I’m Nathan, and I start my mission tomorrow. I’ve been called to the Spain Madrid North Mission, and I’m honestly so excited to get going.
For the last eight months, I’ve been at BYU in Provo, and my first year was really awesome. Today I wanted to talk a little bit about the importance of having good friends, being a good friend, and how having Christ as our example helps us do that.
College is super fun, but it’s also… super hard. So let me paint a picture so you know what I mean. There were a few times during the semester when my classes felt like they were taking over my life. I wasn’t getting the grades I wanted. Rent and tuition kept draining my bank account. My scripture study wasn’t where I wanted it to be. And eventually I’d just end up pacing around my room and then wandering into the kitchen like, “Okay, maybe food can solve my problems.”
But then I’d remember—my mom is like two states away, and I definitely didn’t learn how to cook the way I thought I would before I moved out. So I’d end up eating something random and calling it good.
And honestly, that happened a lot. Anyone who’s lived away from home knows exactly what I’m talking about. I share this because those moments were the times I felt the most alone. I missed my family, I didn’t feel like I was progressing, and life just felt kind of heavy.
But those moments are also when I realized how important something was that I had totally taken for granted: good friends. Through all the hard times, I learned that good friends don’t just make life fun or help you stay on the covenant path—they lift you. They bring light into dark moments.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton gave a talk called “What Is a Friend?” He said, “A friend is more than someone who is willing to take you the way you are.” He also said we’re “something less than a friend if we leave a person the same way we found them.”
I love that. I’m so grateful for friends who constantly help me become better.
Now I want to talk about the perfect friend—someone patient, charitable, humble, diligent… someone who improves me every day. That perfect friend is our Savior, Jesus Christ.
That’s why I love reading the New Testament. It’s all about Him. In John 15, Christ tells His disciples, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you… I have called you friends.”
I just think it’s so cool that Christ says that. He’s not just our Savior—He calls us His friends.
One thing Christ showed a ton of was patience. At the BYU devotional, we were challenged to choose one Christlike attribute to work on, and I chose patience, because… I’m not the most patient person.
Alma teaches about patience with the word—how if we nourish it, even slowly, it becomes something sweet and precious. I love that image of just quietly, consistently taking care of something until it grows.
I’ve also learned a lot about Christ’s patience through The Chosen. I feel the Spirit every time I watch it. One thing that sticks out to me is how patient Christ is with Simon Peter. Peter always has good intentions, but he needs like… five reminders. And honestly, I get frustrated with Peter, even though I’m just watching a show. But then I realize—I’m exactly like him. I need reminders too. It takes me a while to follow counsel from prophets and scriptures.
President Monson said something that helps me a lot with patience:
“Life is full of difficulties… Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions… forgetting that frequently, the heavenly virtue of patience is required.”
Patience really is key to being a good friend.
Another Christlike attribute is charity. Webster defines charity as generosity and helpfulness toward those in need. One of my favorite parables is the Good Samaritan because it shows Christ’s perfect charity so clearly. The Samaritan didn’t just help a stranger—he went totally out of his way to take care of him.
We’re all kind of like the man who was left half-dead. And Christ is like the Good Samaritan—coming to where we are, having compassion, binding up our wounds, and paying the price for us.
I also love the way Christ asks, “Which of these was a neighbor?” and then tells us to go and do likewise.
My sister Alysee is actually a great example of this. One week in college, after I had bombed a test and wasn’t feeling great, she offered to just talk with me and take me grocery shopping. It was simple, but it meant so much. I don’t have a car, and honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve eaten that week without her. She showed real charity, and I’m grateful for her.
I’m also grateful for friends who set the example for me by going on missions. I can’t wait to learn more about the gospel and to serve the people in Spain.
I’d like to bear my testimony. I’m grateful for the gospel and for the peace it brings into my life. I’ve seen how it makes everything better. I’m grateful for our Savior—our Brother and our best friend—who gave His life for us. I’m grateful for the chance I have now to serve a mission. I hope I can be a good friend to the people in Spain, the way Christ is a good friend to all of us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
, as I can't swim for dos anos. Getting set apart was really awesome, my dad and brothers all were in the circle. I'm so grateful for the priesthood and the comfort and peace it can bring. I was pretty nervous to start my full-time mission but once I was set apart I felt prepared instead of nervous. Kind of like a cross-country meet, before the race starts I get super nervous but once the gun goes off and you start the race there's nothing you can do except start running as fast as you can! So that's kinda what I'm doing if that makes any sense.
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