Christofferson - That They May Be One in Us - October 2002

Elder Christofferson starts his talk by referencing John 17:20-23.  It reads:

• “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.”

Of these verses he says:

• How glorious it is to contemplate that we have been invited into that perfect unity that exists with the Father and the Son. How can this happen? Pondering this question, it becomes clear that we must begin by becoming one within ourselves. We are dual beings of flesh and spirit, and we sometimes feel out of harmony or in conflict. Our spirit is enlightened by conscience, the light of Christ (see Moro. 7:16 ; D&C 93:2 ), and naturally responds to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and desires to follow truth. But the appetites and temptations to which the flesh is subject can, if permitted, overwhelm and dominate the spirit.

To overcome the temptations of the flesh, he encourages us to look at the example of the Savior while he was on earth:

• Jesus was also a being of flesh and spirit, but He yielded not to temptation (see Mosiah 15:5 ). We can turn to Him as we seek unity and peace within, because He understands. He understands the struggle, and He also understands how to win the struggle.

Christ is the one that can make everything right in our lives.  His Atonement can heal our souls and provide forgiveness of those things we do wrong.  It is through the Atonement that we can overcome our natural man and continue to seek the companionship of His spirit in our lives:

• Most importantly, we may look to Jesus to help restore the inner unity of our soul when we have succumbed to sin and destroyed our peace. Soon after His intercessory plea that we might become “perfect in one,” Jesus suffered and gave His life to atone for sin. The power of His Atonement can erase the effects of sin in us. When we repent, His atoning grace justifies and cleanses us (see 3 Ne. 27:16–20 ). It is as if we had not succumbed, as if we had not yielded to temptation. As we endeavor day by day and week by week to follow the path of Christ, our spirit asserts its preeminence, the battle within subsides, and temptations cease to trouble.

Finally, Elder Christofferson expresses his gratitude for the chance to be one with Deity:

• Surely we will not be one with God and Christ until we make Their will and interest our greatest desire. Such submissiveness is not reached in a day, but through the Holy Spirit, the Lord will tutor us if we are willing until, in process of time, it may accurately be said that He is in us as the Father is in Him. At times I tremble to consider what may be required, but I know that it is only in this perfect union that a fulness of joy can be found. I am grateful beyond expression that I am invited to be one with those holy beings I revere and worship as my Heavenly Father and Redeemer.
  

I have had some thoughts the past couple weeks about how do I put my will more in line with the will of the Father.  How do I seek to be one with Christ?  What steps can I make in my life to be more in tune with the Spirit throughout the day?  This talk answers some of those questions that have been lingering in my mind.  I need to hand my life over to Christ and let Him determine what He wants to make of me.  As I seek for how to do that wholly, I know it will be difficult but rewarded with blessings beyond my understanding.  I am going to start including in my prayers, the desire that I turn more of my life over to Him, and see what he can do with a soul such as mine.