Elder Walter F. Gonzalez: 'Followers of Christ'
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181st Annual General Conference — Church News coverage
Speaking Saturday morning of all those who follow Christ, Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy said, "As Latter-day Saints, ours is the duty to invite millions, such as these, to come and see what our Church can add to the good things that they already have."
He emphasized that anyone, from any culture, can know for themselves of the truth of the gospel. He quoted the eight chapter of John wherein the Savior promised: "...he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'"
In order to pattern lives after the Savior and be followers of Christ, Elder Gonzalez suggested two characteristics to work on as a people.
First, he said, followers of Christ are loving people who follow Him because they love Him, and when they follow the Redeemer out of love, they are following His own example.
"Truly loving Christ provides the required strength to follow Him," Elder Gonzalez taught.
In the example of Peter, The Lord asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Peter had yet to understand that loving the Master would give him the needed strength to face the coming adversities. The call from Christ to "Follow me" did not come until after Peter reaffirmed vocally that he loved the Lord.
Elder Gonzalez told of traveling to Cordoba, Argentina, for the groundbreaking of the temple there. In the press conference soon after, a reporter, not a member of the Church, remarked that she noticed how nicely all of the men treated their wives. She asked if that endearment was real or fiction.
Elder Gonzalez suggested that perhaps she had noticed the desire of the members to follow Christ.
The second characteristic Elder Gonzalez spoke of is that followers of Christ make and keep covenants.
The example of making covenants comes from the Savior Himself, Elder Gonzalez noted. He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness by one with proper authority. It was through making a baptismal covenant that the Savior witnessed unto the Father that He would be obedient in keeping all of the Father's commandments.
"Making covenants is an expression of love," Elder Gonzalez said. "It is a way of saying to Him, 'Yes, I will follow thee.'"
Elder Gonzalez emphasized that covenants must be made and kept to fully receive the promises that they provide. Members can remember their covenants by loving the Savior, partaking of the sacrament and attending the temple.
