The benefits of facing God
Recall that one of the meanings of “face” is to adopt a direction of travel or progression. To face God consists of more than just turning toward him, but actively moving toward him in the same direction he is traveling.1 To seek the Lord’s face is not about obtaining an outcome, but about following a process.2 The process of facing the Lord consists of adopting everything you know about him as he continues to teach you more about himself.3
You draw nearer to the Lord by becoming more like him. As you become more like him, you encounter more of everything that is good,4 including new or better information about how he is, enabling you to grow still more like him.5
Everything of worth is found in the path toward God.6 The more like him you become, the more you will ask what he wills and the more you will receive what you ask.7 Greater and more enduring peace8 and joy9 are found in increasing intensity the nearer you draw toward him.
Footnotes
- 1. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:26) ↩
- 2. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:19-20) ↩
- 3. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. (Psalm 119:135) ↩
- 4. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Acts 2:28) ↩
- 5. And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof. (3 Nephi 19:25) ↩
- 6. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. (1 Chronicles 16:27) ↩
- 7. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. (John 16:23-28) ↩
- 8. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:26) ↩
- 9. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Acts 2:28) ↩