Elder David A. Bednar’s “The Character of Christ” explores the Savior’s divine attributes and their profound impact on His Atonement, emphasizing charity, compassion, and meekness. This inspiring discussion invites us to emulate Christ’s example, fostering personal spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of His grace and redeeming love.
Overview of the Document
Elder David A. Bednar’s “The Character of Christ” is a thought-provoking discourse that examines the divine attributes of Jesus Christ, emphasizing their centrality to His mission and the Atonement. The document, delivered at Brigham Young University-Idaho, explores themes such as charity, compassion, meekness, and humility, providing insights into how these traits define Christ’s character. Bednar also discusses the enabling power of grace and its role in helping individuals become more like the Savior. The talk encourages followers of Christ to deliberately practice and emulate His example, fostering spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of His redeeming love. This 14-page document is both inspiring and instructive, offering practical guidance for those seeking to develop Christ-like qualities in their lives.
Significance of the Topic
The topic of Christ’s character, as discussed by Elder David A. Bednar, holds profound significance for individuals seeking spiritual growth and a deeper connection with the Savior. Understanding Christ’s attributes, such as charity, compassion, and meekness, provides a foundation for emulating His example in daily life. Bednar’s teachings highlight the transformative power of grace and the importance of deliberate practice in developing Christ-like traits. This focus on character development not only enriches personal faith but also fosters stronger relationships and a greater capacity to serve others. By exploring the Savior’s divine attributes, individuals gain insights into His Atonement and its enabling power, which empower them to overcome challenges and become more like Him. The significance lies in its practical application, offering a pathway to enduring spiritual growth and a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Atonement and the Character of Christ
The Atonement reflects Christ’s character, revealing His love, humility, and obedience. His divine attributes made the Atonement possible, demonstrating the depth of His redeeming love and grace.
The Atonement as a Reflection of Christ’s Character
The Atonement is a profound reflection of Christ’s character, showcasing His infinite love, mercy, and willingness to sacrifice. Elder Bednar emphasizes that the Atonement was not merely an act of obedience but a manifestation of Christ’s divine attributes. His humility, compassion, and charity are central to the Atonement, demonstrating how He descended below all things to lift and redeem humanity. The Atonement reveals Christ’s perfect meekness and His ability to endure suffering with patience and love. Through this sacrificial act, Christ’s character shines as a beacon of hope, inspiring followers to emulate His example. The Atonement, therefore, is not just a historical event but a testament to the Savior’s unparalleled character.
Christ’s Grace as an Enabling Power
Christ’s grace is more than forgiveness; it is an enabling power that transforms and uplifts us. Elder Bednar teaches that this grace is not limited to cleansing us from sin but also empowers us to become better, serving others more faithfully. Through the Atonement, Christ’s grace strengthens our capacity to overcome weaknesses and develop Christ-like attributes. It is this divine assistance that helps us progress, enabling us to align our lives with His will. Grace is not passive but an active force that inspires growth, fostering a deeper connection to the Savior. By understanding grace as an enabling power, we can more fully embrace the transformative power of Christ’s character in our lives. This perspective invites us to rely on His grace to become who He knows we can be.
Key Characteristics of Christ’s Character
Christ’s character is defined by charity, compassion, meekness, and humility. These traits, rooted in His divine nature, exemplify His perfect love and selfless service, inspiring followers to emulate His example.
Charity and Compassion
Charity and compassion are central to Christ’s character, as highlighted by Elder Bednar. These virtues, rooted in divine love, motivated Christ to serve the needy, heal the sick, and comfort the sorrowful. His actions exemplify a pure love that seeks the well-being of others without expectation of reward. Charity, often called the highest virtue, is not just feeling but action—reaching out when others would turn inward. Compassion drives us to minister to those in distress, mirroring Christ’s ministry; By developing these traits, we draw closer to Him and fulfill our covenant to bear one another’s burdens, as He did for us. This divine love transforms lives and invites others to experience His redeeming grace.
Meekness and Humility
Meekness and humility are cornerstone traits of Christ’s character, as emphasized by Elder Bednar. These qualities are not signs of weakness but of strength, demonstrated through Christ’s willingness to submit to the Father’s will and serve others selflessly. His meekness was evident in His calming storms with a word, while His humility shone in His willingness to be baptized and wash the feet of His disciples. True meekness involves gentleness and patience, while humility is rooted in recognizing our dependence on God. These virtues, when cultivated, enable us to submit to God’s will, forgive others, and serve with compassion. Elder Bednar teaches that embracing meekness and humility allows us to become more like Christ, fostering spiritual growth and a deeper connection to the divine.
Emulating the Character of Christ
Emulating Christ’s character involves deliberately practicing His traits of charity, compassion, and meekness. Through His grace, we can become more like Him and serve others selflessly.
Deliberate Practice in Developing Christ-like Traits
Elder Bednar emphasizes that developing Christ-like traits requires intentional effort and deliberate practice. Through prayer, scripture study, and acts of service, we can internalize His attributes. The Holy Ghost guides this process, helping us cultivate charity, humility, and meekness. Spiritual growth is gradual, requiring patience and persistence. By consistently applying these practices, we align our lives with Christ’s character, fostering a deeper connection with Him and enabling us to serve others more effectively. This deliberate pursuit of righteousness is essential for emulating the Savior and becoming more like Him.
Overcoming Challenges and Spiritual Growth
Elder Bednar teaches that overcoming challenges is an essential part of spiritual growth, mirroring Christ’s own experiences. Through trials, we learn to rely on His grace, which enables us to endure and overcome. Christ’s character exemplifies resilience and faith, showing us how to face adversity with hope and courage. Spiritual growth is not about avoiding challenges but embracing them as opportunities to draw closer to the Savior. By trusting in His plan and seeking guidance from the Holy Ghost, we can navigate life’s difficulties and emerge stronger. This process deepens our understanding of Christ’s Atonement and fosters a greater desire to emulate His character, leading to lasting spiritual transformation and a more profound relationship with Him.
The enduring legacy of Christ’s character, as taught by Elder Bednar, invites us to embrace His grace, charity, and humility, leading to profound spiritual growth and transformation.
The Enduring Legacy of Christ’s Character
Elder David A. Bednar emphasizes that Christ’s character is timeless and transformative, offering a powerful blueprint for discipleship. His attributes of charity, meekness, and grace inspire followers to become more like Him. By understanding the Atonement’s connection to Christ’s character, individuals can deepen their faith and foster meaningful spiritual growth. Bednar’s teachings remind us that emulating Christ’s character is not merely an aspiration but a lifeline, enabling us to navigate life’s challenges with hope and resilience. His legacy endures as a testament to the transformative power of divine attributes, inviting all to seek a closer relationship with the Savior.
Call to Action
Elder Bednar’s message on Christ’s character challenges us to act with intention. He urges us to seek learning by faith, engage in deliberate practice, and emulate Christ-like traits. By heeding this call, we can become instruments of grace and compassion, reflecting the Savior’s character in our daily lives. This call to action invites us to move beyond mere belief to meaningful discipleship, striving to align our thoughts, words, and deeds with Christ’s example. Through this commitment, we can experience enduring peace, inspire others, and fulfill our divine potential, drawing closer to the Savior and fostering spiritual growth in ourselves and those around us.