Through prayer, faithful obedience, and service, we can draw near to the Savior and feel his love.
This week, my niece chose the blessing of baptism. As she prepared to enter the water and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, I found myself reflecting back on my own baptism and confirmation. I remember feeling particularly close to the Savior that day—full of joy, love, and trust. It’s a precious feeling that I haven’t felt often in my life.
In his talk “Draw Near unto Me,” President Henry B. Eyring reminds us of the Savior’s promise: “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63). This invitation is simple but powerful. As we draw near to him, we can develop a strong and deeply personal relationship with the Savior.
When we are apart from our close friends, we communicate, cherish their messages, and do all that we can to support and help them. If we spend time away from each other without talking, distance naturally grows. Our relationship with the Savior works the same way—there are times when we feel a close connection to Christ and times when our physical distance makes it easy to feel emotionally distant as well.
How do we close that gap and experience the joy of being close to the Savior again? President Eyring instructs us to “draw near Him by always remembering Him.” We can do this through prayer, obedience to his commandments, and serving others. Through prayer, we show our desire to connect with Christ and listen for the quiet guidance of the Holy Ghost. Through obedience, we act on that inspiration. And as we serve others, we come to know the Savior more deeply.
As the disciples on the road to Emmaus said about their experience in the presence of the Savior, “Did not our heart burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). When we draw closer to him, we too can feel the warmth of his presence.
If we seek the joy and love we feel when we’re close to Jesus Christ, we can take one small step this week to remember him. Whether it’s saying a prayer, obeying what we read in the scriptures, or serving someone else, as we draw near to him, he will draw near to us.
To learn more about developing a close relationship with the Savior, read President Henry B. Eyring’s general conference talk, “Draw Near unto Me.”
Source: General Conference
—Janna Miller, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
For more help with accessing the Savior’s power, take a look at President Russell M. Nelson’s general conference talk “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives.”
Read Emma Franklin’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “3 Ways To Get to Know Our Savior” to learn about more ways to grow closer to Jesus Christ.