Yesterday, in the midst of a quiet moment during the sacrament, new thoughts about Jesus Christ as the Way came to mind.
During the Last Supper, before His atoning suffering in Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples
I am the , the , and the life: no man unto the Father, but by me.
If ye had me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
My main takeaway from April 2026 General Conference is that Jesus Christ is the way! I heard that over and over and over again from speakers during conference. And so that phrase often flits in and out of my mind.
To Keep the Way of the Tree of Life
I don’t even remember how or why my thoughts connected with Genesis 3:24, but all of a sudden, “cherubims and a flaming sword to guard the tree of life” came to mind. Some words felt a bit off in my memory, so I found the verse and read it.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden , and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the .
The way of the tree of life.
From the Way toward the Garden of Eden
Then another verse came to mind. Moses 5:4.
And Adam and Eve, his wife, the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of , speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his .
Immediately, I connected the way in these verses to Jesus Christ is the Way from general conference.
The Way דֶּרֶךְ (derek)
I looked up the Hebrew word for the way in Genesis 3:24 on BibleHub, and found this interesting summary of the word’s meanings.
דֶּרֶךְ (derek) spans the concrete and the abstract. In its plain sense it denotes a road, highway, track, or journey, but the word quickly widens to express a course of action, a habitual pattern, moral choice, or even the providential direction of God Himself. From Genesis to Malachi, the term carries the reader along literal caravan routes, through moral decision-points, and into prophetic visions of the “way of the LORD.” . . .
דֶּרֶךְ encapsulates movement, decision, and destiny. Whether mapping patriarchal caravans, teaching covenant ethics, or heralding messianic salvation, the term calls every reader to discern and walk the Lord’s way—“for the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and protecting the way of His faithful ones” (Proverbs 2:6-8).
I am the Way
I loved those touchpoint concepts that דֶּרֶךְ (derek) gave, and I kept collapsing all of them down to Jesus Christ. Inserting Him into those verses revolutionized my visualizations of the verses. (I’m visual and see the stories as I read or hear them.)
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden , and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep [the way-Jesus Christ] of the .
And Adam and Eve, his wife, the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from [the way-Jesus Christ] toward the Garden of , speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his .
Jesus taught I am the , the , and the life: no man unto the Father, but by me.
It makes sense that if the tree of life represents eternal life/Heavenly Parents who bestow everlasting life, that Jesus Christ would be the way to the tree of life and toward Eden.
Jesus Christ, the Lord of creation and salvation, is central to the Father’s plan to bring to pass our immortality and eternal lives and is the Way in every sense of the word.
April 2026 General Conference
Nearly every talk in the April 2026 General Conference referenced Jesus Christ as the way. Half of the talks explicitly referenced that role. I’ve copied and pasted meaningful passages (to me) from those talks below. Conference fully testified to this eternal role of God’s Beloved Son, and I’m excited for further thoughts and greater understanding of how Jesus Christ is the way in every facet of life and doctrine.
President Dallin H. Oaks
Truly, Jesus Christ is the way to peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. He knows and loves each of us perfectly and invites us to walk with Him, abide in Him, and follow His example of ministering to others one by one in charity and love. . . .
The Lord has promised, “Unto him that receiveth I will give more.” As we treasure up and act upon the teachings of this conference, the Lord will continue to teach and inspire us with personal revelation and guidance.
I promise this to each of us as we follow the directions of the servants of the Lord and “look to God and live.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
We can walk in “the way” of Christ and “serve God with all diligence day and night.” . . .
That encounter at the tomb will do the same for all who earnestly seek Him. It will make a difference to you.
My dear friends, let us walk in His way as joyful and constant disciples of our beloved Savior, the Risen One, is my prayer and my blessing in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder David A. Bednar
The prospect of being blessed in mortality with even a small portion of the character and attributes of Jesus may seem utterly impossible to us. But the Redeemer “marked the path and led the way.” The power of His doctrine, covenants and ordinances, and example can bless us in every aspect of our lives.
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Our emphasis at Easter encompasses the eternity-shaping events that occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the cross at Calvary, and in the Garden Tomb where Jesus Christ was resurrected.
It is my witness that His Atonement accomplished His Father’s plan of salvation and provides the way for everyone who has ever lived to be free of death unconditionally and free of sin on condition of repentance. Therefore, the seminal doctrines of the Resurrection and the Atonement have been accomplished by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Elder Dale G. Renlund
Because of the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ, we can return home to our Heavenly Father and live in His presence. This is only possible through Jesus Christ. The Savior Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus, who leads us to salvation, has the power to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves because He completed His Atonement.
Elder Garrett W. Gong
Jesus Christ walking with His disciples on the road to Emmaus reveals a covenant pattern. Sometimes on our dusty roads to Emmaus, we feel alone, misunderstood, burdened, unseen. But as He “talk[s] with us by the way,” His words in scripture can cause our hearts to burn. . . .
Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus ask Jesus to abide with them, Jesus Christ promises to abide with us. In the Gospel of John, chapters 14 and 15, Jesus teaches His disciples and us how He can remain, belong, walk with us. His faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
When we have a question, problem, or joy, Jesus Christ says, “I am your answer—your way, your truth, your life.”
Elder Ulisses Soares
My beloved brothers and sisters, true wisdom in our technological day is found in using modern tools with spiritual discernment—through the Holy Ghost—without allowing them to replace the rightful voice of the True Vine. Only our Redeemer can truly redeem us. He is the way, the truth, and the life of the world. “His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.” In his first message to the world as our prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks declared with clarity and conviction: “Jesus Christ is the way. … ‘There shall be no other name given, nor any other way nor means, whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent’ (Mosiah 3:17).”
Elder Brian J. Holmes
Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ “has done everything that is essential for our journey through mortality toward the destiny outlined in the plan of our Heavenly Father.” Because He lived a perfect life, because He bore every sin and every sorrow, because He broke the bands of death, Jesus Christ alone can stand before the world and declare, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
In that simple declaration, the Savior taught that He is not only our guide; He is the path. His way is the only path that leads to eternal life.
Elder Edward B. Rowe
May we all accept Christ’s invitation to be our guide and walk with Him. And when we struggle or stray, let us return unto Him that He may heal us—that He may heal you. As President Dallin H. Oaks declared, “Jesus Christ is the way!” He lives! He is our Savior and Redeemer, the resurrected Christ, whom I love.
Elder Michael John U. Teh
I am grateful for teachings received over the years that have helped me better follow the Savior. For my purpose today, I simply would like to focus on one. As the Primary song goes, “Follow the prophet; he knows the way.”
In October 2024, President Dallin H. Oaks gave the following counsel: “Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places. His teachings and His example define the path for every disciple of Jesus Christ. And all are invited to this path.”
Elder Wan-Liang Wu
How can we come to know the only true God and obtain eternal life? The Savior responds, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The only way we can come to know our Heavenly Father and gain eternal life is by coming unto Christ and following Him. Coming unto Christ is much more than just learning of Christ. It includes faith and works; it means to be converted to Him and to His restored gospel. As we do so, we “will have greater happiness, hope, peace, and purpose” in this life.
Elder Clement M. Matswagothata
“Getting out of a difficult situation” is more than a family name to me. It is a witness of an eternal reality: that through faith in Jesus Christ and by taking upon us His name through the covenants made at baptism, during the sacrament, and in His holy house, we gain access to His enabling power—power that can and will change our lives. I know that in His time and in His way, there is always a way forward. Because He not only knows the way; He is the way.
Elder Aaron T. Hall
As Nephi experienced trials and the joy of deliverance, the name of Jesus Christ became even more personal to him.
Nephi came to know that “there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.” The name of Jesus Christ was Nephi’s redemption, and he gloried in it.
Elder Eduardo F. Ortega
The path of discipleship often resembles climbing a mountain. The shortest path to the top is not always the most appropriate and often not the safest either. Thus, we must choose the firm and safe path, even if it is sometimes the longest and most demanding one. Jesus Christ and His restored gospel constitute that safe path that leads us to the true summit.
Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong
“O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.”
Jesus Christ stands at the very heart of God’s plan of salvation and exaltation. Every promise of redemption, every hope of resurrection, and every assurance of eternal life flows through Him. Without Jesus Christ, there is no salvation, no victory over sin and death, and no path back to our Heavenly Father. He is the very foundation of the whole plan of salvation and exaltation.
Sister Kristin M. Yee
Ministering is truly loving and caring for others as the Savior would. It is a way of being; it is the way of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I believe our Father in Heaven wants you to be happy. He loves you. His work, including ministering, is designed to bring you and me the greatest joy we can experience.
I testify that ministering not only “brings forth the blessings of heaven,” it is the way of heaven. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. As we emulate His sacrifice by loving and ministering as He would, we will be blessed to find our own joy, healing, and relief in Him. We will become even as He is.
Brother David J. Wonderli
To which our prophet responded, “Jesus Christ is the way.”
Let us allow the Savior to ease our burdens—allow Him to help remove the rocks of addiction and the weight of our sorrows. Let Him contend with those who would contend with us. Let Him cleanse us from our sins again and again and, yes, even again. Let Him move the mountains before us and change the course of the powerful rivers in our lives that carry us away from Him.
Jesus Christ is not the weight; He is our relief; He is our strength; He is the way. May we all walk with Him.
Jesus Christ Is My Way
Can I imagine Jesus beckoning sanctified disciples to the Tree of Life? Yes! Can I hear the voice of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, from the glories of heavenly Eden? Yes!
I’m so grateful for different ways to learn of Christ and rejoice in His merciful work! Jesus Christ is the way!
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