Elder Neil L. Andersen on the Savior's invitation to come and follow

Elder Andersen (1951- ) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009 (the most recent member called).

"Jesus's call 'Come, follow me' (Luke 18:22) is not only for those prepared to compete in a spiritual Olympics. In fact, discipleship is not a competition at all but an invitation to all. Our journey of discipleship is not a dash around the track, nor is it fully comparable to a lengthy marathon. In truth, it is a lifelong migration toward a more celestial world. 

"His invitation is a call to daily duty. Jesus said: 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' (John 14:15). 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke 9:23). We may not be at our very best every day, but if we are trying, Jesus's bidding is full of encouragement and hope: 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). 

"Wherever you now find yourself on the road of discipleship, you are on the right road, the road toward eternal life. Together we can lift and strengthen one another in the great and important days ahead. Whatever the difficulties confronting us, the weaknesses confining us, or the impossibilities surrounding us, let us have faith in the Son of God, who declared, 'All things are possible to him that believeth' (Mark 9:23)." 

- Neil L. Andersen, "What Thinks Christ of Me?", General Conference April 2012
Click here to read the full talk

The call to discipleship is a call to transformation—a gradual and steady transformation that makes us become more and more like Him. I liked the thought that it's neither a sprint nor a marathon; it's not about finishing as quick as possible and being done. Instead, we should consider our life "a lifelong migration toward a more celestial world."

As long as we are on that road and sincerely attempting to move forward, we will have His approval, and even more, His support and assistance in the process. "We may not be at our very best every day, but if we are trying, Jesus's bidding is full of encouragement and hope."

We support one another in the journey, and God supports us all!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
January 30, 2015