A no more important question in one's life
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At the October 1972 general conference, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, t hen a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke of the role of prophets in carrying out the will of the Lord.
Elder Benson said: "While Saul was on the road to Damascus, he was stopped by a heavenly vision and the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. And Saul responded with these momentous words: 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' (Acts 9:6.)
"A man can ask no more important question in his life than that which Paul asked. . . . A man can take no greater action than to pursue a course that will bring him the answer to that question and then to carry out that answer. What would the Lord Jesus Christ have us do?"
Elder Benson said that individuals can follow the steps of Jesus Christ, the perfect exemplar, and walk as He walked by keeping His commandments, which can be learned of through studying the life of Christ in the scriptures and through revelations received by His authorized servants.
"It is significant that when Paul asked the question, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" [that] Christ directed Paul to one of the Lord's authorized servants. So it was with Cornelius, who after prayer was instructed to send men to contact Peter. (See Acts 10.) It has always been so — that whenever God has had His prophets upon the earth, men could go to them and learn of Christ and Him."
"Therefore, the only measure of true greatness is how close a man can become like Jesus," he said. "That man is greatest who is most like Christ, and those who love Him most will be most like Him.
"How, then, does a man imitate God, follow His steps, and walk as He walked, which we are commanded to do? We must study the life of Christ, learn His commandments, and do them. God has promised that to follow this course will lead a man to an abundant life and a fullness of joy and the peace and rest which those who are heavy-burdened long for. to learn of Christ necessitates the study of the scriptures and the testimonies of those who know Him. We come to know Him through prayer and the inspiriting and revelation that God has promised to those who keep His commandments"
Elder Benson said that
