In the 6th chapter of the missionary manual Preach my gospel, you can find a little "check your progress" activity. In this activity there are multiple statements about Christlike attibutes. As you read each statement, you can ponder on your own progress and decide where you are personally regarding each attribute. In the "hope" section, this piercing statement is made: "One of my greatest desires is to inherit eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God". (Link to attribute exercise at the end of the post)
What is eternal life?
"Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone will receive this gift. Eternal life, or exaltation, is to live in God's presence and to continue as families." (lds.org search "eternal life")
The part of Eternal life I would like to focus on is the following:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) Eternal life is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ. It is to know who they are, it is to know their love, it is to know their attributes and it is to know that God is our Father and that Christ is His Beloved Son.
It is no wonder that all prophets and apostles, past and present urge us to look unto Christ, to pray to God, and to strengthen our relationship with them. We are urged by Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, "to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written.." (Ether 12:41) and to "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Moroni 7:48)
God said: "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) It is his sole purpose, His work and His glory, to bring to pass our immortality, which is why He sent Christ to live and die for us and to rise triumphant over death. It is His work and His glory to bring to pass our eternal life, that is why He sent Christ to perform the Atonement, to suffer for you and for me, so that He could know how to save US.
I believe that when we die and the time comes to live with God again, we won't automatically receive knowledge of who He is and who Christ is. This is something we have to do here, in this life. "this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state." (Alma 42:10) "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). "A grand objective of mortality is not merely learning about the Only Begotten of the Father but also striving to know Him." (Elder Bednar, 2016)
So, how do we do this? How do we get to know God and Christ better?
Elder Bednar, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught the following:
Exercising Faith in Him: "True faith is focused in and on the Lord and always leads to righteous action."
Following Him: "The Savior likewise instructs you and me, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”18 To take up one’s cross is to deny oneself of all ungodliness and every worldly lust and to keep the commandments of the Lord."
Serving Him: "'For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?'(Mosiah 5:13) We more fully come to know the Lord as we serve Him and labor in His kingdom."
Believing Him: "Believing Him is trusting that His bounteous blessings are available and applicable in our individual lives and families. Believing Him with our whole soul38 comes as we press forward along the covenant pathway, surrender our will to His, and submit to His priorities and timing for us. Believing Him—accepting as true His power and promises—invites perspective, peace, and joy into our lives."
I testify that if we seek Jesus, if we try to come closer unto Him, that we will attain rich and lasting happiness. I know that praying unto God will bring peace into our lives. I know that the goal of eternal life is the only goal that truly matters. I testify that God wants all of His children to come back home to Him. "For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
I testify of the reality of eternal life and I testify that as we prepare to meet God, that we will feel His love, we will be filled with it! We will have a mighty change of heart. Most of all I testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ and His ability to save. I testify that He lives, and because He lives we too will live with Him, with God and with our families forever. That has always been the plan.
"Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Moroni 7:48)
References:
Check your progress activity is at the end of the chapter: https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-develop-christlike-attributes?lang=eng
The Book of Mormon: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng
General Conference talk by David A. Bednar: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/if-ye-had-known-me?lang=eng
