Finding Christ at the center

That small formula describes how we LDS singles can experience greater joy in our journey.

Tomorrow is Halloween, and that means it’s time to go back to Conference.

No, I don’t have any twisted connection between a holiday celebrating ghouls, goblins, and ghosts on one hand and a treasured semiannual tradition of feeding from the Holy Ghost on the other.  I just don’t have a Halloween-based theme — or any theme for that matter — for the program today.  When it comes to selecting a theme for a program, Conference is a safe bet.

And when it comes to selecting a Conference address for said theme, Elder Holland is always a safe bet.  And perhaps that was the thought behind assigning him to be the very first speaker.

Whether or not that’s true, Elder Holland hit another home run.  In his address entitled “The Message, the Meaning, and the Multitude,” Elder Holland emphasized the meaning behind General Conference and all its associated activity.  He sums it up very well in the end:

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Sisters and brothers, through the incessant din and drumbeat of our day, may we strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, of our faith, and of our service. That is where true meaning lies.

I couldn’t agree more.  That small formula describes how we LDS singles can experience greater joy in our journey — by striving to place Christ at the center of our lives, our faith, and our service.

Center your life on Him

Elder Holland begins by recounting the story of a blind man begging on the side of the road to Jericho who becomes frantic when he learns that the Savior is passing by.  Though some in the crowd try to calm him, he will not be calmed.  He insists on nearing himself to the Lord.

When he finally has audience with the Savior, he beseeches Christ to heal him of his blindness.  Christ does so, rewarding the man for his faith.

Elder Holland admits admiration for this small story, and I have to confess the same, especially considering Elder Holland’s description:

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I am moved by this vivid little vignette every time I read it. We can sense the man’s distress. We can almost hear him shouting for the Savior’s attention. We smile at his refusal to be silenced—indeed, his determination to turn the volume up when everyone else was telling him to turn it down. It is, in and of itself, a sweet story of very determined faith. But as with all scripture, the more we read it, the more we find in it.

One thought that struck me only recently is the good sense this man had in having spiritually sensitive people around him. The entire significance of this story hinges on a handful of anonymous women and men who, when asked by their colleague, “What does this commotion mean?” had the vision, if you will, to identify Christ as the reason for the clamor; He was Meaning Personified. There is a lesson in this little exchange for all of us. In matters of faith and conviction, it helps to direct your inquiry toward those who actually have some! “Can the blind lead the blind?” Jesus once asked. “[If so,] shall they not both fall into the ditch?”

We hear many voices today filled with confidence that their message best describes how life should be lived.  But in all that, how can you have your best life if you aren’t heeding the voice of the Bread and Water of Life?

Can you honestly say that Christ is the center of your life?  If so, how many and which of those elements proves that Christ is the center of your life?  You shouldn’t need to look far for the answer.

Center your faith on Him

Elder Holland’s counsel to seek answers for questions of faith from those who actually have faith is both wonderfully simple and simply wonderful.  We sometimes miss the simple approach because we think that the answer we’re missing can’t be in something simple, or else we would have seen it.

Yet we’re all learning as we go.  Elder Holland himself admits his recent insights about the simple story of the blind man on the road to Jericho.  He then proclaims that, just as for the blind man who sought the Savior, finding Him doesn’t have to be complicated for us.

We can find the Savior as we study the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.  We can find the Savior as we share the gospel.  We can find the Savior in supporting recent converts.  We can find the Savior by serving in the temple.  I love Elder Holland’s description of the temple experience centered on Christ.

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When one goes to the holy temple for the first time, he or she may be somewhat awestruck by that experience. Our job is to ensure that the sacred symbols and revealed rituals, the ceremonial clothing and visual presentations, never distract from but rather point toward the Savior, whom we are there to worship. The temple is His house, and He should be uppermost in our minds and hearts—the majestic doctrine of Christ pervading our very being just as it pervades the temple ordinances—from the time we read the inscription over the front door to the very last moment we spend in the building. Amid all the wonder we encounter, we are to see, above all else, the meaning of Jesus in the temple.

What actions in your life prove you’ve centered your faith on Christ?  If all you do is go through the motions of a rote autopilot existence, you’re missing the deeper joy found in seeing and focusing on the deeper meaning your faith can have.

Center your service on Him

Adopting a personal ministry can deepen your conviction to a life and faith centered on Christ, especially when you center that personal ministry on furthering the Lord’s work.

I’ve long spoken of adopting a personal ministry and how partnering with the Lord to bring a unique contribution of goodness to the world can support LDS singles through the often challenging years of singleness.  That support comes more readily and infuses more deeply when you center your service on Christ.

That doesn’t necessarily mean adopting a cause like missionary work or family history service as your personal ministry, although it could.  In reality, the best personal ministry you can adopt is the one that uses your unique talents and gifts to accomplish the work the Lord wants you to do.

That’s why partnering with the Lord is so essential.  Only then can you know what work He wants you to do, what your unique talents and gifts are, and how you should use them in accomplishing the work He has planned for you.  If you’ve questions about any of that, consider Elder Holland’s remarks:

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Commotion and confusion? Crowds and contention? There is plenty of all that in our world. Indeed, skeptics and the faithful still contend over this vision and virtually all else I have referred to today. In case you may be striving to see more clearly and to find meaning in the midst of a multitude of opinions, I point you toward that same Jesus and bear apostolic witness of Joseph Smith’s experience, coming as it did some 1,800 years after our blind friend received his sight on the ancient Jericho Road. I testify with these two and a host of others down through time that surely the most thrilling sight and sound in life is that of Jesus not only passing by but His coming to us, stopping beside us, and making His abode with us.

Sisters and brothers, through the incessant din and drumbeat of our day, may we strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, of our faith, and of our service. That is where true meaning lies. And if some days our vision is limited or our confidence has waned or our belief is being tested and refined —as surely it will be —may we then cry out the louder, “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” I promise with apostolic fervor and prophetic conviction that He will hear you and will say, soon or late, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

When you partner with the Lord, He will surely lead you along.  And that will bring you more joy in your journey.

You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode.