Being Christian (8/28/2009)

This morning, I would like to share a thought with you that Elder M. Russell Ballard gave in a commencement address earlier this month:

"When all is said and done, the most important thing about you and your testimony is that you base your beliefs on what Jesus Christ taught, and you try to follow Him by living your life in a way acceptable to our Heavenly Father and to the Lord.

"This is your foundation. It was Joseph Smith's foundation. He said: 'The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, he was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.'

"Whenever you are having a conversation about the Church, you should try to make this a point. We follow Jesus Christ. We try to live as He taught. That's the basis of our faith and our lives. This is the strongest nondefensive position you can take. You don't have to defend or justify anything when you are basing your position on the teachings of the Son of God and the fact that you are doing your best to keep His commandments."

The rest of the world squabbles over whether or not we are Christians in the way that everyone else is Christian. If we continue to try and live our lives as He did, then when the time comes for individuals to decide for themselves what their position is on this matter, however, it will be clear to them that this Gospel, restored in these latter days, is truly the Gospel of Jesus Christ.