“Father Adam, Enoch, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all those old patriarchs and prophets were obliged to have communion with God. They were under the necessity of seeking unto the Lord, for unless they had this communion they were not qualified to do their duty. They were dependent upon the Lord for revelation, for light, and for instruction to have power to carry out the commandments of God. This union that the Lord required of the ancient patriarchs and prophets, and which Jesus required of His Apostles, was required of Joseph Smith and his brethren. It has been required of all Saints of God from the foundation of the world till today.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, Chapter 23: “Of One Heart and Mind”)
As a consequence of recognizing their insignificance, those who believe in Christ will come unto Him with a spirit of repentance, seeking forgiveness of their sins. This is what it means to have a broken heart. It is not enough to soften a heart hardened by rebellion and transgressions, but rather one must also seek the Lord with all the energy of one’s soul in order to ask Him for a renewed heart, forgiveness of sins, and the mercy which comes from the atoning blood of Christ.
President Brigham Young taught our “first and foremost duty [is] to seek the Lord until we open the path of communication from God to our own soul.” (July 2002 Liahona, Being Teachable, Robert R. Steuer).
After Moses prophesied that the Israelites would again worship other gods and would be scattered (Deuteronomy 4:25–28), he also pronounced words of hope in Deuteronomy 4:29-31:
” But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;(for the Lord thy God is a merciful God;)
He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
What marvelous words: we shall find Him, He shall not forsake us, He shall not destroy us, and He will not forget the covenants that He made with our fathers.
In Isaiah 49:14–16, we read:
”But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”
How can we seek the Lord with all our heart and with all our might, and with all our strength?
*We must constantly seek the Lord in our personal and family prayers, and also with our fasts. (3 Nephi 27:28-29) and (3 Nephi 18:21)
*Let us seek Him through studying the scriptures (John 5:39)
*Seek the Lord humbly, as it says in D&C 112:10 “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” He will guide us to know what specific things we should do.
*We should also seek Him in our homes, putting them in order and removing from them those things which are not right (D&C 93:43).
*Let us seek the Lord in order to establish His justice (See D&C 1:16).
Let us place in sight the picture of Jesus at the door. Let us sing or repeat the words to the song, “Seek the Lord Early” (Children’s Songbook, p.108).
When I partake of the sacrament with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and when I attend the temple and there perform sacred ordinances for those who have gone through the veil, these are the two most wonderful experiences that I have in seeking the Savior, and in doing so, I am filled with a feeling of joy and peace that He promises to those who seek Him.
Let us seek Him. Let us go to Him. Let us leave behind all that which keeps us from seeking Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.
Therefore: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).