Go Deep

Go Deep

President Quinn’s Weekly Message

California Santa Rosa Mission

July 3rd, 2033

Thank you for the warm welcome you gave Sister Quinn and I during the mission tour last week.  We are grateful for the cupcakes, cookies, balloons, streamers, cards, letters, painted Book of Mormon, and warm smiles that have greeted us in each zone.  You have made us feel loved and welcomed.  We will work hard to earn your trust, confidence, and love.  We love you!

In our meetings this week, we have shared with you President Nelson’s invitation that we work to help each of you become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.  Over the next few weeks, the weekly messages I share with you will address the topic of discipleship.  I will share things you can consider doing to deepen your personal discipleship.

The following account in Luke 5:3-6 can teach us much about deepening our discipleship to Jesus Christ:

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Simon (later know as Peter) was a fisherman by profession.  This was Peter’s first time meeting the Savior.  As we read in these verses, Peter and his fellow fishermen had spent the evening fishing with no success.  It is not surprising Peter would be skeptical of the invitation from this stranger, a teacher, to “launch into the deep”.  What did this teacher know about fishing?  What qualified this teacher to give instruction to him – an expert fisherman? 

Eventually, Peter followed the Savior’s command and went into deeper waters with Him.  By submitting to the Savior’s will and “going deep” with Him, Peter was blessed to catch a quantity of fish greater than he could ever imagine.  In fact, the catch was so great that it overwhelmed Peter’s nets.  Other boats were called to assist in gathering in the bounteous catch. 

This bounty was given because Peter was obedient in following the instruction of the Savior to “launch out into the deep” with Him.  From this one experience, Peter recognized the blessings that could be his from obeying the Savior’s commands.  This experience forever changed Peter’s life.  He became a disciple of Jesus Christ from that moment on.

Like Peter, we can be blessed by seeking ways to “go deep” with the Savior.  Trusting His will for us and the timing of His promised blessings.  This deepening can occur in many ways.  We can pray more earnestly.  We can strive for greater obedience.  We can study the scriptures more sincerely.  We can look for opportunities to serve others with greater charity.  There are many many ways.  As we “go deep” in following the commandments of the Savior, like Peter, we will be blessed beyond our highest expectations.  The Lord will reward our obedience with bounteous and rich blessings.  Our discipleship to Him will deepen as we see and acknowledge His hand in the blessings of our life.

I invite each of you to consider ways you can deepen your discipleship.  I invite you to pick one thing you will focus on for the next month – one thing where you will “go deep” as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Please share with me in your weekly letter what you have chosen to do.  I look forward to discussing what you are focusing on in our interviews this month. I testify that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that we are blessed when we exercise Christlike obedience in our lives and as we seek to strengthen our discipleship to Jesus Christ.  I know spiritual strength and perspective are available to us as we “go deep” with the Savior through obedience and service.  Over my life, the Lord has blessed me beyond my highest expectations in the deep waters of His gospel and my discipleship to Him.  I am grateful for His goodness to me.

I pray the Lord will watch over and bless each of you in His service.  I am grateful for the privilege of serving with you.  Please let me know if there is anything Sister Quinn and I can do for you.

Love,

President Quinn

(707) 758-6380