From Elder Henry B. Eyring’s book “To Draw Closer to God:”
. . . .“Now, you may feel that I have given you only a modest hope. You want to know, to be sure—if possible, by some clear sign— that your sins are remitted. So do I. But you and I know that President Benson was telling the truth when he said: “For every Paul, for every Enos and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds of thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move close to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not’ (3 Nephi 9:20).” (A Mighty Change of Heart)
As if he knew my concern, and yours, to discern whether we are moving towards Christ, Elder Tuttle took me to another scripture to discern ¨How do you know you are moving towards Christ?¨ (paraphrased). . . .
“How do you know?” That was whispered to me after a stake conference by a woman who had tears running down her cheeks. She said: “I’ve tried so long. I’ve done everything I know how. Why don’t I feel the peace of forgiveness? I want to feel forgiven. I want to feel clean again. I want to feel I can stay that way. How do I know?”
Alma the high priest raised that very question, and he answered it as he taught the people in Zarahemla: “And now behold, I ask you, my brethren of the church, have you spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do ye look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?”(Alma 5:14-15.)
As Elder Tuttle read those words that day, I knew what I wanted. I wanted the Master’s image in my countenance, perhaps not visible to others, but so that I might look forward with the eye of faith to that grand reunion. I wanted to have confidence that I would someday and somewhere hear the words: “Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth.” (Alma 5:16.) ~Henry B. Eyring, To Draw Closer to God (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997) 53-54. For complete post and working links click below. . . https://wp.me/p5HpSg-2jL
