Our Own Road to Emmaus
Five simple activities can help us know that the Savior is always near.
On the Road to Emmaus, by Wendy B. Keller, courtesy of Havenlight
My father died of cancer when I was 4 years old. I grew up wondering why he had to die. I questioned God and asked why life was so unfair. Ten years later, when I was 14, I met the missionaries. As they taught us, my mother felt that they were teaching the truth and that we should listen. When we joined the Church, the gospel of Jesus Christ and an understanding of the plan of salvation came into my life at a time when I really needed it.
Later, when I was sealed to my parents in the temple, my mother whispered to me, “I feel your father’s presence.” As I thought about the blessings of being sealed, I knew that the Lord was aware of our family and that He had been with us often, even when we were unaware.
Have you ever wondered if the Savior is aware of you? Does He know about your struggles and concerns? What would He say to you if you could walk and talk with Him?
He Walked with Them
Three days after the death of Jesus Christ, two of His disciples were walking along the road to the village of Emmaus, which is about seven miles (12 km) from Jerusalem. They were absorbed in their own thoughts and worries, when they were joined by a stranger.
The stranger asked, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”
The disciples spoke of the recent events “concerning Jesus of Nazareth.” They believed that Jesus had come to redeem Israel, but He had been unjustly condemned and crucified. They also said that those who knew Christ best were saying He had risen from the dead.
The stranger told them they were “slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” He reviewed what the scriptures taught and how Christ had fulfilled prophecy. This filled the disciples with joy.
When they arrived at Emmaus, the disciples asked the stranger to “abide with [them].” At dinner the stranger blessed bread and broke it. Suddenly, the disciples recognized that the stranger was no stranger at all but the Savior Himself! (See Luke 24:13–32.)
He Abides with Us
We may wonder why the two disciples did not know the Savior was walking with them. And yet how often do we fail to understand that He walks with us? Often we are so focused on the challenges, and even the joys, in our daily lives that we do not see that the Savior is by our side.
We may not see how He stays with us, strives with us, works with us, and cries with us. Even in our saddest moments, if we take notice, we can feel Him with us and hear His words: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, emphasis added; see also Doctrine and Covenants 101:16).
Our Personal Road
We each have a destination to reach in this life. At times on our journey, we may face illness or we may struggle with our own weakness. We may have money problems or the challenges that come from success, wealth, and pride.
As we travel our personal road to Emmaus, we need never walk alone. We can ask the Savior to be with us. Here are five simple activities that will help us draw near to Him.
The sacrament helps us remember and allows us to renew our covenants, to repent, and to try again. When we take the sacrament, we signify our willingness to take the name of Jesus Christ upon us and recommit to remembering Him and keeping His commandments. We are then promised that His Spirit will always be with us. (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.) We should always remember the ordinances and covenants we have made.
The Savior Will Be Near
On our own road to Emmaus, the Savior lovingly invites us to come unto Him and rejoice in Him. As we pray each day, feast on the scriptures, follow the living prophets, invite Him to abide with us, and renew and honor our covenants, He will be near us. We will then come to know, as the disciples on the road to Emmaus came to know, that Jesus Christ is risen and that He truly lives and loves us.
I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is eager to be with us and to guide us safely on our way.
For Elder Giuffra’s complete talk (only half of it is here), click: Our Own Road to Emmaus.
