Following the Savior
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A Church News tradition dating back to 1991 is carried forward with this issue, in which we present a package of guest-written articles on a gospel theme aimed at encouraging improvement in the new year. This year's theme is Christlike attributes, particularly those highlighted in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, the Church's guide to missionary service introduced in 2004.
The guide focuses on those nine attributes with the intent, of course, to encourage missionaries to become better ministers of the gospel by emulating the character and example of the Lord Jesus Christ. But the attributes listed therein would be useful beyond the sphere of missionary work and could be applied to other forms of Church service, parenthood, work, relationships and virtually any other aspect of life and living.
Another annual tradition is being continued with this Church News edition, that being an article based on a conversation with the general Sunday School presidency pertaining to the gospel doctrine course of study in the new year.
This year, the presidency has reminded us in that article that the Old Testament is replete with stories that teach gospel truths. In light of the Christlike attributes highlighted in this issue and in Preach My Gospel, let us consider each in turn, illustrating them with stories, characters and teachings from the Old Testament:
1. Faith in Jesus Christ. "God works by power, but His power is usually exercised in response to faith," reads the missionary guide (page 116). "He works according to the faith of His children. Doubt and fear are opposed to faith."
Moses, who expressed a feeling of inadequacy when called by Jehovah to lead the children of Israel, exercised faith in carrying out his divine errand, accomplishing miracles such as parting the Red Sea.
2. Hope. Closely aligned with faith, this is defined in the guide to missionary service as "an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises," and "is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm and patient perseverance" (page 117).
The widow of Zarephath who was visited by the prophet Elijah exemplifies hope. She and her son were destitute, and she was in the act of preparing what she expected would be their last meal before they died. Hearkening to the promise of the Lord given through Elijah, she prepared food for him first. The promise was indeed fulfilled in that she and her son never lacked food thereafter (see 1 Kings 17:8-16).
3. Charity and Love. The missionary guide cites the passage "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:39). But this is not strictly a New Testament teaching. It alludes to Leviticus 19:18, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of my people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."
This directive does not limit one's charity to other members of the covenant people of God. A few verses later in that chapter, the Lord enjoins, "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God" (verse 34).
As Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament, it stands to reason His gospel of charity, "the pure love of Christ," would pervade its pages.
4. Virtue. This attribute "is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards," according to the missionary guide.
Ruth had a reputation in Israel as "a virtuous woman" (Ruth 3:11). It was well-earned, from her fidelity to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and from her having embraced the covenant of God, as converts to the Church do today who are not born into LDS families.
5. Knowledge. "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" we are taught in Doctrine and Covenants 131:6. Consistent with that truth, Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah instituted as one of the reforms among the Jews the instruction of the people in the law of Moses, as recounted in Nehemiah 8.
6. Patience. The phrase "the patience of Job" has become almost proverbial, as it alludes to the experience of a man who "was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:1). Prosperous and blessed at first, he lost virtually all that he had. Yet he "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (verse 22). Ultimately, he was blessed more greatly than before.
7. Humility. This is defined in the missionary guide as "willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished" (page 120). It is the opposite of pride. An example of the two extremes are the people of Nineveh who were so hardened and ferocious that the prophet Jonah fled before the Lord rather than fulfill a mission to call them to repentance. To his astonishment, however, when he did preach to them, they "believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them" (Jonah 3:5). As a result, the prophesied destruction of the city was averted.
8. Diligence. Defined in the missionary guide as "steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord's work" (page 121), diligence characterized Joshua, the valiant and unflagging minister of Moses, he who waited while the stone tables were delivered to Moses and, as his successor, led the children of Israel as they crossed over Jordan into Canaan.
9. Obedience. "You may sometimes be required to do things you do not completely understand," the missionary guide notes (page 122). "As you obey, you increase in faith, knowledge, wisdom, testimony, protection, and freedom."
The virtue of obedience is illustrated in the story of Naaman the leper who, when instructed by the prophet Elisha to wash seven times in the river Jordan, was angry and stubborn. He later relented, did as he was instructed, and was blessed with the gift to be healed (see 2 Kings 5:1-14).
Preach My Gospel points out that learning to be like Christ is a lifelong pursuit (see page 123). As we pursue that goal in 2010, perhaps our study of the Old Testament can inspire and motivate us.
