True Discipleship

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ,” General Conference April 2017- “Genuine
discipleship is a state of being. This suggests more than studying and applying a list of attributes.
Disciples live so that the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as into a
spiritual tapestry.”

Discipleship is founded upon faith. Faith in our Heavenly Father’s plan. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and
in his role as our Savior and Redeemer. Faith in the power of the atonement and the possibility of being
cleansed of sin through repentance and forgiveness. Faith and hope for peace and joy in this life and for
a better life in the world to come. Faith is empowering, through faith we have power to do all things for
Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-7-

5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Increasing faith leads to an increase in virtue, or spiritual strength and cleanliness. Virtue and faith lead
to an increase in knowledge, for we come to know Him as we follow Him. Knowledge of the Savior and
His gospel path leads us to temperance- we temper our passions and desires in virtue and knowledge of
righteousness. As our own spirituality increases in this way be learn to be patient- patient with others
and with ourselves. This threads of spiritual strengths when woven into our lives elevate use to become
more god-like as we strive be like Him. Godliness leads to brotherly kindness and the greatest of all,
charity.

What is true brotherly kindness and charity (Moroni 7:40-47)? The savior taught about it in Luke 10.

Luke 10:25-29-

25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall
I do to inherit eternal life?

1
 26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as
thyself.

28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Christ then gives the parable of the good Samaritan. Through our Old Testament studies this year we
learned that Samaritans and Jews did not get along well. Samaritans were Jews that were left behind
when the Northern Kingdom was destroyed, they married locals, outside the covenant, as it were, and
then mixed their true religion with paganism and idol worship. When the Jews returned the Samaritans
asked to help build the temple, but they were denied because they were unworthy. Both a priest and a
Levite pass by the injured man; a holder of the priesthood and a temple worker passed by on the other
side, turning away from him. It was the Samaritan who helped. He ministered to him and treated him as
a brother and a neighbor, going so far as to ensure his further care as he journeyed away.

What can we learn of ministering from this story? Can we see brotherly kindness in action? Charity at
work? True discipleship coming to the forefront?

Through ministering the Lord has given us a higher and holier way of practicing our faith and
strengthening our discipleship.

Our responsibilities for ministering at home and in the Ward include:

1. Help them strengthen their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
2. Help them prepare to make and keep sacred covenants with God as they receive ordinances.
Help parents prepare their children to receive ordinances and keep covenants.
3. Discern needs and provide Christlike love, caring, and service. Offer help and comfort in times of
spiritual or temporal need. Discuss needs during ministering interviews and at other times.
4. Help them become spiritually and temporally self-reliant.

We cannot expect to develop true discipleship by simply showing up at church every week, though that
is certainly an integral part of it.

Elder David A. Bednar, “Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Liahona, May 2019- “We should not
expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become

2
devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end. Rather, our personal responsibility is to learn what we
should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become who the Master would have us become.
And our homes are the ultimate setting for learning, living, and becoming.”

So, what it is we are to do? What does our discipleship teach us our responsibility is? It can seem
overwhelming, but we can start small, for by small and simple means, great things come to pass.

In a recent training the Utah Area presidency shared their vision for us as saints: “Help individuals and
families place their savior and sacred covenants at the center of their lives and joyfully live the gospel of
Jesus Christ”

Elder Hugo E. Martinez, Utah Area Presidency:

Personal Discipleship- Enjoy meaningful daily prayer, home-centered gospel study, and home evenings.

To develop our homes as centers of gospel learning:

1. Study and teach principles from Come Follow me daily

a. Some years ago we switched from three hours of church to two, with the goal being to
increase study and worship in the home- have we done this?
2. Book of Mormon daily
3. Weekly Family Home Evening- prepared, effective, and spiritual
a. Weekly, not weakly- there is not set pattern or method.
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy
5. Encourage giving daily personal service at home, church, and in the community
6. Follow the prophet

These principles can seem like a lot, how can we do it all? It does not matter how good we are, we have
the promise that if we start we will be blessed. The spirit can enlighten our minds and open our hearts.
We will learn how to do it better, but we have to begin.

Children develop slowly- first they hold up their heads, then torsos, soon enough they are rolling, then
crawling, walking, and running. We must develop our spirit similarly- there is much to do. I can’t expect
my 6 year old to give a 20 minute talk on being a true disciple today, but eventually she will get there.

Examples of where to begin… daily Book of Mormon, prayer, etc.

We are given great promises, but we have to be willing to receive them. We have to open our hearts
and homes to the Holy Spirit of promise.

3
President Russel M. Nelson, “Becoming Exemplary Latter-Day Saints,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 113- “I
promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over timer
your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s
teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in
your family will be dramatic and sustaining.”

President Russel M. Nelson, to the Saints of Alberta and British Colombia, Canada, October 16, 2022-
“We have the potential of inheriting all the Father has. The gift of eternal life is well worth the price of
devoting our mortal lives to following Jesus Christ.”

Six Steps to True Discipleship

1. Increase your capacity to receive revelation

a. Heavenly Father wants to communicate to us, the heavens are open, if we just list
2. Fill your life with truth
a. Scriptures study, Sunday worship, studying conference talks, etc.
3. Refuse to let opposition to truth weaken you testimony
a. The world calls evil good and good evil, but the truth of the gospel is never changing, let
us stand strongly in truth
4. Serve and worship in the temples as much as you can
a. Visit the Lord’s house to truly learn of Him
5. Realize just how vital you are to the gathering of Israel
a. Each of us has a role to play, are we fully engaged?
6. Expect joy
a. Living the gospel brings us happiness. With the Lord on our side we can find joy and
happiness no matter the situation.