The Transformative Nature of the Doctrine of Christ

Brothers and Sisters, I am grateful to be with you today and for the wonderful opportunity I have to serve here in Nanaimo. Vancouver Island is truly a special place. I wasn’t really given a topic to speak on today, so I thought what better topic than repentance! I’d like to begin by testifying that the doctrine of Christ is simple and it works. It truly transforms people and as we live it, we become new creatures in Christ. The principles of the Doctrine of Christ includes: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

The Doctrine of Christ is like an engine, driving us forward on a path to eternal life. This engine propels us toward the ultimate destination of becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ, as our very natures are changed. For an engine to run, it needs both fuel and ignition. The fuel is our faith in Jesus Christ and our repentence–our willingness to let God prevail into our lives. The ignition is the power of Godliness which is manifested through the ordinances and covenants performed by the authority of the Holy priesthood. The Doctrine of Christ advances the process of transformation, and propels us forward in our spiritual journey of becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as Alma the younger puts it in the account of his conversion:

“For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.” (Mosiah 27:24-26)

Later, Alma the younger rehearsed his experience of turning to God to his son Helaman. He shared: “And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.” (Alma 36:17-18)

It wasn’t until this moment that Alma the Younger was released from his “eternal torment." His soul was “harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all [his] sins.” (Alma 36:12) He knew that he “had rebelled against [his] God, and had not kept his holy commandments.” (v. 13) Despite his knowledge of his rebellion and sins, he continued to suffer until he remembered the Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as his thoughts caught hold upon Christ, he cries out for mercy, and the effects of this torment are immediately lifted. He experiences this shift from eternal torment to beholding marvelous light and receiving an outpouring of joy filling up his soul.

Repentance can be just like that. We may immediately catch hold upon the Savior’s mercy and receive a remission of our sins. As we do so, we may for a moment stand sinless before each other.

In his most recent general conference address, Elder Kyle S. McKay, touched on this a bit; as he shared Joseph and Oliver’s experience at the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple. Elder McKay shared: “We do not know what they prayed for, but their prayers likely included a plea for forgiveness, for, as they arose, the Savior appeared and declared, ‘Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me.’ In the months and years after this experience, Joseph and Oliver would sin again. And again. But in that moment, for that moment, in response to their plea and in preparation for the glorious restoration of priesthood keys that was about to happen, Jesus made them sinless.” (The Man Who Communed with Jehovah, Oct 2024)

Going back to Alma the Younger’s conversion, we find a similar experience of a blind man called Bartimaeus. In the Gospel of Mark, the scripture says, “and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47) By calling Him the Son of David, it’s clear that he recognized that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. You’ll also find similar language with regards to his conversion when compared to Alma the Younger’s words. It’s also remarkable that out of anyone in the crowd, a man who was born blind, would be the one to recognize the divinity of Jesus Christ. Elder Massimo De Feo notes that, “he saw spiritually what he couldn’t see physically, while many others could see Jesus physically but were totally blind spiritually.”

Not only that, but many from the crowd charged him to be silent, despite this he cried out ever more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy upon me!” I hope that we have that conviction. I mean I sure hope I have that conviction, to not silence my discipleship in response to the world silencing it.

When Bartimaeus came into contact with Jesus he was healed of his physical blindness. Now we may not be physically blind, but in the same fashion, as we sin, we become spiritually blind. If we call upon the Lord in repentance we may have our spiritual eyesight opened.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Twelve Apostles teaches, “the core of the gospel that the Church teaches is that Jesus Christ bore ‘our griefs, and carried our sorrows.’ He had ‘laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ He ‘endured the cross,’ broke ‘the bands of death,’ ‘ascended into heaven, and … sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy.’ The Savior did all this because He loves His Father and He loves us. He has already paid the infinite price so He can ‘[claim] all those who have faith in him [and advocate]’ for them—for us. Jesus Christ wants nothing more than for us to repent and come unto Him so that He can justify and sanctify us. In this desire, He is relentless and unwavering.” (“This is My Gospel” – “This Is My Church”, Oct 2024)

In his talk he later shares, “The Savior refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as ‘my church’ because He commissioned it to accomplish His purposes—preaching His gospel, offering His ordinances and covenants, and making it possible for His power to justify and sanctify us. Without His Church, there is no authority, no preaching of revealed truths in His name, no ordinances or covenants, no manifestation of the power of godliness, no transformation into who God wants us to become, and God’s plan for His children is set at naught. The Church in this dispensation is integral to His plan.”

As we see here, living the Doctrine of Christ and experiencing the power of Godliness through His restored church is essential for our journey toward eternal life. People notice something different about us as we pursue this path. Brothers and sisters, you are the gospel message. You are the example of how following our Savior Jesus Christ changes people’s natures. If you feel that living the Doctrine of Christ or serving in the church is a burden for you, now is the time to lay your burdens upon the Lord. When you cast your burden on the Lord you invoke his power upon you. By keeping our burdens to ourselves we are denying Christ’s power to help us in our lives. If He helped when we don’t ask or give him the problem we will lean unto our own strength or own mind or own power rather than allowing the power of God to solve the problem and receiving the opportunity to recognize the hand of the Lord.

In the Book of Psalms chapter 55 verse 22 reads: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

I would like to extend Elder Renlund’s invitation once again to you today. He said: “I invite you to commit yourself more fully to the Savior, His gospel, and His Church. As you do so, you will find that the combination of the Savior’s gospel and His Church brings power into your life. This power is far greater than dynamite. It’ll shatter the rocks in your way, transform you into an inheritor in God’s kingdom. And you will be ‘filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.’” (“This is My Gospel” – “This Is My Church”, Oct 2024)

Brothers and Sisters, I may not be able testify with the same conviction of the Apostles and Prophets of whom are special witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrected body. But I do testify with the conviction of my soul that Jesus Christ truly directs His restored church and this marvelous work, which is preparatory to His second coming. And not only that, but most importantly that He completed His divine mission to intercede on our behalf and reconcile us with God if we so choose. I know He loves us. His Atonement is the greatest act of love for all of mankind. I’m incredibly grateful for Jesus Christ our Advocate. I know I can never repay Him for what He has done for me. The only thing that I have to give is my will. That’s all that He asks. May we all offer up our wills upon the altar, just as Jesus did to the Father. In the name of our great Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.