Welcome.

I’m presently emailing several youngsters serving as full time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a weekly basis. Their emails are a delight to receive. One female missionary in particular is absolutely beyond her years in spiritual maturity. Her insights are exceptional, her faith undiluted, and her head to sole commitment commendable.

In a recent email, she referenced these words by Mormon: “And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus.” (See Mormon 1:15, Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ).
And then she gave this invitation: “Please make time in your day today to know of the goodness of Jesus.”

“The goodness of Jesus.”

What a delightful phrase.

And to taste of it.

An even better reality.

I was happy to ponder the word “taste” in Mormon’s pronouncement. Perhaps it meant something a bit different in his day, or perhaps that ended up being the best translation. Even so, I think the sundry meanings of that singular word in our day can still be incredibly instructive. Having various definitions, the word taste can range from meaning the following: the sense, the quality, a sensation, a small amount, and even an attitude. (See Google: online definition of taste)

Take the sense of taste. We put something in our mouths, give it some chews, roll is around, swallow it, and deem it satisfactory or not. Because of the chemical reaction that takes place, we generally and most commonly (a couple exceptions aside) identify something as “sweet, sour, bitter, or salty.” It is incredible at the very youthful age of 15, Mormon had already “tasted” of the “goodness of Jesus” and knew Him to be “sweet.”

Have you “tasted” Jesus? Gotten so close that you savored and then devoured, as it were, the goodness and realness of Him? We have that incredible privilege each week with a sacred and sweet communion. Intimate moments of powerful connectivity and tasting!

As or after we taste something, we label it. “Boy that was bitter!” or “Too sweet for me,” or “Now I need some water; that was so salty.” We qualify what we experienced. We name it because of the predominate characteristic(s) we experienced as we tasted it. We give the eatable material a quality rating.

How would you rate Jesus? What quality rating would you cast upon Him because of your experiences with Him?
Tasting produces a sensation. This is something that comes on the heels of the experience. What feeling, what prevailing thought lingers when the “taste” is over? What gets left behind in your mouth? Want more or did you have enough?

For all who have “tasted and [known] of the goodness of Jesus,” it can be an almost spell-bound experience. His magic can feel electrifying, His grace charming, and His love overflowing.

What sensation has been left behind when you’ve encountered Jesus and His grace and love?

Jesus is so incredibly powerful in so many incredible ways. That’s why just getting even small doses of Jesus can be so miraculously healing, helping, and rewarding.

Do you remember your first “taste of the goodness of Jesus”? Even in the beginning in small amounts, what did it do for you? How has it changed you?

And finally, the attitude of tasting Jesus. In my experience, my taste for Jesus has totally elevated my life and my living. He is worth finding. He is worth knowing. He is worth following.

As we cultivate a taste for Jesus, He does His mighty work in and through us.

Mormon’s youthful example is powerful for us. We, too, can know and “taste of the goodness of Jesus.” That tasting can lead to such a sweet and meaningful relationship throughout all our mortal days, a sensation that fulfills, and an attitude that keeps us coming back to the One who can rescue, reedeem, and save us.

That sister missionary is so very wise: “Please make time in your day today to know of the goodness of Jesus.”

Unto all the world: He tastes the best!!!!!