Becoming Focused on Jesus Christ: Quotes and Inspiration
“You all seem so focused. That’s the most striking thing about you.”
These words, spoken by a friend, keep replaying in my mind.
She was referring to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Focused Definition
Focused.
I’ve spent some time thinking about that word.
Focus = “To adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly”
Such a beautiful description⎯so poetic; so profound.
I wonder: What exactly am I, as a member of Christ’s church, focused on?
Taking Action
Becoming focused requires effort on one’s part. It begins by asking vital questions. Consider Elder Russell M. Nelson’s counsel:
People need to have a little private time and ask themselves what they really want in life. Is it entertainment? Is it wealth?[Or] is it fame? They need to decide what they really want to accomplish. No runner starting a race would ever start without knowing whether he’s doing a hundred-yard dash or a marathon. Many people, in and out of the Church, have not really framed their objectives, what they want to accomplish more than anything else.
“If you really want a certain blessing, you’d better find out what the laws are that govern that blessing and then work on becoming obedient to those laws.
Elder Russell M. Nelson, June 2005 Ensign
In addition to determining what one desires to do, it is important to decide what things one is no longer going to do, as John Carmack points out: “Focus is a matter of deciding what things you’re not going to do.“
For instance, if one’s desire is to keep the Sabbath Day holy, what specific things will one begin to do? What specific things will one stop doing?
The same concept can be applied to improving prayer and study habits, refining entertainment choices, strengthening physical and mental health, sharing the gospel with others, and all forms of discipleship.
Ultimately, building the kingdom of God ought to be our main focus, declared Elder Dallin H. Oaks in 2001. How are we doing more than two decades later?
Jesus taught about priorities when He said, “Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (JST, Matt. 6:38, in Matt. 6:33, footnote a). “Seek … first to build up the kingdom of God” means to assign first priority to God and to His work.
The work of God is to bring to pass the eternal life of His children (see Moses 1:39), and all that this entails in the birth, nurturing, teaching, and sealing of our Heavenly Father’s children. Everything else is lower in priority. Think about that reality as we consider some teachings and some examples on priorities. As someone has said, if we do not choose the kingdom of God first, it will make little difference in the long run what we have chosen instead of it.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Focus and Priorities, April 2001
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Staying Focused
Each of us has a mission to fulfill in…building God’s kingdom. The writer of Hebrews gives us precise instructions about what we must do to keep our focus: ‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross …’ (Hebrews 12:1-2).
“Christ, our example, is the One who has gone before us in the race. We are not asked to look at the spectators in the arena or at the other runners, but to keep our eyes on Jesus and imitate Him. Jesus Himself said, ‘Follow Me,’ because He knew that staying focused would be one of the most difficult things for us to do.
Source
In a world filled with distractions, it is difficult to stay focused.
Christian author Charles Swindoll says being “entangled in thorns” (Mark 4), or being overwhelmed by distractions, is one of our greatest downfalls.
Orville and Wilbur Wright knew the importance of “framing their objectives”, discovering their mission in life, and staying focused:
“What the two had in common above all was unity of purpose and unyielding determination. They had set themselves on a “mission”.
The Wright Brothers, David McCullough, p. 8
The Apostle Paul teaches us to focus on “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Overcoming Obstacles
When doubts creep in and one’s focus begins to wane, these words from Mark Twain can help with course correction: “Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.“
Brother Milton Camargo shares a powerful example of a people whose lives changed for the better when they chose to focus on Jesus Christ:
Our covenants help us focus our attention, our thoughts, and our actions on Christ. As we “cleave unto the covenants [we have] made,” we can more easily identify “the things of this world” that we should “lay aside” and “the things of a better [world]” we should diligently seek. (Doctrine and Covenants 25:10, 13)
That’s what the people of Ammon did in the Book of Mormon. As they learned of Jesus Christ and began to focus their lives on Him, they recognized that they should bury their weapons of war and became perfectly honest and “distinguished for their zeal towards God.” (Alma 27:27)
Elder Milton Camargo, “Focus on Jesus Christ”, April 2023
Legacies of Faith
England
One dreadful night in the 1800’s, my third-great-grandmother, Mary Ann, had a dream that her 29-year-old husband, George, would die the following day at work. She begged him to stay home that day, but they needed the money, so he went to work. Sadly, her dream became a reality when he was hit and killed by a train at work that very day.
God prepared and strengthened Mary Ann for the hardships in her life. George and Mary Ann had four children–two died in infancy, two lived to adulthood. Through great sacrifice, she and her sons were able to emigrate to America. One of hers sons became my second-great-grandfather.
Throughout their many hardships, Mary Ann and her sons had a mission to stay true to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout their lives they remained focused and have left behind a remarkable legacy of faith for their posterity to follow.
Civil War
My 3rd-great-granduncle Enoch Stone died in The Battle of Gettysburg. He was only 28 years old. His brother John, age 33, passed away only three weeks later–another casualty of war.
We don’t know much about the lives of John and Enoch before the war, but their older brother, Calvin, became my 3rd-great-grandfather.
Calvin later married a faithful woman. Over time, they became the parents of 16 children, one of whom became my 2nd-great-grandfather, Joseph Adams Stone.
Truth Restored
Joseph was a man of faith who migrated with the Saints from North Carolina to Utah. His younger brother, Brigham, shared his experience with learning for himself the truthfulness of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“…My father was a farmer. I lived and worked with him on the farm until I was twenty years old. In my 21st year,…Elders George Teasdale and John R. Winder, Jr. came in the neighborhood as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I attended their first meeting and was converted to the Gospel. I was baptized…and…confirmed the same day.
After receiving instructions…relative to my daily labors, I…received the Spirit of Gathering and was never satisfied until I came to Utah.
I was instructed…to live a righteous life and to never neglect my secret prayers, and if I was faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord I would receive the comfort which would be a guide and protector through life, and that I would know for myself that the Gospel was true. Believing that I had received the above instructions from a servant of the Lord, I resolved to try and live them.
An Answer
I was living at the time with a man who did not believe in any religious denomination. So in order to be faithful in attending to my secret prayers, I prayed just as I attended to my chores night and morning. After striving diligently to live a pure life before the Lord, one beautiful morning about sunrise I was returning to the house from my usual place of prayer when I heard a peculiar noise in the air above my head. I looked up to learn what it was and as I did so I was filled with the most wonderful feeling that I had ever experienced. It fell upon my head and went through my whole being; apparently, all my body and I felt as though I was lifted from the earth.
This all happened so suddenly and was over so soon that I will not attempt to describe the joy and satisfaction it brought to me. I received at this time a living testimony of the Gospel… and then the promise [I was given] was realized, If any person will test the Lord with an honest heart, they will surely receive an abundant testimony of the goodness of the Lord to his children.”
Faithfulness
This faithful family endured much heartache, yet remained faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
John and Enoch’s temple work was later completed in the Salt Lake Temple.
The truths of the Gospel were passed on by Joseph to his son (my great grandfather), who taught them to his daughter (my grandmother), who taught them to her son (my father), who taught them to me.
This unfailing legacy of faithfulness is one that I am passing on to my children.
To live a pure life before the Lord and receive of his goodness.
To live honorable lives and sacrifice to defend one’s freedoms.
These are lessons learned from my ancestors John, Enoch, Calvin, and their families.
The focus of their lives was Jesus Christ.
Their legacy will endure forever.
Positive Results
What are the results of becoming focused? Charles Swindoll believes that “when Christ becomes our central focus, contentment replaces our anxiety as well as our fears and insecurities.”
Steve Jobs sums up the positive results this way: “Focus and simplicity…once you get there, you can move mountains.”
My ancestors moved figurative mountains by focusing on building the kingdom of God.
Leisure: The Basis of Culture
Discover the connection between leisure and worship in this fascinating and classic work by author Josef Piper.
Conclusion
“You all seem so focused. That’s the most striking thing about you.”
My friend’s comment replays in my mind, and I find myself wondering,
“Am I among those who are focused?
Consider with me the following questions:
Am I ready to move mountains?
Have I set myself on a mission?
Am I focused?
Am I adapting to the prevailing level of spiritual light in my life and able to see clearly?
Are my eyes set on the Savior?
Is He my focus?
Author Notes
What was the focus of your ancestors? What was their mission, their legacy? Learn more here.
