Prez Says: Getting to Know God

I don’t know who said, “I was betrayed by the tyranny of urgent situations,” but I find it too often true in my life. Isn’t there always something that needs to be done or someone who needs or wants something? To do the best you can each day does not mean to do the most you can. When we try to put too much in one day, it just doesn’t work.

We can become so focused and insistent on reaching certain self-imposed goals that we can begin to view those goals as ends in and of themselves. It’s not just daily life tasks and goals that beckon and can distract us. Our church goals are a means to an end—even going to the temple is a means to an end. So what’s the great goal in life? I believe that it’s to get to know God, to build a relationship with Him, and to know His Son. Read Jesus’ Intercessory prayer (John 17) where he says, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” We must be careful not to focus on the quantity of tasks and goals we have accomplished. In order for us to know God, it requires putting aside our list of tasks and goals, and to schedule ‘Be still and know days’ (see Psalm 46:10). 3 Nephi 13:34 reminds us that “sufficient is the day” to do the things that really matter.

Knowing God is a lifetime endeavor. The scriptures are filled with accounts of how others came to know God and Jesus Christ. Samuel, Nephi, Paul, Joseph Smith, and others can guide us to trust and better know God. To know Him is to know and experience His love. Then as we set goals and do things for others, we emulate his pure love and move toward becoming like Him rather than focusing on how many tasks we can get done each day.