Terra has mentioned this talk in two of her letters. I thought I'd copy and paste it here on the blog since it's not easy to find online.
"THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST"
Brigham Young University-Idaho Religion Symposium
January 25, 2003
Elder David A. Bednar
Good morning,
brothers and sisters. I am delighted to be here with you. I pray for and invite
the Holy Ghost to be with me and with you as together we discuss an important
aspect of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Last
September I participated in an area training meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell presided at the training session, and on a Friday night
and a Saturday morning he, the Idaho Area Presidency, and other general church
officers instructed a group of approximately one hundred stake presidents. It
was a meaningful and memorable time of spiritual enrichment, learning, and
edification.
During
the course of his teaching and testifying, Elder Maxwell made a statement that
impressed me deeply and has been the recent focus for much of my studying,
reflecting, and pondering. He said, "There would have been no Atonement
except for the character of Christ." Since hearing this straightforward
and penetrating statement, I have tried to learn more about and better
understand the word "character." I have also pondered the
relationship between Christ's character and the Atonement--and the implications
of that relationship for each of us as disciples. This morning I hope to share
with you just a few of the learnings that have come to my mind and heart as I
have attempted to more fully appreciate this teaching by Elder Maxwell.
What is Character?
After
returning home from the area training meeting in Twin Falls, the first question
I attempted to answer was "What is character?" The Oxford
English Dictionary indicates that many of the uses of the word
character relate to graphic symbols, printing, engraving, and writing. The
usages I found most relevant, however, relate to ". . . the
sum of the moral and mental qualities which distinguish an individual or a
race; mental or moral constitution; moral qualities strongly developed or
strikingly displayed" (Oxford English Dictionary Online,
University Press 2003, Second Edition, 1989). Interestingly, when we look up
the word "character" in the topical guide of our scriptures, we
discover that it is cross-referenced to the topics of honesty, honor, and
integrity.
Brigham
Young emphasized the significance of the Savior's character as he taught and
testified about the truthfulness of the Holy Bible:
.
. . the Bible is true. It may not all have been translated aright, and many
precious things may have been rejected in the compilation and translation of
the Bible; but we understand, from the writings of one of the Apostles, that if
all the sayings and doings of the Savior had been written, the world could not
contain them. I will say that the world could not understand them. They do not understand
what we have on record, nor the character of the Savior, as
delineated in the Scriptures; and yet it is one of the simplest things in the
world, and the Bible, when it is understood, is one of the simplest books in
the world, for, as far as it is translated correctly, it is nothing but truth,
and in truth there is no mystery save to the ignorant. The revelations of the
Lord to his creatures are adapted to the lowest capacity, and they bring life
and salvation to all who are willing to receive them. (Discourses of Brigham
Young, p. 124, emphasis added)
Brigham
Young further taught that faith must be focused upon Jesus' character, in His
Atonement, and in the Father's plan of salvation:
. . . I
will take the liberty of saying to every man and woman who wishes to obtain
salvation through him (the Savior) that looking to him, only,
is not enough: they must have faith in his name, character and
atonement; and they must have faith in his father and in the plan of
salvation devised and wrought out by the Father and the Son. What will this
faith lead to? It will lead to obedience to the requirements of the Gospel; and
the few words that I may deliver to my brethren and sisters and friends this
afternoon will be with the direct view of leading them to God. (Journal of
Discourses, Vol.13, p. 56, Brigham Young, July 18, 1869, emphasis
added)
The Character of the Lord Jesus Christ
In
a message entitled "O How Great the Plan of Our God" delivered to CES
religious educators in February of 1995 (p. 5), Elder Maxwell specifically
linked Christ's character to the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice:
Jesus'
character necessarily underwrote His remarkable atonement. Without Jesus'
sublime character there could have been no sublime atonement! His character is
such that He "[suffered] temptations of every kind" (Alma 7:11), yet
He gave temptations "no heed" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22).
Someone
has said only those who resist temptation really understand the power of
temptation. Because Jesus resisted it perfectly, He understood temptation
perfectly, hence He can help us. The fact that He was dismissive of temptation
and gave it "no heed," reveals His marvelous character, which we are
to emulate (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:22; 3 Nephi 12:48; 27:27).
Perhaps
the greatest indicator of character is the capacity to recognize and
appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge
or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us.
Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of
other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the
hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend
compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our
own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching
outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and
turn inward. If such a capacity is indeed the ultimate criterion of moral
character, then the Savior of the world is the perfect example of such a
consistent and charitable character.
Examples of Christ's Character in the New Testament
The
New Testament is replete with "strikingly displayed" examples of the
Savior's character. We are all well aware that following His baptism by John
the Baptist and as a preparation for His public ministry, the Savior fasted for
forty days. He also was tempted by the adversary to inappropriately use His
supernal power to satisfy physical desires by commanding that stones be made
bread, to gain recognition by casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the
temple, and to obtain wealth and power and prestige in exchange for falling
down and worshiping the tempter (see Matthew 4:1-9). It is interesting to note
that the overarching and fundamental challenge to the Savior in each of these
three temptations is contained in the taunting statement, "If thou
be the Son of God." Satan's strategy, in essence, was to dare the
Son of God to improperly demonstrate His God-given powers, to sacrifice
meekness and modesty, and, thereby, betray who He was. Thus, Satan attempted
repeatedly to attack Jesus' understanding of who He was and of His relationship
with His Father. Jesus was victorious in meeting and overcoming the strategy of
Satan.
I
suspect the Savior may have been at least partially spent physically after
forty days of fasting--and somewhat spiritually drained after His encounter
with the adversary. With this background information in mind, please turn with
me now to Matthew 4, and together we will read verse 11: "Then the
devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
This
verse in the King James version of the New Testament clearly indicates that
angels came and ministered to the Savior after the devil had departed. And,
undoubtedly, Jesus would have benefitted from and been blessed by such a
heavenly ministration in a time of physical and spiritual need.
However,
the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 4:11 provides a remarkable insight into
the character of Christ. Please note the important differences in verse 11
between the King James version and the Joseph Smith Translation: "Then the
devil leaveth him, and, now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he
sent angels, and, behold, they came and ministered unto him (John)."
Interestingly,
the additions found in the JST completely change our understanding of this
event. Angels did not come and minister to the Savior; rather, the Savior, in
His own state of spiritual, mental, and physical distress, sent angels to
minister to John. Brothers and sisters, it is important for us to recognize
that Jesus in the midst of His own challenge recognized and appropriately
responded to John--who was experiencing a similar but lesser challenge than
that of the Savior's. Thus, the character of Christ is manifested as He reached
outward and ministered to one who was suffering--even as He himself was
experiencing anguish and torment.
In
the upper room on the night of the last supper, the very night during which He
would experience the greatest suffering that ever took place in all of the
worlds created by Him, Christ spoke about the Comforter and peace:
These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:25-27)
Once
again the fundamental character of Christ is revealed magnificently in this
tender incident. Recognizing that He himself was about to intensely and
personally experience the absence of both comfort and peace, and in a moment
when His heart was perhaps troubled and afraid, the Master reached outward and
offered to others the very blessings that could and would have strengthened
Him.
In
the great intercessory prayer, offered immediately before Jesus went forth with
His disciples over the brook Cedron to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Master
prayed for His disciples and for all:
. . . which
shall believe on me through their word;
That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me . . .
.
. . that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou
hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
And
I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love
wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:20, 21,
23, 26)
I
find myself repeatedly asking the following questions as I ponder this and
other events that took place so close to the Savior's suffering in the garden
and His betrayal: How could He pray for the well-being and unity of others
immediately before His own anguish? What enabled Him to seek comfort and peace
for those whose need was so much less than His? As the fallen nature of the
world He created pressed in upon Him, how could He focus so totally and so
exclusively upon the conditions and concerns of others? How was the Master able
to reach outward when a lesser being would have turned inward? The statement I
quoted earlier from Elder Maxwell provides the answer to each of these powerful
questions:
Jesus'
character necessarily underwrote His remarkable atonement. Without Jesus'
sublime character there could have been no sublime atonement! His character is
such that He "[suffered] temptations of every kind" (Alma 7:11), yet
He gave temptations "no heed" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22). ("O How Great the
Plan of Our God," message delivered to CES religious educators in February
of 1995, p. 5)
Jesus,
who suffered the most, has the most compassion for all of us who suffer so much
less. Indeed, the depth of suffering and compassion is intimately linked to the
depth of love felt by the ministering one. Consider the scene as Jesus emerged
from His awful suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Having just sweat great
drops of blood from every pore as part of the infinite and eternal Atonement,
the Redeemer encountered a multitude:
And
while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of
the twelve, went before them, and drew unto Jesus to kiss him.
But
Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
When
they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord,
shall we smite with the sword?
And
one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
(Luke 22:47-50)
Given
the magnitude and intensity of Jesus' agony, it perhaps would have been
understandable if He had not noticed and attended to the guard's severed ear.
But the Savior's character activated a compassion that was perfect. Note His
response to the guard as described in verse 51: "And Jesus answered and
said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him (Luke 22:51).
As
individually impressive as is each of the preceding events, I believe it is the
consistency of the Lord's character across multiple episodes that is ultimately
the most instructive and inspiring. In addition to the incidents we have thus
far reviewed, recall how the Savior, while suffering such agony on the cross,
instructed the Apostle John about caring for Jesus' mother, Mary (John
19:26-27). Consider how, as the Lord was taken to Calvary and the awful agony
of the crucifixion was commenced, He pleaded with the Father in behalf of the
soldiers to ". . . forgive them; for they know not what
they do" (Luke 23:34). Remember also that in the midst of excruciating
spiritual and physical pain, the Savior offered hope and reassurance to one of
the thieves on the cross, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise"
(Luke 23:43). Throughout His mortal ministry, and especially during the
events leading up to and including the atoning sacrifice, the Savior of the
world turned outward--when the natural man or woman in any of us would have
been self-centered and focused inward.
Developing a Christlike Character
We
can in mortality seek to be blessed with and develop essential elements of a
Christlike character. Indeed, it is possible for us as mortals to strive in
righteousness to receive the spiritual gifts associated with the capacity to
reach outward and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing
the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully
pressing upon us. We cannot obtain such a capacity through sheer willpower or
personal determination. Rather, we are dependent upon and in need of "the
merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8). But "line
upon line, precept upon precept" (2 Nephi 28:30) and "in [the]
process of time" (Moses 7:21), we are enabled to reach outward when the
natural tendency is for us to turn inward.
It
is interesting to me that one of the central elements of the word character is
created by the letters A, C, and T. As we already have seen in the examples of
Christ's character from the New Testament, the nature and consistency of how
one acts reveals in a
powerful way his or her true character.
In the case of Christ, he is described as one ". . . who went about doing
good" (Acts 10:38). Let me now briefly share with you two memorable
experiences from my service as a stake president that highlight the
relationship between our actions
and a Christlike character.
Early
one summer morning I was showering. My wife called to me in the middle of my
shower and indicated that I was needed immediately on the telephone. (This was
before the day of cell and cordless phones). I quickly put on my robe and
hurried to the phone. I next heard the voice of a dear sister and friend
informing me of a tragic automobile accident that had just occurred in a remote
area involving three teenage young women from our stake. Our friend indicated
one of the young women had already been pronounced dead at the scene of the
accident and that the two other young women were badly injured and presently
were being transported to the regional medical center in Fayetteville. She
further reported that the identity of the deceased young woman was not yet
known. There was urgency in her voice, but there was no panic or excessive
alarm. She then asked if I could go to the hospital, meet the ambulance when it
arrived, and assist in identifying the young women. I answered that I would
leave immediately.
During
the course of our telephone conversation and as I listened to both the
information being conveyed and the voice of our friend, I gradually became
aware of two important things. First, this friend's daughter was one of the
young women involved in the accident. Our friend lived approximately 35 miles
from the hospital and therefore needed the assistance of someone who lived
closer to the city. Second, I detected that the mother simultaneously was using
two telephone handsets--with one in each hand pressed to each of her ears. I
became aware that as she was talking with me, she was also talking with a nurse
at a small rural hospital who had initially attended to the three accident
victims. Our friend was receiving updated information about the condition of
the young women in the very moment she was informing me about the accident and
requesting my help. I then heard one of the most remarkable things I have ever
heard in my life.
I
faintly heard the nurse telling this faithful mother and friend that the young
woman pronounced dead at the scene of the accident had been positively
identified as her daughter. I could not believe what I was hearing. I was
listening to this good woman in the very moment that she learned of the death
of her precious daughter. Without hesitation, and with a calm and most
deliberate voice, our friend next said, "President Bednar, we must get in
contact with the two other mothers. We must let them know as much as we can
about the condition of their daughters and that they will soon be in the hospital
in Fayetteville." There was no self-pity; there was no self-absorption;
there was no turning inward. The Christlike character of this devoted woman was
manifested in her immediate and almost instinctive turning outward to attend to
the needs of other suffering mothers. It was a moment and a lesson that I have
never forgotten. In a moment of ultimate grief, this dear friend reached
outward when I likely would have turned inward.
I
then drove to the hospital with a concern in my heart for the well-being of the
two other beautiful young women who had been involved in the accident. Little
did I realize that the lessons I would learn about Christlike
character--lessons taught by seemingly ordinary disciples--were just beginning.
I
arrived at the hospital and proceeded to the emergency room. After properly
establishing who I was and my relationship to the victims, I was invited into
two different treatment areas to identify the injured young women. It was
obvious that their respective wounds were serious and life threatening. And the
lovely countenances and physical features of these young women had been badly
marred. Within a relatively short period of time, the two remaining young women
died. All three of these virtuous, lovely, and engaging young women--who seemed
to have so much of life in front of them--suddenly had gone home to their
Eternal Father. My attention and the attention of the respective families now
shifted to funeral arrangements and logistics.
A
day or so later, in the midst of program planning and detail arranging for the
three funerals, I received a phone call from the Relief Society president of my
home ward. Her daughter had been one of the victims in the accident, and she
and I had talked several times about her desires for the funeral program. This
faithful woman was a single mother rearing her only child--her teenage
daughter. I was especially close to this woman and her daughter having served
as both their bishop and stake president. After reviewing and finalizing
several details for the funeral of her daughter, this good sister said to me,
"President, I am sure it was difficult for you to see my daughter in the
emergency room the other day. She was severely injured and disfigured. As you
know, we will have a closed casket at the funeral. I have just returned from
the funeral home, and they have helped my daughter to look so lovely again. I
was just wondering . . . why don't we arrange a time when we can
meet at the mortuary and you can have one last look at her before she is buried.
Then your final memories of my daughter will not be the images you saw in the
emergency room the other day." I listened and marveled at the compassion
and thoughtfulness this sister had for me. Her only daughter had just been
tragically killed, but she was concerned about the potentially troublesome
memories I might have given my experience in the emergency room. In this good
woman I detected no self-pity and no turning inward. Sorrow, certainly.
Sadness, absolutely. Nevertheless, she reached outward when many or perhaps
most of us would have turned inward with sorrow and grief.
Let
me describe one final episode related to these three tragic deaths. On the day
of her daughter's funeral, this Relief Society president from my home ward
received a phone call from an irritated sister in our ward. The complaining
sister had a cold and did not feel well, and she basically chewed out the
Relief Society president for not being thoughtful or compassionate enough to
arrange for meals to be delivered to her home. Just hours before the funeral of
her only child, this remarkable Relief Society president prepared and delivered
a meal to the murmuring sister.
We
appropriately and rightly speak with reverence and awe of young men who
sacrificed their lives to rescue stranded handcart pioneers and of other mighty
men and women who repeatedly gave their all to establish the Church in the
early days of the Restoration. I speak with equal reverence and awe of these
two women--women of faith and character and conversion--who taught me so much
and instinctively reached outward when most of us would have turned inward. Oh
how I appreciate their quiet and powerful examples.
I
noted earlier in my remarks that the letters A, C, and T form a central
component in the word character.
Also noteworthy is the similarity between the words character and charity--as both words contain the letters C, H, A, and R.
Etymologically there is no relationship between these two words. Nevertheless,
I believe there are several conceptual connections that are important for us to
consider and ponder.
Let
me suggest that you and I must be praying and yearning and striving and working
to cultivate a Christlike character
if we hope to receive the spiritual gift of charity--the pure love of Christ. Charity is not a trait or
characteristic we acquire exclusively through our own purposive persistence and
determination. Indeed we must honor our covenants and live worthily and do all
that we can do to qualify for the gift; but ultimately the gift of charity
possesses us--we do not posses it (see Moroni 7:47). The Lord determines if and
when we receive all spiritual gifts, but we must do all in our power to desire
and yearn and invite and qualify for such gifts. As we increasingly act in a manner congruent with
the character of Christ,
then perhaps we are indicating to heaven in a most powerful manner our desire
for the supernal spiritual gift of charity.
And clearly we are being blessed with this marvelous gift as we increasingly
reach outward when the natural man or woman in us would typically turn inward.
I
conclude now by returning to where I began--the statement by Elder Maxwell in
that special training session last September: "There would have been no
Atonement except for the character of Christ." It was the Prophet Joseph
Smith who stated that "it is the first principle of the Gospel to know for
a certainty the Character of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, p. 345). The New Testament is a rich resource for learning about and
increasing our appreciation for the character and life and example of the
Savior. My prayer for each of us is that through our study of this sacred
volume of scripture we will more fully come unto Him; more completely become
like Him; and more fervently worship, reverence, and adore Him.
As
a witness, I declare my witness. I know and testify and witness that Jesus is
the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Eternal Father. I know that He lives.
And I testify that His character made possible for us the opportunities for
both immortality and eternal life. May we reach outward when the natural
tendency for us is to turn inward, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
