Coming to Know Christ

by Robert L. Millet

One of the major purposes of mortality is to acquire knowledge, and the knowledge of how to come unto Christ, confess our sins, appeal to His mercy, and obtain a remission of our sins has profound eternal implications. Coming to Know Christ focuses on what it means to know our Savior not just know about him, but how to know Him. Brother Millet includes thoughtprovoking chapters about what it means to worship Christ and to trust in Him and in His grace, as well as chapters about how Christ loves us and how He can lift us up to where He is. In his warm, accessible style, with poignant stories and fresh scriptural and doctrinal insights, Brother Millet provides a deep appreciation for the truth of the Lord s And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Church, Spirituality, Inspirational

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2012

About the author

Robert L. Millet, professor of ancient scripture and former dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, holds a master s degree in psychology from BYU and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Florida State University. He is a popular speaker and prolific writer whose other books include Lost and Found: Reflections on the Prodigal Son; Grace Works; and More Holiness Give Me. He and his wife, Shauna, have six children and live in Provo, Utah.

Reviews

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS)]

I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars on this one. It was great for learning a lot more about the Savior. It just dragged a bit in parts for me but I got a lot out of it! :D

"In the words of scientist and theologian Alister McGrath, "while we can never hope to prove conclusively that the gospel is true, we can nevertheless trust totally in the reliability of God. So many people long for certainty and find themselves totally perplexed when they cannot prove the truth of the gospel to their friends, or even to themselves. Yet the gospel is not primarily about a set of ideas whose truth can be proved before the court of reason. The gospel is relational. It concerns a personal transforming encounter with the living God.""

"President Thomas S. Monson has encouraged us: "Let us, in the performance of our duty, follow in the footsteps of the Master. As you and I walk the pathway Jesus walked, let us listen for the sound of sandaled feet. Let us reach out for the Carpenter's hand. Then we shall come to know Him...He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings that they shall pass through in His fellowship; and they shall learn by their own experience who He is. We will discover He is more than the Babe in Bethlehem, more than the carpenter's son, more than the greatest teacher ever to live. We will come to know Him and the Son of God, our Savior and our Redeemer.""

"To choose Christ is to choose to be changed. Indeed, the glorious message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can be better than we are, that we can change. The quest to become more like our Lord and Savior-to be more spiritually attentive, more personally sensitive, more tender and gracious-ought to be the righteous focus of ever Latter-day Saint." -pg. 161

[Mitchell]

While this book is certainly addressed to all who would try and draw closer to Christ and fulfill the promise in John 17:3 that "this is life eternal, that they might know the the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent", it is definitely geared towards members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Much of this book is spent in consideration of various traditions and commonly-held thoughts amongst Mormons. Millet writes about these things and then suggests ways that we, as a people, could be doing better using personal stories, scriptures, and the words of the Brethren.

Personally, I found his assertion that Mormons don't do "awe" very well hit home. It made me re-evaluate how I approach my God and hopefully will lead me closer to him.

In all, this book was very nice, inspiring, and, frankly, not too long.

[Carol]

I found myself saying, ....YES!.... as I read this. It spoke the words I have felt myself many times.

[Heather]

This is a good book that reminds us of the important purpose of our lives - to come to know, really know Jesus Christ. We learn about Him, we trust Him, we follow Him, we worship Him, we love Him, we thank Him, we remember Him.

I think one of the most interesting chapters was chapter 14 - "I Never Knew You" - referring to the scripture in Matthew 7:21. It got me thinking about the importance of really becoming who we need to be - becoming like Christ, doing His will, having His Spirit with us always that we may be changed into new creatures who are like Him! I need to study and learn and live these things better in order to understand more, but I was grateful for the insights and reminders.

Here are a few more of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Do you love me more than your old business, your old way of life? If so, then let's get back to our business; we have work to do. If you truly love me above and beyond all else, feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. That scene, of course, is familiar to every Christian. We have heard scores of sermons and lessons on the importance of caring for others as a sign of our love for the Savior. But how often have we taken the time and exercised the mental and spiritual energy to turn the terrible question upon ourselves? 'Bob, do you love me more than these home furnishings, these stock portfolios, these elegant automobiles, these expensive toys? Do you love me more than position and prestige? Do you love me more than public esteem, social acclaim, or the flattery of prominent men and women? Are you more concerned with 'Christ esteem' than you are with self-esteem? Are you more wedded to my work and glory than you are to your company's mission statement? Do you know what my will is for you? Does my will really matter more to you than your will does (p. 3)?'"

"The restoration of the fulness of the gospel came as a remedy, an aid, an elixir for toxic times, a solution to many of the problems facing a world that did not enjoy apostolic and prophetic direction, a world in which there were certainly foundational Christian teachings and values and virtues but a world in which heaven-sent doctrine and covenants and ordinances needed desperately to be put back on track (p. 7)."

"God's plan of salvation, his great plan of happiness, began to be unfolded so that the Saints of the Most High might understand what things matter most in this life, what things are worthy of our reflection and even our reverence (p. 7)."

"We need God. We must have God in our lives if we are to survive. Our souls should seek after God's living word and his liberating love (p. 10)."

"The fundamental principles of our religion 'are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it (p. 16).'"

"There's a quiet but real confidence that comes to us by the power of the Holy Spirit when we align our will with God's (p. 21)."

"Jesus is the answer. He is the answer to all the serious questions through all the ages. Life has meaning because of him. Life has purpose because of him. We know who we are, Whose we are, why we are here, and where we are going because of him. He lives, he has spoken, he now speaks, and he will yet speak to those whose ears are attuned to the still, small voice. Because of him, no obstacle to peace and contentment here or to eternal life hereafter is too great to overcome (p. 31)."

"'The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, p. 47).'"

"How open are you to divine correction or suggestion? Are you bold enough to ask the Lord as the young lawyer did, 'What lack I yet?' Are you prepared to ask the question that the blinded Saul of Tarsus asked of the risen Lord: 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do (p. 49)?'"

"There is no question but that the Lord will also make known unto us our weaknesses, the specific areas in our life that are out of order and need immediate attention. Please remember that this is not the revelation of a harsh and vengeful god to his pitiful children but rather a kind and generous offering of an all-loving Being who wants more than anything for us to be all that we are intended to be (p. 51)."

"The Spirit in our life is God's sweet certification to us that we're on course, in covenant, and in line eventually to receive eternal life (p. 55)."

"The greatest evidence of our growth unto Christlikeness is the extent to which we are coming to appreciate and love people, the extent to which we are beginning to bear the fruit of the Spirit--'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' In other words, the way we treat other children of God is an unerring measure of how we're becoming more like God. We're no longer just talking the talk of the Latter-day Saint Christian; we're walking the walk (p. 91)."

"Above and beyond all that we are here to do, we are here to come to know God and Christ and become like them (p. 93)."

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about change. True worship of the true and living God results in change. Betterment. Improvement. More directly, it is about the transformation of the human soul by and through the redeeming mercy and atoning power of Jesus Christ. It is the miracle we know as spiritual rebirth, the manner in which we are made alive in Christ (p. 96)."

"In the long run, it will matter precious little what we know about science or history or anthropology or literature or art if we have not come to know, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the God we worship. That is the great purpose of mortality and thus the quest of a lifetime (p. 106)."

"'No matter how much we obey, no matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdome of God--no matter what we do (Elder M. Russell Ballard, p. 121).'"

"In our eagerness to prepare and do all that is asked of us, we must be careful that our personal expectations, though rigorous, are realistic. Zion of old became a society of the pure in heart 'in process of time,' and members of the Church become holy in similar fashion (p. 128)."

"It has been wisely said that the greatest commentary on scripture is scripture (p. 129)."

"I have come to trust Jesus Christ because I have come to know by sweet and painful experience that his timetable is far wiser than mine....I should be content with what I have been called or assigned to do (p. 137)."

"'No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God (Elder Orson F. Whitney, p. 140).'"

"As we seek for and cultivate the Spirit of God in our lives, that sacred influence gradually educates our desires, strengthens our consciences, buttresses our judgment, enhances our wisdom, refines our character, strengthens our hope in Christ, and transforms why we do what we do. Through this divine metamorphosis, we gain the mind of Christ (p. 157)."

"To choose Christ is to choose to be changed. Indeed, the glorious message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can be better than we are, that we can change (p. 161)."

[Kim Dennis]

Sometimes it's so hard to know how to rate a book, because I think my feelings about a book have more to do with my mood/current circumstances than the book itself. In parts of this book I found a lot of insight. Parts of it were more so-so, and there were a couple of times that while I know it wasn't Millet's intent, I found myself getting discouraged. Overall, it was good, just not quite what I was looking for.

[Jordan Quinn]

This book was good! It did outline some principles that can draw nearer to Christ. It also discussed habits and ideas that we should avoid. 4 stars because some sections seemed to be overkill and dragged on.

[Allison Dunlap]

Excellent in every way.

[Deseret Book]

"Throughout this book there are insightful tidbits of information that have strengthened my knowledge and testimony of Christ and his gospel." --Customer Review

[Greg]

While I was informed and inspired by Coming to Know Christ, I'll admit that others of Bro. Millet's books have had a greater impact on me. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a obtaining a deeper understanding of the Savior, and of our relationship with Him. It reads much like a collection of essays or expanded talks. Some of the topics that stood out to me included "If Jesus is the Answer, What's the Question?," "How Good Do I Have To Be," "Our Climb To Higher Ground," and "Trusting Christ." Some favorite quotes to remember:

1. "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."

2. "Almost always we speak of someone searching for the gospel and finding it. There are times, however, when the Lord does the searching, when he who has been called "the Hound of Heaven" pursues the wanderer, touches and softens his hardened heart, and leads him back to the fold."

3. (Quoting Elder Orson F. Whitney) "You parents of the wilful and the wayward! Don't give them up. Don't cast them off. They are not utterly lost. The Shepherd will find his sheep. They were his before they were yours -- long before he entrusted them to your care; and you cannot begin to love them as he loves them...Only the fulness of knowledge brings the fulness of accountability. Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can comprehend."

4. "...while what we do certainly matters to God...the real issue is, What are we becoming?"

5. "What is essential is that our labors in the workplace of the Lord have caused us to become something. For some of us, this requires a longer time than for others. What is important in the end is what we have become by our labors."

6. "The greatest evidence of our growth unto Christlikeness is the extent to which we are coming to appreciate and love people, the extent to which we are beginning to bear the fruit of the Spirit -- 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [poise under provocation], temperance [self-control]" (Galatians 5:22-23). In other words, the way we treat other children of God is an unerring measure of how we're becoming more like God."

7. "...he who is omniscient and omnipotent is hardly limited to one avenue or course of action in our lives; spiritual change or conversion may take many forms."

8. "God does not expect us to work ourselves into spiritual, emotional, or physical exhaustion, nor does he desire that we be truer than true. There is little virtue in excess."

9. "It has wisely been said that grace is God's acceptance of us, while faith is our acceptance of God's acceptance of us...Hope in Christ always flows from faith in Christ and represents anticipation, expectation, and assurance that through our acceptance of the terms and conditions of the gospel covenant, we will gain everlasting life, eternal life, God's life (Moroni 7:40-42)."

10. "Discipleship is always a result of spiritual conditioning. As President (David O.) McKay explained, 'Spirituality is the consciousness of victory over self, and of communion with the Infinite...In summary, we strive to deny ourselves of ungodliness. We yearn to have our walk and talk be like unto those of our Exemplar...And we seek for and obtain a nature, a disposition, that no longer finds worldliness attractive, that no longer takes its cues from a fickle society, that no longer feels comfortable in Babylon."

[Teresa]

As people progress in their relationship with Christ, I believe they go through many stages. The first may be seeing him as a kind elder brother. As a child I think it is easier to feel a close relationship with Heavenly Father, because of the trust children generally hold for their fathers. Then seeing Christ as an older brother in a familial relationship seems a natural sequence. Later as we come to need the Savior to help cross roads to repentance, we begin to understand him more fully as our Deliverer. Millet surmises, in chapter after chapter, the importance of knowing Christ for his true nature; as our God, and exemplar, and to understand that without Christ's grace all of us are lost. He explains that our good works are not earning us a spot in heaven, but rather are helping us to become more fit for Christ and His Kingdom. It is our heart that has to change and we have to submit our will to God's.

[Heather]

Millet does it again....How can he keep writing about the same topic (a personal relationship with Christ) and continue to open my mind and heart to new ideas. I've read several books that he's written regarding our relationship with Christ: Alive in Christ, More Holiness Give Me and Within Reach and I still jump at the chance to read anything he writes regarding this topic. For me, reading these types of books helps rekindle my desire to continually work on this precious relationship. Coming to Know Christ helped me further understand Grace, which I am grateful for because I think my younger understanding of Grace was incorrect. I like how Millet's writing gets me into the New Testament, especially the writings of Paul. I'm always amazed at how he can open up those scriptures to apply them more practically in my life. A great book, and one that I'm sure I'll read again.

[Jackie]

One of my favorite passages: Page 66- “The Father’s plan of salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is not, strictly speaking, a plan of fairness. It is a system of mercy, an extension of grace. “In order to untangle us from the web we had spun for ourselves,” Pastor Stanley taught: “[God] had to do something very unfair. He had to send his son to this earth to die for sins he didn’t commit. Is Christianity fair? It is certainly not fair to God. Christians believe that God sent his son to die for your sins and mine. Fairness would demand that we die for our own sins. But the good news is that God opted for grace and mercy over fairness. You know, the more I think about it, the more grateful I am for our Heavenly Father’s loving and tender choice, a choice that enables and empowers us to be who and what we could never, ever be on our own.”

[Verona]

Coming to Know Christ is what I want to do, and this book has helped me to do that. I learned two valuable lessons from Brother Millet: To live with God again I must come to know Christ, not just know about Him, but to KNOW HIM. To know Christ I need to emulate His life and live as He would, and as He would want me to live. I probably knew those two things already, but they were embedded in my mind as I read the pages of this wonderful book. I loved all the scriptures and quotes Brother Millet used to illustrate his thoughts. Every page made me want to love the Savior more and to be a better person. I will refer back to this book many times in the future to keep me coming closer to my Savior.

[Kris]

I enjoyed this book and found that there were insights into coming to know the Savior that I hadn't thought of before. I felt like the experiences the author shared clarified his points and made the doctrine he was discussing easier to understand. This book made me think of how I approach God and made me wonder if I go to him like he is some kind of genie just waiting to grant me my wish. I think it is good when a book makes you examine how you do things and this was one of those books. Millet offers suggestions on how we can come to know and become more like the Savior. It was a good read. Maybe I'll be more spiritually attentive, personally sensitive and more tender for having read this.

[Christi]

I really loved this book. Millet stays true to his main idea of coming to Christ, but definitely goes in-depth on it. I left feeling inspired and excited to grow closer to the Savior. It was solid and provides many "Action Items" (at least for me), and brought the Spirit without becoming superficial or touchy-feely.

re-read: Again, really liked it. Very personal to Millet, but not too touchy-feely. Went a lot faster this time, and maybe wasn't as meaty, but still a great read.

Re-read: Again, a good read. Faster each time, but still enough to enjoy it another time through.

[Chris]

Very well-written. A fairly small book, but concise chapters that are packed with very helpful and motivating thoughts. I want to become better as a result of reading this book. Particularly the chapters "The Object of our Worship" and "Striving and Steady" gave me much food for thought. I highly recommend it.

[Ashley]

This book was amazing. It was hard for me to pick up, but once I hit chapter 11, I couldn't put it down. Chapter 11 was seriously so amazing.. put the whole book into perspective for me. I can't wait to review more details on my blog!

[Sherrill]

This is the kind of book we have come to expect from Robert Millet. It takes one another step closer to really understanding Christ and the atonement.

[Rebecca]

Nothing new, but a nice refresh of valuable information. I like how Millet writes, he always keeps you engaged!

[Mrs Mossi]

I love and highly recommend anything Brother Millet writes.

[Mary]

Another great book by Robert Millet.

[Charles]

Inspirational and uplifting.

[Barry]

This is a great book! It reminds us what we should be doing each day of our live to become more Christlike.