We can easily get caught up in the names or dates of church history, but Keith A. Erekson reminds us that the main character will forever be Jesus Christ.
This year, the Come, Follow Me program focuses on the Doctrine and Covenants, so members of the Church of Jesus Christ are paying closer attention to Church history and the Restoration. When you think of the Restoration, who do you think of? Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, or Martin Harris? Maybe some of the notable women come to mind, such as Emma Smith or Mary Whitmer?
In Keith A. Erekson’s article “The Main Character in Church History,” he reminds us that the main character at the center of the Restoration should always be Jesus Christ.
In reviewing President Russell M. Nelson’s reading of “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” at the April 2020 general conference, Erekson said he was surprised to realize that “Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were the subjects of nearly every sentence” and were main participants in so many of the main events of the Restoration.
We can study Church history and only focus on the prophets and other historical figures, or even just focus on ourselves as we apply what we learn to our own lives. But whether we are reading modern Church history or biblical stories from long ago, understanding that Christ is at the center allows us to see that we are the disciples and the learners, and he is the focus.
Erekson further explained that seeing Christ at the center of these events can help us when we have questions, especially in regards to people in the past: “Instead of seeing Church history as a string of names and dates, we can look to the past 200 years to witness the modern ministry of the living Christ and draw insights from how He has shown love to God’s children, including Latter-day Saints.” We can learn so much from those who have come before, but seeing the divine in history will help us to grow, strengthen ourselves, and prepare for the future.
The next time you are teaching a Come, Follow Me lesson or reading in the Doctrine and Covenants, look for all of the mentions of Christ. The main character might surprise you!
Read Keith A. Erekson’s article “The Main Character in Church History” to learn more about Christ being the main character in Church history.
Source: Liahona
—Brianne Barrus, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Find more insights
To learn more, read and watch “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” from the First Presidency.
Take a look at Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt’s remarks, “Do You Know Why I as a Christian Believe in Christ?” which emphasize the importance of remembering Christ in religion.