Elder Kikuchi: 'How to open your heart to heaven'
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PROVO, UTAH
Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the Seventy taught three simple principles to the audience gathered in the Marriott Center on the BYU campus Tuesday, Jan 18, and promised their lives would be changed if they follow them. Elder Kikuchi addressed the students, faculty and staff audience and quoted from the 13th chapter of John when he said that Heavenly Father is the Farmer, the Savior is the Vine, and "we are the grapes."
In order to cultivate spiritual nourishment from the Vine daily, Elder Kikuchi suggested three things to cultivate, increase and deepen spirituality.
First, hold a personal morning devotional.
"I would like to invite you to wake up a little early, but not super early because it won't last," Elder Kikuchi said in a joking manner. He said to be up reasonably early in order to prepare in mind and body for the day ahead.
After getting ready for the day and before going about a routine schedule, he suggested that individuals reverently kneel before Heavenly Father to express gratitude.
He quoted President Thomas S. Monson who, having spoken of Joseph Smith's prayer in "a grove that then became sacred," said that everyone needs "'a place where communication between God and man can go forth unimpeded, uninterrupted and undisturbed' " (October 2004 general conference).
"Doing this will help you to cultivate your spiritual relationship with Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ," Elder Kikuchi said. "And what a glorious privilege that will be for you and for me."
Second, become immersed in the scriptures.
"When you immerse yourself into the scriptures, you come to know the Lord Jesus Christ," Elder Kikuchi said.
He counseled audience members to spend some time every morning reading "the words of life." He taught that by reading the Book of Mormon, they can know the righteous from the wicked.
"Read the Book of Mormon and other scriptures daily in order to be acquainted with the voice of the Lord," Elder Kikuchi advised. "The Book of the Mormon prophets powerfully testify that Jesus is your Savior."
He challenged the students and university personnel to read the Book of Mormon before they leave for class every morning.
If they follow that guidance, he promised again that their lives will be changed as they more fully come to know their personal Savior.
Third, purify your life through the Savior's sanctifying and atoning power.
Elder Kikuchi emphasized that to become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is to sanctify, purify, and become clean before the Father and the Son.
He taught that the word 'atonement' is not Latin or Greek; it is English.
"It means to be 'at one' with a very special someone and implies becoming bonded, cemented and at one with a very special Person — even Jesus Christ," Elder Kikuchi said.
He taught that as individuals grow closer to the Lord through following these principles that they can feel of His love, kindness and majestic everlasting mercy and grace.
He testified that when people are pure and clean before the Lord, the Lord inspires and envelops them.
"He blesses you with His powerful atoning power so that you can be perfectly one with Him," Elder Kikuchi said.
He spoke of the great and powerful resources that members of the Church have in following these principles and the commandments:
Through prayer, each person can receive great help from Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.
Individuals can immerse themselves in prayers and in the scriptures daily and drink from the fountain of the living waters or the tree of life.
President Monson is a living oracle and prophet of God; Church members can listen to his voice, read and ponder his messages from the Lord, and can listen and be taught also by all the apostles and prophets.
Temples now dot the Earth, and members everywhere have the opportunity to go to the temple of the Lord to learn about the 'great plan of happiness.'
"May we all have a daily devotional, ..." Elder Kikuchi said. "May we immerse ourselves in the scriptures constantly; and, finally, may we purify and sanctify our lives so that we can receive the nourishment from the true Vine, even the Savior of the world."
