The Powerful, Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ

The message given by Elder Dale G. Renlund this spring instantly pulled me in and was a highlight of General Conference for me. He touched on many topics, but the one that really resonated with me was endurance.

He shared a story about when he and his family were in Hawaii on kayaks and he struggled. His guide shared that if he maintained his momentum, he would be okay. This talk reminded me of President Russell M. Nelson’s message about spiritual momentum just a couple years ago, “Overcome the World and Find Rest.”

I think the idea of spiritual momentum seems obvious to me mentally. It just makes sense – with anything in our life. But it is so much harder to implement! While we look for big gestures, it is the daily small and simple things that often bring us closer to our goals – including our spiritual goals. And that’s hard because it involved daily consistency.

Elder Renlund shared a definition of enduring to the end that was new to me: “enduring to the end is repeatedly and iteratively applying the other elements of the doctrine of Christ.”. I am grateful that Elder Renlund went even further in his description because I was unfamiliar with the word “iteratively”. Iteratively means “that we build on and improve with each repetition”.

This definition and description has caused me a lot of reflection. Am I improving? Am I intentionally working through the “doctrine of Christ” with purpose and progress or am I simply going through the motions, and as Elder Renlund put it, “hunker[ing] down, grit[ting] my teeth, and wait[ing] to die”? I don’t know how intentional I am in my day to day. And sometimes, it feels like it becomes far too easy to let those small and simple things because inconsistent or insincere, that would propel me forward and bring me closer to my Savior.

There were so many gems in his message that I could write more about. But I am grateful for prophets and apostles who remind us what our focus needs to be on. The Lord wants us to feel higher joy now. And we can experience that as we put our focus on Him, and every day seek to improve and realign our gaze on Him.

Prompting

Intentionally and repeatedly live the doctrine of Jesus Christ to create spiritual momentum to endure to the end.

Invitation

Live the doctrine of Christ repeatedly, iteratively, and intentionally and help others on their way.

Highlights

“Spiritual momentum is created “over a lifetime as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ.”

Enduring to the end is repeatedly and iteratively applying the other elements of the doctrine of Christ.

Repeatedly means that we experience the elements of the doctrine of Christ over and over throughout our lives. Iteratively means that we build on and improve with each repetition…We draw closer to Jesus Christ each time through the cycle.

Momentum involves both speed and direction…We need to “row” toward the Savior to come unto Him.”

Our faith in Jesus Christ needs to be nourished daily. It is nourished as we pray daily, study the scriptures daily, reflect on the goodness of God daily, repent daily, and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost daily.

When we assume responsibility for our own testimonies, we gain spiritual momentum and gradually develop bedrock faith in Jesus Christ, and the doctrine of Christ becomes central to the purpose of life. Momentum likewise builds as we strive to obey the laws of God and repent. Repentance is joyful and allows us to learn from our mistakes, which is how we progress eternally…The important part is that we do not give up.

We renew our baptismal covenant repeatedly when we partake of the sacrament…As we conscientiously partake of the sacrament, we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, just like when we were baptized and confirmed. As we keep the covenant described in the sacrament prayers, the Holy Ghost becomes our companion.

As the Holy Ghost exerts a greater influence in our lives, we progressively and iteratively develop Christlike attributes. Our hearts change…And we…access the heavenly power needed to endure to the end. Our faith has increased, and we are ready to repeat the powerful, virtuous cycle again.

Forward spiritual momentum also propels us to make additional covenants with God in the house of the Lord. Multiple covenants draw us closer to Christ and connect us more strongly to Him. Through these covenants, we have greater access to HIs power…The source of power is the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Making and keeping covenants create a conduit for Their power in our lives. As we live according to these covenants, we eventually become inheritors to all that Heavenly Father has. The momentum produced by living the doctrine of Christ not only powers the transformation of our divine nature into our eternal destiny but also motivates us to help others in appropriate ways.

As we minister to others, we do not need to ask unhelpful questions or state the obvious.

We all need the Savior’s infinite Atonement.

We do need all our compassion, empathy, and love as we interact with those around us…As we minister, we encourage others frequently and offer help…The Savior’s job is to heal. Our job is to love – to love and minister in such a way that others are drawn to Jesus Christ. This is one of the fruits of the powerful, virtuous cycle of the doctrine of Christ.

I invite you to live the doctrine of Christ repeatedly, iteratively and intentionally and help others on their way. I testify that the doctrine of Christ is central to Heavenly Father’s plan; it is, after all, His doctrine. As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we are propelled along the covenant path and motivated to help others become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We can become heirs in Heavenly Father’s kingdom, which is the culmination of faithfully living the doctrine of Christ.”

FULL text and video of Elder Dale G. Renlund’s message can be found HERE.

Other messages from the April 2024 General Conference that I found particularly impactful:

• Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys by President Russell M. Nelson
• Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ by Elder Ulisses Soares
• “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” by Elder David A. Bednar
• Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives by Elder Jose L. Alonso
• Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ by Sister J. Anette Dennis