Jeffery R. Holland gave a conference talk called “The First Great Commandment” in October of 2012. In it he talks of what followed Christ’s glorious resurrection and after He had shown himself to His disciples. I would highly encourage you to read or watch his talk in full.
In short, the account is given: Peter and some of the Apostles instead of going forth and teaching all nations went “a fishing”. Before their call to be Apostles, these men had been successful fishermen. Christ had called, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’. And they straightway left their nets and followed him” (Matt. 4:18-19). Now, Christ had been killed, they had seen Him alive at least twice now since His resurrection, but now they thought to return to their old lifestyle fishing. Forget all the miracles that they witnessed in the last three years walking and talking with the Son of God in the flesh. No one forced them to go. They chose to leave their nets and become fishers of men. No one knew Jesus better than they did. This was no spectator sport. This was an apprenticeship. Preparation for a greater future inheritance. But now, they put that behind them and went back to their job as if nothing had happened and that it no longer mattered. How terribly sad! Then came Jesus walking along the shore. These fishermen, turned Apostles, turned again fishermen could not catch a single fish though they’d tried all through the night. Jesus called out for them to toss their nets on the other side. Doing as He said, they caught so many fish that they nearly sunk both their boats. The lights clicked. They’d seen this before. They recognized the Lord anew and returned to the shore with their fish. “As soon then as they came to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Bring of the fish which ye have now caught” (John 21:9-10). To me, it is interesting to see that Jesus had provided them with a hundred and fifty-three fish with this instruction and now already had fish cooking upon arrival without their catch. Jesus ate with the company in what must have been a quiet meal. I imagine a hush of disappointment the Savior must have felt for these men who had not taken their missionary calling seriously. Finally, looking up, Jesus turns to His Chief Apostle, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these” (John 21:15) as he gestures at the fish. “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee”, Peters responds without much reflection. Jesus replies, “Feed my lambs”. A second time, Peter is asked, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” to which Peter somewhat confused answers again in the affirmative, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee”. Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep”. A third time, perhaps more slowly, Jesus repeats His question. Now this time, likely in blubbering tears, Peter answers, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee”, to which Jesus finishes, “Feed my sheep”. Jesus had fed multitudes of thousands with five loaves and two fishes before. He had proclaimed himself “The Bread of Life”. Said He, “…he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). The command to “Feed Sheep” did not require them to provide food for the belly but nourishment to the soul which was what Jesus Christ himself did. A commandment in the Book of Mormon says, “Feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3). That commission was to last more than a few years. It was meant to last forever. When He told them to leave their nets, He meant it. When He tells us to feed His sheep He means it. When He tells us to do anything, He means it. He wants to bless us but He can only do so if we keep his commandments and trust in Him.
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Again and again, I've talked about what distinguishes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and why that's so important in the eternal scheme of things. I refer you back to "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism". Religion refers to a "tying" together again. Religion ties us to God, but it also ties us to one another. While salvation is a personal affair, eternal life is a family affair. While each one of us bears the responsibility for his or her own actions, our loving Heavenly Father teaches us to turn outward and to help one another on our way. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, to be a Christian, is to do as Christ would and love one another.
Past prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, once had the opportunity to answer some questions from clergy of other churches when touring the open house of the Mesa, Arizona temple. When asked why we don't use the symbol of the cross like most other Christian faiths, President Hinckley explained:
"I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.” [The clergy] then asked: “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?” [President Hinckley] replied that the lives of our people must become the most meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship."
To all returned missionaries, the calling to serve the Lord and to feed His sheep is infinitely perpetuated. We can look back on our past service but if our current service is not up to par, how can we answer the Lord back, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee”? Truth is that it doesn’t matter how much we serve or do, so long as we try our best with love, and endure to the end.
The mission is one of the greatest blessings on earth but again, as I’ve said, God is more interested in your present and future than He is in your past. The mission should be like baptism, the start of a path to further gospel service, not the end of it. The Lord, after serving the hardest three-year mortal mission anyone ever could and doing the most work for the salvation of mankind, being tortured and killed, and resurrected and continuing teaching His Apostles (See "Christ's Ministry"), and even visiting the American continent (3 Nephi 11), continues to work. His work is not done. He works with us and through us. It won’t be done until all come to know His gospel and that this is His kingdom on the Earth, that He speaks through a living prophet again today (See "Prophets and Callings" and "Church Organization"), that the gospel is restored anew never to again be lost (See "Apostasy and Restoration" and "Return of the King -- Part 2"), that the Book of Mormon is given as a testament and tangible evidence of this (See "Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ"), and that Christ himself will one day return to Earth again and mankind will be judged according to their works (See "Return of the King -- Part 3" and "Return of the King -- The Final Part"). This is the mission. It is wonderful. This is His work and His glory. A work and a wonder. The returned missionary doesn’t check his faith at the door or set it on the shelf to collect dust once he’s home. He has more than just mission stories to draw upon. He will seek new ones. Don’t let the static of the world dumb down your spiritual senses and ability to hear and see things with an eternal mindset. Always be tuned in to the spirit, and the second mission will be all the better because of it.
These things I know for myself to be true. God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, has taught me these things. I have learned through ongoing study, prayer, and practice that what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches is true and that it is the way to eternal life and happiness (See "Eternal Life: As God Is"). That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that same church body that Christ established in the past restored anew in our day and that it is He who leads at the head of it (See "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" and "Church Organization"). That priesthood power and authority to perform ordinances are restored and present only in this church intended to bless the whole human family (See "Priesthood", "Baptism by Immersion", and "Return of the King -- Part 4.2"). That membership in the Lord’s kingdom is here and that He invites all to come unto Him. That there is a perfect plan of happiness that blesses families. I have seen miracles in my life, some of which I’ve shared and others I preserve for myself. My testimony is my own and nothing can ever take that away from me. Just as there is both good and bad in life and opposition in all things, the world will continue to fight against the current and refuse to see the truth, trusting in their own wisdom or philosophies (See "Return of the King -- Part 1"). But the faithful wheat will triumph over the tares. I know that faith is not a perfect knowledge of things but a hope for things that are not seen but which are true (Alma 32:21; See also "Faith and Trust"). Faith is the precursor to all spiritual manifestation. It is to trust in God and that He will teach you as fast as you are ready to listen and learn and do. But if you sit and do nothing, all you will get is nowhere fast.
BE YE A DOER OF THE WORD!
I invite you to act on the things you have learned, and if you feel that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true and you haven't already, prepare yourself to be baptized. Remember, it’s a start not an end. Perfection is pending. All you need is a commitment to do your best to follow the example of Jesus Christ. (See "Baptism by Immersion" and "The Baptismal Interview") I know that if you do as I did and read the Book of Mormon (if you haven’t already, and if you have, read it again) and pray to know if the things which I teach are true, that the Holy Ghost will come to your mind and heart through the fruits of the spirit (See "A Still, Small Voice"). Be open to feel it and don’t be too quick to hang up the phone before giving time to listen. The more you pray and strive to recognize God teaching you in your life, I promise you that things will become clearer. If you aren’t already, please come to church. If you want to learn more, ask the missionaries, they can help you! That’s what they do and they do what they love. You can ask someone to send them over, ask them yourself if you see them, or get in contact on ComeUntoChrist.org
Everything begins and ends with Jesus Christ. He is at the center of Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness and that is why I share this Works and Wonders website with you, that you might get something out of it and recognize the hand of God in your lives a little more, as I have. These invitations to act I extend and leave with you a friendly farewell with much love,
Your fellow-servant,
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