Elder D. Todd Christofferson
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Just before his crucifixion, Jesus gathered his apostles in Jerusalem and ministered to them, offering at the end a prayer for those who would believe in the words of the apostles and become "one in us."
"How glorious it is to contemplate that we have been invited into that perfect unity that exists with the Father and the Son . . . it becomes clear that we must begin by becoming one within ourselves. We are dual beings of flesh and spirit and we sometimes feel out of harmony or in conflict . . . the appetites and temptations to which the flesh is subject can, if permitted, overwhelm and dominate the spirit.
"Jesus was also a being of flesh and spirit, but he yielded not to temptation. We can turn to him as we seek unity and peace within ourselves because he understands. He understands the struggle and he also understands how to win the struggle . . . We may look to Jesus to help restore the inner unity of our soul when we have succumbed to sin and destroyed our peace . . . When we repent, his atoning grace justified and cleanses us.
"Becoming at one within ourselves prepares us for the greater blessing of becoming one with God and Christ.
"Surely we will not be one with God and Christ until we make their will and interest our greatest desire. Such submissiveness is not reached in a day, but through the Holy Spirit, the Lord will tutor us if we are willing until, in process of time, it may be accurately said that he is in us as the Father is in him."
