With Easter Approaching …

General Conference is coming up and I wanted to highlight at least one more talk from the last conference before being inundated with new thoughts and teachings.  With Easter approaching, President Holland’s seems to be the most appropriate one to discuss. 

Who doesn’t love Jeffrey R. Holland? I mean, there may be some out there, but I’m a big fan! And I love his wife just as much. I noticed there is a book out of her sayings and teachings if you want to snag it.  Back to President Holland and his stirring message.  

He speaks Jesus! 

President Holland is an amazing story teller. He sets the scene so well, of Jesus’s arrest I felt like I was there. I felt the emotions of the soldiers poignantly. I imagined the confusion, the fear, the awe and even the sense of duty to still follow orders to take the man in despite his apparent lack of rebellion. 

Of Jesus, President Holland says, “…down through history many have simplified, even trivialized our image of Him and His witness of who He was. They have reduced His righteousness to mere prudishness, His justice to mere anger, His mercy to mere permissiveness. We must not be guilty of such simplistic versions of him that conveniently ignore teachings we find uncomfortable. This ‘dumbing down’ has been true even regarding His ultimate defining virtue, His love (emphasis added).” 

How do we do that? First of all, how do we simplify Him? Many people will say they believe He was a great teacher, but not a Savior. That would be an example of simplifying who He is.  But I wonder how I do this in my own life? How do I simplify Jesus in my life? What teachings am I ignoring because they feel uncomfortable? 

It’s really hard to think of an example. Because I think this is more than just us saying, “I didn’t read my scriptures today” or “I need to work on saying my morning prayers.” This statement seems to run a lot deeper (as President Holland is always trying to do). Where am I neglecting my relationship with Jesus? Have I made His atonement insignificant in my life? Maybe it is uncomfortable to believe that this great man would suffer and die for my sins, that He is willing to be my advocate. 

How Does Jesus Love? 

Honestly, I think we do as Holland says here, we dumb down the very idea of His love manifested in our lives! In her wonderful book, “Let God Love You,” Wendy Ulrich shares a story of how she came to know of God’s love for her. Sitting in a chair by the window, she was lamenting her weaknesses when the sun shone through the window and she knew God was telling her to let Him love her. Do we let God love us? Could not letting God love us, believing in His love, be a way that we “dumb down” Jesus and His power?

Holland continues: 

“As Lehi said in his blessing to his son Jacob, ‘Redemption comes in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.’ His love allows an encouraging embrace when it is needed and a bitter cup when it has to be swallowed. So we try to love — with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—because that is the way He loves us (emphasis added).” 

So we love with all our hearts! If He loves us, then so should we! When we honor His love for us, we are not dumbing Him down! 

Sister Holland (there she is!) has said, “When you dwell on your limitations exclusively, to the point that they affect your inner view and strength, you mock God in his very creation. You deny the divinity within you.” Imagine that!! Loving ourselves is a way of showing God we love Him! That’s pretty awesome! 

Doing the Will of the Father

I have many thoughts on this topic. But in short, President Holland mentions this as the second way in which Jesus showed His love. Similar to my earlier thought, when we want to express and feel God’s love, we seek Him in our lives. We counsel in prayer with Him. We commit to discipleship. I think He expects us do so in our own way, with our own unique gifts, talents and personalities.  But doing all we do while  turning in humility toward Him. 

Again, with Easter approaching, I’m so grateful for this talk that points me to the Savior, Jesus Christ — to my Savior. As I grapple with other questions and concerns going on in my life and mind, I needed this talk today. I feel it as a call for me to, “Look to God and live!” I hope I can do so. 

* * * * * * 

“Whom seek ye?” With all our hearts we answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.” When He says, “I am he,” we bow our knee and confess with our tongue that He is the living Christ, that He alone atoned for our sins, that He was carrying us even when we thought He had abandoned us.

President Jeffrey R. Holland