Christlike Attributes - The Wind Beneath Our Wings

In what I thought earlier were semi-random meanderings through LDS.org, which I now believe were strongly guided by the Holy Spirit, I came across a talk that President Uchtdorf gave in October 2005 (back when he was Elder Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). The talk was titled Christlike Attributes - The Wind Beneath Our Wings.

After a brief aviation analogy about the seeming complexity of an airplane from inside a cockpit, contrasted with the fundamentally simple physics principles of thrust and uplift, Elder Uchtdorf spent the first ten or twelve minutes of his talk talking about the organization of the church, how it has many programs to help foster growth in large wards and stakes, but its core is very simple, and can be applied by even the smallest branches.

"This leads me back to my aerodynamic analogy from the beginning," he said:

I spoke of focusing on the basics. Christlike attributes are the basics. They are the fundamental principles that will create “the wind beneath our wings.” As we develop Christlike attributes in our own lives, step-by-step, they will “bear [us] up as on eagles’ wings” (D&C 124:18). Our faith in Jesus Christ will provide power and a strong forward thrust; our unwavering and active hope will provide a powerful upward lift. Both faith and hope will carry us across oceans of temptations, over mountains of afflictions, and bring us safely back to our eternal home and destination.

That was his closing paragraph. The rest of his talk focused on Christlike attributes - What they are, why they're a priority, how we can develop them, warnings of the challenges we will face as we try to develop them (because Satan never makes doing the right thing easy), and the blessings we'll receive as we strive to develop them. It's a very good talk. Here are a few of my highlights:

Individually, we need to first “follow Him,” and as we do this, the Savior will bless us beyond our own capacity to become what He wants us to be.

To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. 

This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: “Keep the commandments”—nothing more, nothing less. 

The scriptures describe a number of Christlike attributes we need to develop during the course of our lives. They include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope. 

Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. 

Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They cannot be developed without His help. 

Christlike attributes come into our lives as we exercise our agency righteously. 

In seeking to become more like the Savior, we need to reevaluate our lives regularly and rely, through the path of true repentance, upon the merits of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement. 

Developing Christlike attributes can be a painful process. We need to be ready to accept direction and correction from the Lord and His servants. 

This worldwide conference with its music and spoken word offers spiritual power, direction, and blessings “from on high” (D&C 43:16). It is a time when the voice of personal inspiration and revelation will bring peace to our souls and will teach us how to become more Christlike.

I'm increasingly looking forward to General Conference. I'm looking forward to powerful, inspiring talks, sound advice, and an increased measure of faith. I'm looking forward to learning (or being reminded) what God wants me to do and how I can gain the strength and faith to do it. I'm looking forward to recommitting myself to becoming who God wants me to be.