I have been a member all my life and I have a wonderful family. I am very confused though. I know Jesus died for me and I am greatful for that. I just feel I don’t have a strong relationship with my Heavenly Father. I pray and read and study the scriptures each and everyday. I hope you can help me know what I need to do to form a stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father. Thank you
5 Responses to “I have been a member all my life and I have a wonderful fami…”
Manuel Miranda
2011-01-10 07:40:34
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Hi friend. Thanks for your question and for the very kind email you sent me privately. It sounds like you're doing a great Job developing your testimony. You're reading the scriptures, praying, and probably participating in other church activities like seminary, church attendance, etc. I'm certain that in his own due time God will honor your efforts.
It also seems to me that you have a strong and growing testimony of Jesus Christ. In our church we have the important knowledge that Jesus (God the Son) and God the Father are physically distinct beings, but this knowledge can sometime lead us to forget that in many ways they are the same. As Elder Jeffry R. Holland said in 2007, "We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance "
As Jesus Himself said, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him" (John 14:7). By this Jesus meant that He and the Father are so unified in purpose that to know one is to know the other.
It's also interesting to note that on those rare occasions when the Father and Son appear together to a prophet, the Father always presents the Son, and then allows the Son to interact with the prophet (see, for example, Joseph Smith History 1:17). This is no coincidence. God the Father is so unified in purpose with the Son that the Son can represent the Father perfectly.
Because Jesus and God the Father are perfectly unified in purpose, developing a strong relationship with Jesus Christ is the same as developing a strong relationship with God the Father. It's not necessary to develop a separate relationship with each member of the Godhead. I recommend that you continue doing the wonderful things you're doing to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Read the scriptures and pray daily. Participate in Church activities like seminary and the weekly meetings. Listen to good church music, and spend time quietly pondering the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As you get older, your testimony will grow stronger and stronger. It will bring you the greatest joy in your life. I know my testimony certainly has been a great joy in my life.
I hope this answer helps! Good luck with your growing testimony, sister.
Anonymous
2011-01-16 14:05:15
I have had similar feelings in the past. I have been blessed to feel a wonderful growth in my relationship with Heavenly Father, but sometimes I have worried that I have not developed the same closeness with the Savior. I think that what Manuel Miranda said to answer your question helps both of us. If we know either the Son or the Father, then we know them both.
As you said in your question, you are praying and studying the scriptures every day. You are certain to develop a relationship with both the Savior and Heavenly Father in this way. As you pray to Heavenly Father and sincerely express what is most important to you, I know that you will find the closeness you have been searching for.
I have found wisdom in an article called "I Will be Found of You". It helped me understand that Heavenly Father wants us to find him, and he will never remain hidden indefinitely. Just as the dew forms upon the grass, not as a sudden event, but as a subtle process that we can only perceive over time, one day you will find that you have become very close with Heavenly Father. You will know that he has been right there with you all along.
Richard
2011-01-05 05:50:25
I suggest you read/study the scriptures, focusing on the Book of Mormon 1/2 hour day. President Benson promised those that do will have miracles in their lives. And in D&C 1: 38 Christ tells us "Whether by my own voice of that of my servants it is the same"
Try it it will work, and it has worked in my own life, and my friends/family too.
Loran
2011-01-05 20:06:17
I was in the same boat- and what really helped me was that I stopped seeing God and Jesus as unreachable dieties and started seeing them as people. As my loving Father and Savior/Brother- it helped to make them real to me.
Shalon
2011-01-30 21:19:07
Sounds like you feel more in need of and connected to a big brother like Jesus Christ, more than you feel a need for a father. Don't worry. That's ok. All three are connected. And I don't think God minds if you feel more at ease talking with his son. As long as you're talking.
It also seems to me that you have a strong and growing testimony of Jesus Christ. In our church we have the important knowledge that Jesus (God the Son) and God the Father are physically distinct beings, but this knowledge can sometime lead us to forget that in many ways they are the same. As Elder Jeffry R. Holland said in 2007, "We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance "
As Jesus Himself said, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him" (John 14:7). By this Jesus meant that He and the Father are so unified in purpose that to know one is to know the other.
It's also interesting to note that on those rare occasions when the Father and Son appear together to a prophet, the Father always presents the Son, and then allows the Son to interact with the prophet (see, for example, Joseph Smith History 1:17). This is no coincidence. God the Father is so unified in purpose with the Son that the Son can represent the Father perfectly.
Because Jesus and God the Father are perfectly unified in purpose, developing a strong relationship with Jesus Christ is the same as developing a strong relationship with God the Father. It's not necessary to develop a separate relationship with each member of the Godhead. I recommend that you continue doing the wonderful things you're doing to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Read the scriptures and pray daily. Participate in Church activities like seminary and the weekly meetings. Listen to good church music, and spend time quietly pondering the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As you get older, your testimony will grow stronger and stronger. It will bring you the greatest joy in your life. I know my testimony certainly has been a great joy in my life.
I hope this answer helps! Good luck with your growing testimony, sister.
As you said in your question, you are praying and studying the scriptures every day. You are certain to develop a relationship with both the Savior and Heavenly Father in this way. As you pray to Heavenly Father and sincerely express what is most important to you, I know that you will find the closeness you have been searching for.
I have found wisdom in an article called "I Will be Found of You". It helped me understand that Heavenly Father wants us to find him, and he will never remain hidden indefinitely. Just as the dew forms upon the grass, not as a sudden event, but as a subtle process that we can only perceive over time, one day you will find that you have become very close with Heavenly Father. You will know that he has been right there with you all along.
Try it it will work, and it has worked in my own life, and my friends/family too.