayers, paid his tithing and fast offerings, did his home teaching.  He was faithful in holding family home evening, family prayer and scripture study.  He attended the temple regularly and in short kept all the commandments.  Mark tells us the story this way:

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10:17-22

Like the rich young man, each of us needs to ask what we must do to inherit eternal life; what lack we yet?  If we ask with a sincere heart and real intent (i.e. the intent to do what He tells us), He will show us what He would have us do.  He may show us that we need to change certain desires or thoughts or that we must change the way we speak, the words we say.  He may show us things we must stop doing or things we must begin to do or do better.  He will help us follow Him and become like Him.

One of the great blessings of serving a mission is having the opportunity to turn our hearts more fully to Him and become more like Him.  I pray that we will not be as the rich young man, but that we will be willing to do all that the Lord asks of us.  May we strive each day to follow Him and become more like Him in the desires of our hearts, our thoughts, our words, and all that we do.

For those who want help in identifying areas to improve, I recommend the study of Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel and the completion of the Attribute Activity at the end of the chapter.