How Do You Speak of Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 2 Nephi 20-25 in a lesson titled “We Rejoice in Christ.” The lesson was introduced with the following information. 

The writings of Isaiah include strong warnings, but they also offer hope and joy. This is one reason Nephi included them in his record: “I write some of the words of Isaiah,” he said, “that whoso … shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice” (2 Nephi 11:8). In a sense, the invitation to read Isaiah’s writings is an invitation to rejoice. You can take delight, as Nephi did, in Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the peace promised to the righteous. You can rejoice to live in the prophesied day when the Lord has “set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel” (2 Nephi 21:12). When you thirst after righteousness, you can “with joy … draw water out of the wells of salvation” (2 Nephi 22:3). In other words, you can “rejoice in Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26).

My chosen principle for this week comes from 2 Nephi 25:19-29: “We talk of Christ … we rejoice in Christ.” The lesson declared that Nephi was open about sharing his beliefs – especially his testimony of Jesus Christ. As we study 2 Nephi 25, we read about Nephi’s desire to “persuade [his] children … to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God” (verse 23).

I have long been interested in Nephi’s use of the word persuade. According to an online dictionary, persuade means to use reasoning and argument to cause someone to do something, or to convince someone or cause someone to believe something with a sustained effort. In other words, Nephi used facts, gospel teachings, personal experiences, etc. to convince his children to believe in Christ enough to repent and come unto Christ.

Study 2 Nephi 25:12-13, 16 to learn what Nephi wanted people to know about the Savior, or 2 Nephi 25:19-29 to learn how Nephi tried to persuade people to believe in Him. Make a note about how this chapter persuades you to believe in and follow Jesus Christ.

Nephi was bold in talking about Christ, something many of us are not. Nephi shared some counsel in 2 Nephi 25:23-26 that could be helpful to us.

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.

25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke in the October 2020 General Conference with the message of “We Talk of Christ.” He gave counsel about how we can do more effective talking about Christ. 

I promise you that as you prepare yourselves, as President Nelson did, you too will be different, thinking more about the Savior, speaking of Him more frequently and with less hesitation. As you come to know and love Him even more deeply, your words will flow more comfortably, as they do when you speak of one of your children or of a dear friend. Those listening to you will feel less like debating or dismissing you and more like learning from you.

You and I speak of Jesus Christ, but maybe we can do a little better. If the world is going to speak less of Him, who is going to speak more of Him? We are! Along with other devoted Christians!

Elder Andersen gave several suggestions for places to get ideas to share with other people. To speak more openly of Christ in various settings, he suggested that we search “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” or a hymn such as “I believe in Christ” (Hymns, no. 134).