'Be an example of the believers'
By following the example of those who emulate Christ's life, it is possible to feel the Savior's love and recognize the blessings He gives to His children, said Ruth B. Wright, second counselor in the Primary general presidency.
"In Timothy we are admonished to be an example of the believers (1 Tim. 4:12)," Sister Wright said in her address at the General Women's Meeting Sept. 28. "A believer is someone who follows and knows the teachings of Christ not only in His mind, but also in His heart and whose actions are a witness of that belief."It isn't easy to be an example of the believers. We don't usually wake up in the morning and say, Today I'm going to be an example of the believers!' Yet we can say,Today I will be kind and thoughtful, or considerate, or honest, or whatever quality I need to work on.' And then we will try hard all day to make a conscious effort to do so. That we can do! We can live in such a way that people can look to us as their examples."
To be a good example of a principle, a person must not only understand it, but also live that principle, Sister Wright continued.
"To be a true example of believers, we are first committed inwardly to the principle of Christ that our actions reflect. "It is interesting to note that we choose the examples we follow. We exercise our own agency through our choices. Examples are not forced upon us. We choose which ones we want to emulate and which ones we want to ignore or disregard. The choice is ours and so is the burden of the consequence."
Sister Wright continued: "We can always feel secure in looking to Christ as our perfect example.
"Jesus resisted temptations. He treated all equally. He was patient in His teaching, yet bold in His condemnation of evil. He forgave the repentant, healed the sick and served without ceasing.
"Each of us can feel our Savior's love through the righteous example of others. We, too, can strive to live in such a way that we can be examples of the believers."
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