We are sons and
daughters of God. He is the Father of our spirits (Hebrews 12:9). We are
created in the image of God, male and female (Genesis 1:26-27). Because we are
the spirit children of God, we have inherited a divine heritage and potential
to develop His divine qualities. Through the atonement of Christ we can become
like our Heavenly Father, receive a fullness of joy and inherit, as heirs, all
that our Heavenly Father has (Romans 8:17).
When our Savior
Jesus Christ ministered to the Jews during His mortal ministry, the Jewish
scribes and Pharisees often criticized him for receiving sinners and eating
with them. On one such occasion He spoke this parable unto them saying…”What
man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the
ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he
find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying
unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say
unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke
14:4-7).
Again when the
resurrected savior, Jesus Christ, visited the Nephites on the American
Continent, He continued His teaching regarding sinners, saying: “ye shall not
cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray from
him unto the Father, in my name…for unto such shall ye continue to minister;
for you know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with
full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them, and ye shall be the means of
brining salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:30, 32).
In our day, our
beloved prophet and president of the church, Thomas S. Monson, on behalf of our
savior, Jesus Christ, has continued this message by inviting each of us to “go
to the rescue”, that “we are the Lord’s hands” by which Jesus Christ brings
salvation unto God’s children.
There are many
that have gone astray that still believe in the gospel but they may be
experiencing difficult trials that make them feel uncomfortable attending
church. They also tend to have fewer friendships in the church, so they are
less likely to feel they are among friends, when they come to ward meetings.
Those who return to activity often do so when they see that something is
missing in their lives. As a result, they realize that they need to make
changes in the way they live. At such times, they need the love and friendship
of caring, active church members who accept them as they are and show genuine
personal interest in them.
Through the Lord’s
inspired programs of home teaching, visiting teaching, organized rescue visits
and splits with the ward and full-time missionaries, we can be actively engaged
in regularly rescuing the Lord’s lost sheep. We will come to rejoice as the
good shepherd did in bringing them back to the fold of ward meetings,
strengthening and renewing friendships and participating in all the Lord’s
saving ordinance, especially those found in the temple of our God.
May God bless you
as you become the means of bringing salvation unto them
is my prayer, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
