His Cross

After suffering unfathomable pain in Gethsemane, Jesus was interrogated through the night, delivered to the Roman governor, mocked and beaten, and finally sentenced to death by crucifixion. Two of the gospel writers tell us that He carried His own cross at least partway to place of execution, the hill Golgotha. (See Luke 23:26, John 19:17.)

He had earlier referenced the carrying of a cross as a metaphor for the commitment required to be His disciple. Speaking to the twelve apostles, He said:

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:37-38

Sometime later, He prophesied of His own death. When Peter objected, Jesus explained that what was required of Him is also, in a way, required of all of us:

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob deeply wished that “all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world” (Jacob 1:8).

What does it mean to carry His cross?

Elder Ulisses Soares gave the following answer:

Taking upon us our cross and following the Savior requires us to follow His example and strive to become like Him, patiently facing the circumstances of life, denying and despising the appetites of the natural man, and waiting on the Lord.

“Take Up Our Cross,” General Conference, October 2019

Today, I will follow the Savior’s admonition to take up my cross. I will remember that discipleship is not easy, that it requires sacrifice and dedication. I will recommit to submit my will to the will of God and to do what is right, even when it is hard.