For the second time in as many months at the start of 2020—the year marking the bicentennial of the First Vision—President Russell M. Nelson has extended a special invitation to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On January 1, he invited Church members to share the gospel with others. And on Wednesday, February 26, his message across several social-media and digital platforms again tied to the First Vision, of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appearing to the young Joseph Smith.
President Nelson continued, “I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?” said President Nelson, with the hashtagged phrase #HearHim included.
Hear the Voice of Jesus Christ
“There are few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to ‘Hear Him!’” began President Nelson in introducing his invitation. “Today, this most-important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us.”
In a longer message on churchofjesuschrist.org/blog, President Nelson included additional invitations: “I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often. Throughout this year we will focus in a special way on the historic event that took place in the Sacred Grove. I invite you to be proactive and look for opportunities to share your feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ with our family and friends, including inviting your friends to join you in worshiping Him on Easter Sunday.”
President Nelson concluded his message with a blessing. “Now, as one of the Lord’s special witnesses, I bless you in your efforts to get on and stay on His covenant path, and strive with all your heart, might, mind, and soul to Hear Him!”
The most recent invitation and accompanying embedded video was published on a variety of sites:
see President Nelson’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts as well as on YouTube and churchofjesuschrist.org/blog.
Read President Nelson’s Entire Second Invitation:
“In the scriptures, there are very few sacred instances in which the voice of God the Father has been heard. So, when He says something, we really need to listen. Repeatedly, He has personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to ‘Hear Him!’
“Have you ever stopped to ask, ‘Why?’ Why is our Heavenly Father so insistent—and consistent—in His plea that we should hear His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ?
“Jesus answered this question Himself. He said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’
“Our Father loves us and yearns for each one of us to choose to return to His holy presence. He pleads with us to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer.
“In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him? I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often. Throughout this year, we will focus in a special way on the historic event that took place in the Sacred Grove.
“I invite you to be proactive and look for opportunities to share your feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ with your family and friends, including inviting your friends to join you in worshiping Him on Easter Sunday.
“Now, as one of the Lord’s special witnesses, I bless you in your efforts to get on and stay on His covenant path, and strive with all your heart, might, mind and soul to Hear Him!”