How to become like Jesus: a transformation made possible through his grace.
Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.
(“I’m Trying to Be like Jesus,” Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 78)
Photo by Michaela St
Trying to be like Jesus sometimes feels like an intense workout. It requires so many reps of remembering, not to mention the heavy weight of lifting others by supplying compassion, empathy, courage, and everything else. But when it coincides with his grace, our perspective is changed, and we can experience a mighty change of heart.
Like physical exercise, trying to be like Jesus transforms us. As President D. Todd Christofferson elaborates in his message “The Character of Christ,” “Christlike character grows out of a Christlike heart. Thus, if we are to succeed in developing a Christlike character, we must possess His motivations—His thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart. For us, it will require what the scriptures call a mighty change of heart.” President Christofferson highlights three specific motivations to guide our transformation. First, we should strive and pray to develop Jesus’s pure love. Second, we can prioritize “lifting and ministering to others” in Christ’s way. And third, we transform our hearts as we devote ourselves to Heavenly Father’s will.
But a mighty change of heart isn’t something we can force or do alone. This workout demands we rely completely on “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). President Christofferson calls the Holy Ghost “the messenger of His grace” and teaches that “through the Holy Spirit, we receive His influence and spiritual gifts, ‘the power of godliness’ in our lives.” And then our Christlike efforts, our “workout,” can become sincere joys. The impossibility of lasting change is a certain eventuality with Jesus’s grace.
Review President D. Todd Christofferson’s entire message, “The Character of Christ.”
Source: ChurchofJesusChrist.org
—Anna Eastmond, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY MRGAJOWY3 TEODOR
Find more insights
Check out “The Teachings of Jesus Christ” by President Dallin H. Oaks for more understanding of the Savior’s character through his words.
See also Karlie Kelsch’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “3 Concrete Ways to Apply Jesus Christ’s Atonement” for more great applicable steps and ideas.
Read Elder David A. Bednar’s recent general conference talk “All Who Have Endured Valiantly” to learn more about how grace makes transformation possible.