“True,” I said, “but they are required for a different purpose. “Whether our efforts are required by justice or by Jesus, they are still required.” “So what’s the difference?” the girl asked. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 2 Nephi 2:7 3 Nephi 9:20). Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48, 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice-not even the smallest part. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there.”Ĭhrist asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. “Oh no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to fill that gap. She said, “Right! Like I don’t have to do anything?” He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. I should have just drawn it, because I knew it.” Then, considering what we had been speaking about, she went to the bottom of the page and drew a line just above the bottom dot. She went right to the center of the page and began to draw a line. How much is our part? How much is Christ’s part?” Seeing that she was still confused, I took a piece of paper and drew two dots-one at the top representing God and one at the bottom representing us. She then went on to tell me all the things that she shouldn’t be doing because she’s a Mormon, but she was doing them anyway.įinally I said, “Jesus doesn’t make up the difference.
But who fills the gap that stands between where I am now and my part?” She continued, “I know that I have to do my part and then Jesus makes up the difference and fills the gap that stands between my part and perfection. She then went on to tell me all the things she should be doing because she’s a Mormon that she wasn’t doing. She said, “I know I need to do my best and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.” I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
Christ’s Grace Is Sufficient to Cover UsĪ BYU student once came to me and asked if we could talk. I could give a whale of a talk on that subject, but I think today I had better go back to the original topic and speak about changing weaknesses into strengths and about how the grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient (see Ether 12:27, D&C 17:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9)-sufficient to cover us, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. She thought for a minute and said, “Well, they’ve got the right man for the job!” I was so excited that I got my words mixed up and said, “They want me to speak about changing strengths into weaknesses.” When I told my wife, she asked, “What have they asked you to speak on?” Several years ago I received an invitation to speak at Women’s Conference. It is an honor to be invited to speak to you today. I am grateful to be here with my wife, Debi, and my two youngest children-who are currently attending BYU-and several other family members who have come to be with us.
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