PAYSON 10TH WARD MISSIONARY August 16, 2025

I hope that you felt the Spirit as you listened to the song "I Will Walk With Jesus". Isn't that what each of us is striving for? Is that not what we are doing when we make efforts to love our neighbors and our assigned missionary families? Isn't that what we are doing as we love these people and reach out and love our family members? Are we forgiving and asking for forgiveness from others? Are we asking for forgiveness from our Heavenly Father? Do we know of the Humble Birth of Jesus? Do we feel His love in our daily life? Do we know about Jesus Christ, His life, and His teachings?

I invite you to find time to read the following quote taken from the book "Especially for Mormons." And to watch and listen to the video here next, and one more at the end.

“COME FOLLOW ME” Three times I met this Jesus of Nazareth, and each time I felt strange and confused in His presence. Each time, He gently spoke three simple words, “Come Follow Me.”

Yet, each time, gentle and tender as He was, it seemed almost terrifying. How can I explain why my heart fought desperately to follow Him even to the grave, and yet was held back by some unexplainable force stronger even than the intensity of my love for Him? Some would question that I did love Jesus, scoffing at my avowal of devotion, saying,

“Then, why didn’t you follow Him?” Why didn’t I follow Him? How many times have I tormented my soul with that question? How I have pleaded with my heart to send the answer. And yet, I did not know then, and I do not know now. Why did I not follow Jesus?

The first time I met Him, I was traveling to a neighboring town with several of my comrades. As we approached Him and three of His disciples, I knew even from a distance that this man was different. My steps faltered, and I stood transfixed as He approached. My comrades, who had heard the ugly rumors about this “King,” began laughing and jeering at Him. One was even so bold as to spit before His feet, but He walked as if He saw only me. If my thoughts and feelings were reflected in my eyes, it is no wonder that He gave full attention to me. I was scared, and yet calm and immovable, and only vaguely was I aware of my friends beginning to shout at me for not joining in with their railing and ridicule. He stopped before me, and I looked into His eyes. It was like looking into all of eternity. I felt a surge of love for Him such as I have never felt before -- warm and sweet and pure. I felt my heart whisper, “If you have never loved before, and if you never love again, here is one to give your dearest and deepest love.” I’m sure He felt this too for, with kindness in His eyes, He smiled and so tenderly said, “Come Follow Me.”

At that moment, one of my friends came up and slapped me on the shoulder and laughingly said, “Oh, no! Don’t tell me you’re falling for the magic spell of this mighty king!”

Suddenly, I thought how foolish I must look to my comrades, and almost unconsciously said, with a slight laugh, “Well, of course not! What do you take me for - a common peasant?” We all laughed, and then I turned to join my friends, but not so suddenly that I did not see His eyes change from love to pain. That momentary glance pierced me more deeply than any sword could, but still I walked off laughing with my friends at the common carpenter who had proclaimed himself a king!

The second time I met Him, I was alone. It was early evening, and I was drawing water from my well when He walked up beside me and gently laid His hand on my arm. I did not need to look to know it was He, nor could I look into those eyes again. I avoided His gaze and hurried with my task, the sooner to leave. And yet, once again, I felt transfixed. My eyes involuntarily were soon enveloped by His own, and all I could see in them was forgiveness -- forgiveness and that ever-present sea of love -- wider and deeper than the oceans of the world. Again, He spoke but three words, but they were three words that cut into my soul, and made me look into those eyes again. I avoided His gaze and hurried with my task, the sooner to leave.

And yet, once again I felt transfixed. My eyes involuntarily were soon enveloped by His own, and all I could see in them was forgiveness --forgiveness and that ever-present sea of love -- wider and deeper than the oceans of the world. Again, He spoke but three words, but they were three words that cut into my soul, and made my heart gush with tears. “Come Follow Me.” I spilt the water, and ran from the well before reason could stop me. Oh, how can I explain the torture of that brief moment. I longed to go with him. I wanted desperately to run back, and give Him my heart that He already had too firm a hold. But, I didn’t -- I didn’t even look back -- I couldn’t. I dropped to the ground, and tried to drown His words with my tears, but I couldn’t do that either. Why didn’t I follow Him? Why didn’t I follow Him?

I only saw Him once more, and that was the last night. I was visiting Jerusalem and had been there but one day, but I wished at that moment that I had been a thousand miles from that horrible city. As soon as I heard of the trial, my heart sickened, and then I began to hear the shouts of the crowd become boisterous and rude and hateful as they marched Him up the Hill Calvary. I knew I couldn’t ever join the crucifiers, and yet I could also not join the mourners as they stood beside Him all the way. I knew I couldn’t stay a moment longer in the city. I ran and ran until I could run no farther, and then threw myself on the ground and wept till there were no more tears. How long I was there I do not know. I only remember that I suddenly felt myself walking back to Calvary. I didn’t want to return, but I was going. I walked and walked -- slowly and thoughtfully -- never stopping until I was standing there. I stood there several minutes before I raised my eyes to look into His face, and when I did, strangely enough, it seemed the same as before -- radiant with power and glowing with love. Even as He hung there, the life seeping out of Him with every passing moment, I knew they could not kill Him any more than they could kill the love I still felt in my heart. And then once again I heard those words. This time, He could barely whisper them, and yet to me they sounded like the rushing of winds -- “Come Follow Me.” At that, I could stand no more! I fell to my knees, and my heart broke. I had no more tears to give, but at last I answered his three simple words, “Yes, my Savior, I will come.”

It was the next day that the Roman soldiers found the body of a man at the foot of the cross. Thinking it was only a common peasant friend, they kicked it out of the way to lower the body of Jesus. No one could identify the man, nor could they find a reason for his death. In his hand, he was clutching a small piece of paper that had been written on it as his final message to mankind, in a weak and scratchy handwriting, “1 did not lack the love; I only lacked the courage.” And so, they dug a hasty grave and buried one who had died of a broken heart." "Especially For Mormons "

It is my prayer that I (we), as we become converted to Jesus Christ, will follow the encouragement of our Prophet to help bring home our brothers and sisters on both sides of the veil.

Our efforts to develop friendships with less active, non-member, and active members can help guide them back to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to our Heavenly Father. Let's do what we can to help bring them home, whether now partaking of the blessings of the Lord's Church or through selfless service in the House of the Lord. We all have the tremendous opportunity to serve the Lord and our fellow brothers and sisters!

I witness to each of you that Jesus is the Christ, the only Begotten of God in the Flesh. He gave everything for you and me. I plead with my Heavenly Father for forgiveness of the sufferings that my Savior went through caused of me. Please, join me and do all you can in your life to change so that His suffering might not be in vain. Russel M. Nelson is a prophet of God. Jesus does live. Indeed, HE LIVES. Our Savior and Redeemer love each of you, as do I.

It is my prayer that I (we) as we become converted to Jesus Christ, will follow the encouragement of our Prophet to help bring home our brothers and sisters on both sides of the veil.

Our efforts to develop friendships with less active, non-member, and active members can help guide them back to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to our Heavenly Father. Let's do what we can to help bring them home, whether now partaking of the blessings of the Lord's Church or through selfless service in the House of the Lord. We all have the tremendous opportunity to serve the Lord and our fellow brothers and sisters!

In the name of Jesus Christ

Amen.

Steven Larsen

801-380-8307

sglarsen@gmail.com