General Conference Odyssey continues to align amazingly well with what we are experiencing in our day. This week, I present to you President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk, entitled, “Come unto Christ,” in his October 1987, Sunday afternoon address. His counsel is to “be faithful in Christ.” These words were Mormon’s last words to his son, Moroni. In the final days of their civilization, Christ continued as the final hope.

Now, today, we likely are not in the final days of our civilization… yet. But we know it’s coming. This virus is simply another opportunity for us to align our lives to turn to our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ. Is He the first one we turn to when we are depressed, distressed, anxious, and scared?

In his talk, Pres. Benson lists for us many of the attributes of Christ, with scripture references. One of the most precious things, revealed in the Book of Mormon, is a running list of these attributes. Repeated throughout this vital book of scripture is Christ’s invitation to us, to come unto Him.

Today, Pres. Nelson offers the same invitation. In this talk, he says, “I invited [the Young Adults] to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum.” Pres. Nelson could ask this of them because he took the challenge himself. “I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide.”

Quoting now from his talk to the Young Adults, you can read carefully what he says,

As members of His restored Church, we know that Jesus Christ, our Master, is our ultimate Mentor. As a true millennial, you were born to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. In fact, the only way to be a true millennial is to be one of His true disciples!

How can you increase in your discipleship? I have an invitation for you that will help—it’s an assignment, actually—if you choose to accept it. Commence tonight to consecrate a portion of your time each week to studying everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the Old Testament, for He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Study His laws as recorded in the New Testament, for He is its Christ. Study His doctrine as recorded in the Book of Mormon, for there is no book of scripture in which His mission and His ministry are more clearly revealed. And study His words as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, for He continues to teach His people in this dispensation.

We live in scary times. Right now, we are all confined to our homes wondering what will happen in the next few months. I, like our prophets, have accepted the challenge, and with them, invite you to take on these challenges. We have plenty of time to do it now, don’t we? Pres. Benson concludes his talk with these words:

We are meeting the adversary every day. The challenges of this era will rival any of the past, and these challenges will increase both spiritually and temporally. We must be close to Christ, we must daily take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.

And finally, he says “we have a labor to perform.”

What better labor is there than reading, pondering, underlining, and writing about Jesus Christ. That our hearts can be full of Him and not the fear and uncertainty around us. He will bring us peace. He will fill us with faith. He will comfort us all the day long.