While it is relatively easy to stay in contact and communicate with people across the globe, creating and maintaining deep personal relationships takes time and effort. Similarly, the Savior is always close to us, waiting for us with open arms, but it takes more than checking in now and then to develop a deep personal relationship with Him.
Why We Need a Personal Relationship with Christ
Wilford Woodruff urged, “I would here exhort all the Latter day Saints who hear me this day to study well the position you are in, and search your hearts and see if we are in the favour of the Lord our God, and then let us increase continually in faith, in hope, in righteousness, and in every virtuous principle . . . in order to prove us as the friends of God.”1
Speaking of being the friends of God, Elder James E. Faust (1920–2007) said, “Having such a relationship can unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God.”2
By drawing closer to Christ, we can unlock our divinity, reach our potential, and be strengthened to become as God is.
The scriptures are replete with the promised blessings of being close to the Savior, such as Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Another example is Moroni 10:32, which says, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall . . . love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.”
As our Father in Heaven’s spirit children, we need a connection with Jesus Christ. Building that connection takes effort over time, just like all good relationships do, but we are promised innumerable blessings when we do so. We can start strengthening that essential relationship by staying in touch with the Savior, taking a personal interest in Him, and spending time with Him.
Stay in Touch: Communicate through Prayer
The first key to meaningful relationships is communication. If we never 
talk to a friend or family member, we can never create a bond with them. So it is with Jesus Christ. When we pray, we communicate with Him and with our Father in Heaven, allowing us to be closer to Them. Prayer is the first step to establishing communication with Him.
In prayer we can speak as we would with anyone we are close to. We can talk about our day, explain our struggles, express our gratitude, and ask for help. Wilford Woodruff believed that “a man can no more live without praying than they can without bread.”3 He counseled the Saints, saying, “Pray, pray always, there is where our help lies, even in temporal affairs, we should go before God. He will answer our prayers, and we will have power to overcome all evil.”4
If something matters to you, it matters to the Savior. Never hesitate to communicate with Him through prayer as you strive to strengthen and improve your relationship with Him.
Take a Personal Interest: Learn about Christ in the Scriptures
Showing that you are interested in the life and character of someone close to you is another important step in creating a meaningful relationship. When it comes to the Savior, the best way to learn about Him is through the scriptures.
Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) said, “When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures.”5
The scriptures and teachings of the prophets invite the Spirit into our lives and enable us to learn about the true nature of God. We can read Christ’s words and first-hand accounts of what He did while He was on the earth in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Studying these accounts will deepen our relationship with the Savior as we learn about Him and come to love Him more.
Spend Time with Him: Serve Others as Christ Would
Relationships are strengthened by spending quality time together. Although our Savior is not physically with us, we can work at His side as we serve others.
Elder Carlos H. Amado said, “Service makes us strong in our faith and useful in His kingdom. Service gives us purpose and courage in life. It brings us closer to God and helps us refine our divine nature. It teaches us to love and understand our fellowmen, and it helps us forget about our personal desires, eliminating selfishness, pride, and ingratitude. It teaches us to think of the needs of others, which allows us to develop the virtues that the Savior possesses.”6
As we stand in the Savior’s place and serve others as He would, not only are we brought closer to the Savior, but we learn to be like Him, which is the ultimate testament of the depth of our personal relationship with Him.
He Is Preparing Us for All He Has
Just like personal relationships on earth take time and effort, our relationship with Jesus Christ takes time and effort—but it comes with enormous blessings. As we come closer to Him, He helps us obtain everything the Father has.
Wilford Woodruff penned in his journal Orson Pratt’s words: “I believe the Lord loves this people and is preparing us to receive all good things.”7 These blessings come to us as we develop a deeper relationship with Christ through praying, studying the scriptures, and serving others.
Endnotes
1 Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, February 22, 1857, p.4, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1857-02-22.
2 James E. Faust, “A Personal Relationship with the Savior,” Ensign, November 1976, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
3 Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, February 16, 1853, p. 432, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1853-02-16.
4 Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, August 30, 1891, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1891-08-30.
5 Robert D. Hales, “Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation,” Ensign, November 2006, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
6 Carlos H. Amado, “Service, a Divine Quality,” Ensign, May 2008, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
7 Orson Pratt quoted in Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, October 9, 1851, p. 349, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1851-10-09.
Lyndie is working toward a degree in Public Relations at Brigham Young University. Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, she enjoys running, spending time with her husband and family, and reading. She was drawn to the Wilford Woodruff Papers out of a desire to learn more about Church history and enjoys being part of the organization’s efforts to touch lives with Wilford Woodruff’s words.
The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
