Bishop Waddell Shares 3 Tools to Draw Near to Jesus Christ

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By Mary Richards, Church News

After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley after the long trek across the plains, Brigham Young and a few companions climbed a tall hill and raised an ensign, or a standard, to the nations.

“You are being prepared to be your own version of an ensign to the nations,” Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, told Ensign College students in a devotional on Tuesday, January 23.

“The foundation, to which you must anchor, allowing you to stand firmly on high ground, is Jesus Christ,” he said.

This foundation will allow the students to stay on high ground, with their standard firmly anchored, so the light which emanates from them can be seen.

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‘Must,’ ‘When’ and ‘Cannot’

Helaman 5:12 reads, “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

Bishop Waddell pointed out three words from that verse — “must,” “when” and “cannot.”

He said “must” indicates that there are no alternatives that can provide the same type of sure foundation that Jesus Christ can provide.  

“We must build our foundation on Jesus Christ.  There is too much at stake. Any other choice, any other foundation will ultimately fail us.” 

The word “when” is a reminder that the challenges of life are not optional — and they are a part of this mortal life.

Bishop Waddell shared how in the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, found in Jacob 5, the Lord of the vineyard directed the servant to not clear away the bad all at once. 

“We need opposition to grow. That is how we will be strengthened,” he said.

The word “cannot” is definitive — “‘They cannot fall’ is a sure promise to those that choose to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Waddell said. 

The Best and Worst of Times

Bishop Waddell invited the students to give careful thought to how they will balance their careers, family responsibilities and church callings — all of which will impact the type of foundation they build in order to stay on high ground, their “ensign to the world.”

Charles Dickens’ book “A Tale of Two Cities” begins thus: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …”

Today on one side are the “worst of times,” with Satan’s strong influence in the world, thick mists of darkness and a crowded and mocking spacious building from Lehi’s vision.

But today also is the “best of times.” Never has the path that leads to the tree of life been more clearly marked, Bishop Waddell said. 

“Never has the rod of iron, the word of God, as given through scriptures and by living Prophets and Apostles, been more easily available and easily gripped on the path to the tree of life.”

3 Tools to Draw Near to the Savior, Jesus Christ

Bishop Waddell said the Lord has provided three tools to help His children draw near to the Savior and to learn of Him as they strive to establish a sure foundation for their lives.

1. Learn of Him in the temple.

Church President Russell M. Nelson taught in October 2021 general conference that the temple lies at the center of strengthening faith and spiritual fortitude — because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple.

2. Draw near to Him through the scriptures.

Studying the scriptures on a regular basis brings the spirit into the home and provides guidance and direction, Bishop Waddell said. “Keep the Book of Mormon as part of your daily study.”

3. Hear His voice while listening to modern prophets and apostles.

“You should view general conference weekends as the most important weekends of the year and do all that you can to never miss them,” Bishop Waddell said.  “... Remember, prophets do not stand between us and the Savior, they stand next to us, pointing us to the Savior.”

With these tools and building a foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ, people will be able to establish their ensign and let their light shine and be seen.

Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.