What do the fountain of youth, truth, and obedience have in common? That’s the question I found myself asking after reading the message from the first presidency in October’s Ensign magazine.
Speaking of Christ’s response to Satan following his 40-day fast in the wilderness, President Monson writes:
Though He was tempted by that master of deceit, even the devil; though He was physically weakened from fasting 40 days and 40 nights and “was afterward an hungred”; yet when the evil one proffered Jesus the most alluring and tempting proposals, He gave to us a divine example of obedience by refusing to deviate from what He knew was right.
Christ knew the truth about God. Christ knew the truth about his role as the Savior of the world. Christ was able to resist temptation because He knew the truth! His knowledge of the truth gave him power to obey God’s commandments even the most dire of circumstances.
The fountain of youth represents the thirst we have to live, to be young, vibrant, and happy. Unfortunately, says President Monson, there is no fountain of youth, but there is a fountain of truth. Jesus Christ is that fountain, and when we drink deeply of his teachings, our lives are filled with the light of truth that enables us to obey. The more truth we understand, the more we can obey Heavenly Father’s will, and the more we become like Jesus Christ.
Questions for discussion and comments: