“Come, Follow Me: Knowing the Purpose of Life,” New Era, Feb. 2014, 40
Come, Follow Me
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Knowing the Purpose of Life
Imagine that a parent or teacher gave you a rather difficult and involved task but didn’t tell you what it’s for or why you’re doing it. Being left in the dark in this way may cause you some confusion and uncertainty, and you might not do the greatest job. If, however, you learned about the reason and purpose for the task, you would likely be able to tackle it with greater confidence and clarity.
Our Heavenly Father has not left us in the dark about the purpose of this life, and our knowledge of His plan helps us see clearly what we should do and why we should do it.
One concise statement of Heavenly Father’s purposes is in Moses 1:39. This scripture is quoted frequently in general conference and other settings because it helps us see God’s love for us and our place in His plan. It also points to the Savior’s role in accomplishing the dual purpose of providing immortality (through resurrection) and the possibility of eternal life with Heavenly Father (through the Atonement).
Another scripture, 2 Nephi 31:20, has also been mentioned a lot in general conference and tells us some of the qualities we must possess and things we must do in order to fulfill the Father’s plan and receive His promise of eternal life.
This month your Sunday classes will focus on the plan of salvation. As you study the conference talks in the November 2013 Ensign, at conference.lds.org, and in the lessons at lds.org/youth/learn, think about how the speakers’ knowledge of the plan of salvation helps them teach a principle clearly. Look for scriptures like Moses 1:39 and 2 Nephi 31:20 that help us understand this plan.
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Moses 1:39
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
2 Nephi 31:20