What follows is the introduction to “He Will Give You Rest”, by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Gaye Strathern:.
Jesus’ invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,” and his marvelous promise, “I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) are worthy of ongoing thoughtful consideration. President Henry B. Eyring said, “The words ‘come unto Christ are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept. “1 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained, “The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul. We have highs and lows, but such times come and they usually always go. Kind neighbors assist. Beautiful sunshine brings encouragement. A good nights sleep usually works wonders. But there are times in all of our lives when deep sorrow or suffering or loneliness brings a cry for peace which only God Himself can bring. These times of piercing spiritual hunger even when the dearest friends cannot fully come to our aid.”2 It is in such moments that Jesus’ gracious invitation and comforting promise are needed most.
“Come unto me” is not the only invitation found in the book of Matthew. As New Testament Mark Allen Powell noted, Matthew’s Gospel “is a book of invitation, summoning the reader to seek ‘God’s kingdom and righteousness (6:33) to come to Jesus and experience rest (11:28), to hear the words and act on them (7:24), to understand and bear fruit (13:23) and to live a life of good works that bring glory to the Father in heaven (5:16).”
It is important to note that Jesus’ numerous invitations, including the one to come unto him, assume the operation of agency. There were those who did not accept Jesus’ invitation then (19:16-22) and there are those who will not accept today. The parable of the sower is a healthy reminder that there is a variety of souls—some that will bring forth fruits of the gospel and some that will not (13:3-8, 19-32).
Additionally, and more to the point for those who desire to be disciples, who want to be bound to Jesus with his yoke (11:29-30). Jesus’ invitation implies and assumes that we come to him completely. He expects more than simply bearing testimony: “I know God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know the Church is true.” Although the affirmation of such important and consequential eternal truths is the foundation of our public witness and testimony, it is nevertheless the only confession of the “moment of recognition” that we have experienced in the conversion process.4 Elder Dallin H. Oaks emphasizes this point: “To come unto Christ is not satisfied by a mere declaration of belief in Him. It means to follow Him to become as He is.”5
Nephi also challenged those who knew to take action: “Wherefore do the things which I have told you I have seen you that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost: (2 Nephi 31:17).
Even then, this is only the beginning of a spiritual journey to come fully unto Christ. Elder Bruce C. Hafen observed, “Receiving the Holy Ghost marks the beginning of our real spiritual growth, not the end of it. Baptism and the Holy Ghost only let us ‘[enter] in by the gate'”6 Nephi taught: “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten in by the strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (31:19-20).
In Matthew 16, Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (v.24 In Matthew 11, Jesus says simply and succinctly, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (v.29). To come unto Jesus is to become a disciple of Christ—to “love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy::5). Such dedication and commitment allow us to be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15).~~~Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Gaye Strathern, “He Will Give You Rest”, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010) pg:1-4 continued. . . .
