Elder Joaquin E. Costa
Elder Joaquin E. Costa emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus Christ in our daily lives. He shares stories of individuals who have found strength and miracles through their faith and teaches that intentionally coming unto Christ each day can transform our lives.
The Source of Strength: Faith in Jesus Christ
Elder Costa highlights that the source of strength in facing life’s challenges is faith in Jesus Christ. He states, “What gives them the power to go through hard things? What gives an extra layer of strength to go on when everything seems lost? I have found that the source of that strength is faith in Jesus Christ as we intentionally seek to come unto Him each and every day.”
“We don’t come to Jesus because we are perfect. We come to Him because we are flawed and in Him we can ‘be perfected.’”
Scriptural references for further study:
- 2 Nephi 9:21: “And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.”
- Moroni 10:32: “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and 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; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.”
Beginning the Day with Faith
Elder Costa shares his personal practice of starting the day with prayer and scripture study. He emphasizes the importance of these daily habits in helping us “remember Him” throughout the day and find the energy to face challenges with Christlike qualities.
“When I ‘remember Him,’ I feel a desire to change, to repent. I find the source of energy to keep my covenants, and I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life ‘and keep his commandments which he has given [me]; that [I] may always have his Spirit.’”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Alma 34:17-18: “Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.”
- Mosiah 3:19: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.”
Covenants: Not Transactional but Transformational
Elder Costa explains that covenants with God are not mere transactions but transformative experiences. Keeping our covenants brings the sanctifying and strengthening power of Jesus Christ, enabling us to become better, more Christlike individuals.
“Intentionally remembering Jesus Christ always is powerful; it gives me added strength to ‘keep his commandments which he has given [me].’ It helps me to be nicer, to smile for no reason, to be a peacemaker, to avoid conflict, to let God prevail in my life.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Doctrine and Covenants 84:20-21: “Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh.”
- Doctrine and Covenants 88:33: “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”
Faith to Withstand the Storms
Elder Costa draws from the New Testament story of Jesus calming the storm to illustrate that faith in Jesus Christ is the source of peace and strength in the midst of life’s trials. Trusting in Him can lighten burdens and provide comfort.
“Faith in Jesus Christ is the feeling of peace to withstand the storm, knowing that we will not perish because He is in the ship with us.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Mark 4:37-40: “And he was … asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? … And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
- Helaman 5:12: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
Calls to Action:
- “I have found that the source of that strength is faith in Jesus Christ as we intentionally seek to come unto Him each and every day.”
- “When I ‘remember Him,’ I feel a desire to change, to repent. I find the source of energy to keep my covenants, and I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life ‘and keep his commandments which he has given [me]; that [I] may always have his Spirit.’”
- “Intentionally remembering Jesus Christ always is powerful; it gives me added strength to ‘keep his commandments which he has given [me].’”