Can you imagine a more profound and potentially transforming event than receiving a personal invitation from Jesus Christ to follow Him? One of the Savior's earliest calls during His mortal ministry was the call of obedience and discipleship to Peter and Andrew when He beckoned, "Come follow me." These two valiant souls "straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matthew 4:19; see also Mark 1:17). The call to follow Christ is an invitation to emulate His example and to become like Him. This call has been extended to all mankind (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:59 and 38:22).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, explained: "To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: 'Keep the commandments' — nothing more, nothing less" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Developing Christlike Attributes," Ensign, October 2008, 4–9).
Jesus' mortal life exemplified submission and obedience to His Father. All that He did and all that He suffered was to please Heavenly Father: "I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29); "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father" (John 5:30).
Jesus Christ wants our love for Him and Heavenly Father to motivate our obedience to the commandments. The Lord exhorted, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Keeping the commandments helps us grow spiritually, but divine perfection cannot be compelled. Following and emulating Christ means obeying willingly because we love Him. "Man's love of God is measured in terms of obedience and service" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed., 540).
Reflecting on serving as a mission president in the New York Utica Mission, one particular elder comes to mind when considering the attribute of obedience. During our first interview, he expressed a strong love of the Lord and a desire to be like Him. He was aware that he had a lot of growing to do, but he also seemed to know how to do it. Without my prompting, he promised me that he would obey all the mission rules, and all of the Lord's commandments.
This young elder proved to be a man of his word. He quickly gained the trust of his leaders. When difficult circumstances or potential problems arose in an area, this young missionary proved to be the "go to" elder. No matter what the challenge, he was ready and willing to perform the Lord's errand with exactness and honor. He never let the Lord down. During our concluding interview at the end of his mission, I asked him how he had managed to be so dependable and successful. Recalling a line from a general conference talk he had heard years earlier, the elder repeated: "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power" (President Ezra Taft Benson, quoted in Donald L. Staheli, "Obedience — Life's Great Challenge," Ensign, May l998, 82).
He knew that God had blessed him with success and power on his mission and would continue to bless him throughout his life if he remained faithful to the attribute of obedience.
Blessings flow from obedience to God's laws in this life as well as in the eternities (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:10; 130:18-21). "All progression, all perfection, all salvation, all godliness, all that is just and true, all good things come to those who live the laws of Him who is Eternal" (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, 126).
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve provided this insight into the obedient character of President Thomas S. Monson: "Positioned on the wall of President Thomas S. Monson's office directly opposite his astonishingly clean desk (astonishing only because of the legendary amount of work he processes every day, sometimes requiring up to three secretaries at a time to handle it), a lovely artwork of the Savior greets [President Monson's] gaze. … President Monson loves the painting, which he has had since he was a 22-year-old bishop and which he has taken with him wherever he has been assigned to labor. 'I have tried to pattern my life after the Master,' President Monson says in a quiet, reflective mood, gazing at the portrait. 'Whenever I have had a difficult decision to make, or perhaps have had to measure the request to give a blessing against the endless demands of some of my paperwork, I have always looked at that picture and asked myself, "What would He do?" Then I try to do it.' With that characteristic smile breaking through, President Monson adds, 'I can assure you the choice has never been to stay and do paperwork!'" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "President Thomas S. Monson: Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith," Ensign, September 1994, 12–13).
President Monson wrote: "Obedience is a hallmark of prophets, but it should be realized that this source of strength is available to us today" (in Be Your Best Self, 104).
Many faithful members have discovered this strength and power by living the law of obedience. A recent calling allowed me to serve closely with young single adults. Their dedication and commitment to the Lord and His Church was inspiring. One young man was particularly impressive when he expressed his desire to serve a mission. He had come from a dysfunctional family and a rough background. With the help and example of friends and leaders, as well as sincere study and prayer on his part, he felt the power of the Holy Ghost and developed a testimony of the Savior and a strong desire to follow Him. Joining the Church had been difficult for this young man because of the opposition of some family members. However, he continued faithful, saved money and diligently prepared for a mission. Working with this budding disciple of Christ in preparation for his mission was always an edifying experience. His desire to live a life of worthiness and obedience led him to fulfill a call from the Lord to serve and teach others the gospel. This young man and others like him lead me to believe that many of the younger generation are filled with great desire to follow Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ set the perfect example of obedience and invited us to follow Him. His example, His teachings, and the Holy Ghost guide us in knowing how to follow Him in every attribute, including obedience. The Holy Spirit, the scriptures, living prophets, apostles and other Church leaders encourage and lead us. Our obedience to divine direction reaps blessings and spiritual growth. Through the power of Christ's Atonement, all of us "may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" (Articles of Faith 1:3).
Thomas R. Valletta is director of seminary and institute curriculum for the Church Educational System and serves on the Church's Materials Evaluation Committee for the Correlation Department. He is a former president of the New York Utica Mission.
