They Who Did Hear Him

They Who Did Hear Him

"While anguishing over the wickedness and lack of faith among so many in his home area, the Savior voiced his prayer of gratitude for the humble and plain people who did hear his teachings and did believe. These lowly learners needed him, and they needed his message. They demonstrated that the humble, the needy, and the sorrowing would hear the word of God and cherish it. With reassurance to these new believers and concern for those not choosing to follow him, Christ issued a profound invitation in what Elder James E. Talmage has appropriately called 'one of the grandest outpourings of spiritual emotion known to man.' (Jesus the Christ, 3d ed., Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1916, p. 258.) These are the words of the Master used in making this appeal:

" 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. " 'Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. " 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' (Matt. 11:28-30.)"

(Howard W. Hunter, "Come unto Me," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 17)