New Testament, Things to Think About

Friends Who Bring Us to Jesus

Posted by M. Taylor on

In a recent address to BYU students, Dallin H. Oaks shared:

“A . . . way to draw closer to our Savior is to associate with other believers. This includes discussions with trusted associates, local Church members, and other faithful friends.

“ . . . Seek friends and associates who are striving to follow the Lord—friends and associates with whom you can feel the Spirit and with whom you can reinforce your faith . . .

“Surround yourself with people who believe.”1

This obviously was not a call to isolate ourselves. After all, how can we truly love our neighbor if we avoid them?2 Rather, he was teaching that when life gets difficult, we need people in our circle who will take us to Jesus.

The Friends Who Would Not Turn Around

You may remember the story of the paralytic Jesus healed.

Jesus had returned to Capernaum and was teaching inside a house so crowded that no one could get in. There wasn’t even room near the door.

Then four men arrived carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat. They were determined to get him to Jesus so he could be healed. When the crowd made that impossible, they did not turn around and leave.

Instead, they climbed onto the roof, opened it up, and lowered their friend down right in front of the Savior.

Jesus saw their faith.

After responding to the scribes and Pharisees who questioned His authority to forgive sins, Jesus turned to the man and said, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (see Mark 2:1-12).

And just like that, the man stood up, picked up his mat, and walked out.

The people had never seen anything like it.

I want friends like that.

Christlike Friends

I love the hymn, Each Life That Touches Ours for Good:

Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior’s name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

The Kind of Friends I Want

Those are the kinds of friends I want.

Friends who will carry me.

Friends who will not be deterred by the crowd.

Friends who will tear away the roof.

Friends who will lower me into the room.

Friends who will bring me to Jesus.

Grounded and Reaching High

  • Main idea: Faith-filled friendships help carry us to Christ when we cannot make the journey alone.
  • Practical takeaway: Build relationships with people who strengthen your faith, invite the Spirit, and help you move closer to Jesus in daily life.
  • One question to ponder: Who in your life helps carry you to the Savior—and whose mat might you be called to help carry right now?

Lead image generated by ChatGPT

  1. Dallin H. Oaks, “Coming Closer to Jesus Christ“, BYU Devotional, February 2026.
  2. President Oaks has spoken often about loving our neighbor. The following is a list of some of his talks that address this topic:

P.S. Here is the Tabernacle Choir singing Each Life That Touches Ours for Good:

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