June 5, 2019

Elders,

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers this past weekend on fast Sunday. We have many brothers and sisters suffering in several ways. Your efforts to “bear one another’s burdens… mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” make a big difference. 

In my Come Follow Me studies this week I came across something I hadn’t noticed before. In John 15 Jesus teaches that he is the vine and we are the branches. He continues to teach that branches can’t bear fruit without vine. And then in verse 7 he says: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, yes shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” There is a foot note on the first “abide” that points to problem-solving in the topical guide. Problem solving? Huh? At first it didn’t seem to fit in my head, but then it started to sink in.

What if abiding in Jesus really is ultimately a lesson in problem-solving? Often, we think of the gospel as a single thing, or maybe a defined – rigid set of steps. What if it really is more of an individual learning exercise where we learn through study, experimentation, example, and sometimes failure? – solving problems? I think that the Savior is inviting us to develop a deep and very personal relationship with him in a very personal and individual way. He then gives us a couple of leads to follow to help us get going on developing our relationship. Verse 10 talks about keeping the commandments. Verse 12 talks about loving and ministering to others. Verse 14 instructs us to become friends with Him.

There’s plenty of food for thought here in John 15. I hope that you enjoy digging into this chapter and would welcome any insights that you would like to share.

This week John Haberle will lead our lesson. We’ll be discussing the talk by Brother Callister – The Atonement of Jesus Christ ( https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/45callister?lang=eng ). I encourage you to read it and come ready to share your insights into the Atonement and how we can apply it in our and our family’s lives.

Have a fantastic rest of the week. Let’s meet on Sunday.

Thanks,

President Oldroyd
801-573-6828