President Howard W. Hunter on following Christ better

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"The great standard! The only sure way! The light and the life of the world! How grateful we should be that God sent his Only Begotten Son to earth....

"Let us follow the Son of God in all ways and in all walks of life. Let us make him our exemplar and our guide. We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, 'What would Jesus do?' and then be more courageous to act upon the answer. We must follow Christ, in the best sense of that word. We must be about his work as he was about his Father's. We should try to be like him....

"We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.

"What manner of men and women ought we to be? Even as he is."

- Howard W. Hunter, "What Manner Of Men Ought Ye To Be?", General Conference April 1994
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President Hunter had such a gentle, kind way of inviting us to "Come Unto Christ" — as in this excerpt. His loving tone reflects his own gratitude for the gift of the Savior, and his testimony that following him brings the greatest joy in this life. President Hunter exemplified the quiet, steady discipleship that I think must please the Savior.

Though presented in a gentle manner, this is a strong challenge and invitation. We must know Christ better! We must remember and serve Him more valiantly in order to receive His greatest blessings.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
August 6, 2015