Elder M. Russell Ballard
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
This is the beginning of a new century and the 171st year since the church was organized. Membership is close to 11 million worldwide. Temples are being built. Church meetings are being held. But, as the prophets have said, the Lord expects more.
"But what? What is it that needs our personal attention? As I read and ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord's counsel to his followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that the most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ."
There is no time for spiritual apathy. While the strides the church has made are enormous, there is still an overwhelming task before Latter-day Saints: to minister to spirits on both sides of the veil.
"True discipleship, therefore, precludes any complacency."
Each member of the church will have to know individually that Jesus is the Christ.
"There are many people who know a little about us, who are curious and who wonder about us but who are not ready to change their lifestyle or make eternal commitments. We need to be prepared to teach them in ways that they can understand and appreciate, even if they are not prepared as yet to respond to spiritual promptings and to accept the gospel in their lives."
Those who understand their premortal relationship as brothers and sisters to every person on the Earth should find it easier to explain in a "nonthreatening way" their commitment to Jesus Christ.
