Elder Robert D. Hales: Eternal life to know our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ

“I testify that when we do what is necessary to know [God and Jesus Christ] and Their love for one another, we will obtain ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God’ — even eternal life,” said Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Sunday morning session of general conference.

Speaking about his personal journey in the gospel, Elder Hales said, “My own testimony grew as I learned about Heavenly Father and the Savior from the teaching and testimony of my parents, teachers, the scriptures which I read diligently and especially the Holy Ghost. As I exercised faith and obeyed the commandments, the Holy Ghost testified that what I was learning was true. This is how I came to know for myself.”

In the process of gaining a testimony, seeking for personal revelation is key, said Elder Hales. “I also began to understand that God and Christ are literally a Father and a Son — separate, distinct, individual beings who are wholly unified in Their purpose. … And over and over again I observed how They love one another and work together for our good.”

Sharing several scriptures, Elder Hales illustrated the love and work of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. He then asked, “Can we see a pattern in these scriptures that testifies of the Father and the Son as distinct, individual beings? How, then, are they ‘one’? Not because They are the same person but because They are united in purpose, equally dedicated to ‘bring[ing] to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’ ”

Jesus is a God, yet He continually distinguishes Himself as a separate, individual being by praying to His Father and by saying that He is doing His Father’s will, said Elder Hales. It is not a surprise that the Restoration of the gospel began with an appearance of not one but two glorified beings.

“You too can seek our Heavenly Father and ‘this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have [testified],’ in the scriptures and in this general conference,” said Elder Hales. “As you seek a personal witness through personal revelation, you will discover that Heavenly Father has provided a special way for you to know the truth for yourself: through the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit we know as the Holy Ghost.”

Elder Hales said, “I testify that our Heavenly Father wants us to seek this knowledge now.”

The sure foundation is Jesus Christ, he said. He is the ‘Rock of Heaven.’ When we build our house upon Him, the rains of the latter days may descend, the floods may come and the winds may blow, but we will not fall, for our home and our family will be founded upon Christ.

“I testify that such a home is a house of glory,” said Elder Hales. “There we gather to pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. There we glorify and give gratitude to Them. There we receive the Holy Ghost and ‘the promise which [He gives] unto [us] of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom.’ ”

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