Summary:

President Christofferson taught that developing the character of Jesus Christ is central to true discipleship. It is not just about outward behaviour or church activity, but about a deep inner transformation of the heart.

He emphasised that:

• Becoming like Christ prepares us for His Second Coming. 
• Christlike character grows from a sincere, converted heart, not superficial actions. 
• Key attributes such as charity, humility, integrity, and virtue define the Saviour’s character and should be cultivated intentionally. 

Ultimately, taking upon us the name of Christ means striving to become like Him, not just believe in Him.

Key quotes and questions to discuss or ponder

‘Acquiring the character of Christ is one of the most important ways we take His name upon us.’ (Paragraph 4)

How are taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ and acquiring the character of Christ related?

‘Christlike character grows out of a Christlike heart. Thus, if we are to succeed in developing a Christlike character, we must possess His motivations—His thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart.’ (Paragraph 5)

What does it mean to have ‘a mighty change of heart’?

What does it mean to have the ‘character of Christ’?

‘For most of us, our mighty change of heart occurs incrementally over time. In either case, the outcome is the same and equally valid. And in all cases, it requires faith in Christ, repentance, a baptismal covenant of obedience, and the grace of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.’ (Paragraph 7)

How can we have this mighty change of heart?

‘Foremost among the motives that form Christ’s character is charity, “the pure love of Christ.” It was pure love that, before the Creation, led Him to offer Himself as our Redeemer. His Atonement was and is the supreme act of love.’ (Paragraph 10)

What are some of the ways in which we see the pure love of Christ manifested?

‘The love of Christ yields character traits such as compassion, patience, a willingness to correct “when moved upon by the Holy Ghost,” and certainly a willingness to forgive.’ (Paragraph 11)

What do we learn from Elder Bednar’s story in paragraphs 12 and 13?

‘Character qualities that grow out of devotion to the well-being and success of others include humility, meekness, selflessness, and courage.’ (Paragraph 18)

What divine qualities are developed as we serve and minister to others?

‘As to selflessness, what better example do we have than missionaries, the tens of thousands of our missionaries who devote months and years of their lives exclusively to serving others (often strangers) and offering, in the name of Christ, His matchless gifts of repentance and forgiveness?’ Paragraph 19)

How can we develop greater selflessness?

‘A third motivating force essential to the character of Christ is His desire to glorify the Father and to fulfill the Father’s will in every particular.’ (Paragraph 20)

‘A Christlike desire to glorify God and do His will leads to the character qualities of honor, integrity, and virtue.’ (Paragraph 21)

What does it mean to ‘glorify the Father’?

‘A “life of moral excellence” is a life of virtue.’ (Paragraph 22)

How can we attain such a life?

‘Adopting the character of Christ is not only a question of our personal preparation but a primary element of preparing the world for the Lord’s return and His glorious millennial reign.’ (Paragraph 24)

Why is adopting the character of Christ a primary element of preparing for the Second Coming? (See also footnote 7)

Invitations and applications:

‘‘The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we, each of us, can call on the grace of Jesus Christ to help us.’ (Paragraph 8)

‘With faith in Christ, we can pray that the Holy Spirit will effect a mighty change in us to instill these same divine motivations in our heart and help us practice the attributes of a Christlike character.’ (Paragraph 23)

‘We can keep repenting to improve as we strive to follow the Lord’s example, “which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart.”’ (Paragraph 23)

‘We can “become the people God needs us to be.”’ (Paragraph 23)

What is one specific Christlike attribute (e.g. humility, charity) I can work on this week?

Additional thoughts:

“Disciples are to make for themselves ‘a new heart’ by undergoing a ‘mighty change’ of heart (Ezekiel 18:31; Alma 5:12-14). Yet we cannot make such ‘a new heart’ while nursing old grievances. Just as civil wars lend themselves to the passionate preservation of ancient grievances, so civil wars within the individual soul-between the natural and the potential man-keep alive old slights and perceived injustices, except in the meek.” (Neal A Maxwell, Meek and Lowly, p. 55)

‘Because our goal is to become more like our Savior and to eventually qualify to live with our Heavenly Father, each of us needs to experience the mighty change in our hearts described by the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon (see  Alma 5:14) Our love for our Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ needs to be reflected in our daily choices and actions. They have promised peace, joy, and happiness to those who keep Their commandments.’ (M Russell Ballard, General Conference, October 2010)

Dallin H. Oaks said:

“We know from these inspired words that even the most extreme acts of service fall short of the ultimate ‘profit’ unless they are motivated by the pure love of Christ. If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be unconcerned with self and heedless of personal advantage. It must be accomplished for the love of God and the love of his children.” (Pure in Heart [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 47.)

Elder Peter M Johnson taught at General Conference in October 2025:

’Ministering in the Savior’s way involves compassion, kindness, patience, and love without judgment. As we minister to the one, we invite the one to come unto Christ and to worship in the house of the Lord to receive of His redeeming power. In other words, we help one another become devoted disciples as we minister to the one in ways that lead to the house of the Lord.’

President Nelson taught,

 “One crucial element of this gathering is preparing a people who are able, ready, and worthy to receive the Lord when He comes again, a people who have already chosen Jesus Christ over this fallen world, a people who rejoice in their agency to live the higher, holier laws of Jesus Christ” (“Overcome the World and Find Rest,” 98).

Watch President Christofferson’s talk here.

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