True discipleship: Price worth paying
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In his Saturday morning conference address, President James E. Faust posed a question: What is discipleship?
Discipleship, he answered, is primarily obedience to the Savior.
"Discipleship includes many things," said President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency. "It is chastity. It is tithing. It is family home evening. It is keeping the commandments. It is forsaking anything that is not good for us. Everything in life has a price. Considering the Savior's great promise for peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come, discipleship is a price worth paying. It is a price we cannot afford not to pay. By measure, the requirements of discipleship are much, much less than the promised blessings."
Christ's disciples receive the call to carry the cross daily, he said.
"To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth," President Faust explained. "It also means self-mastery."
Echoing the words of the Primary song "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus," the Church leader spoke of things Christ did that His disciples can emulate.
1. Jesus "went about doing good."
"We can all do something good every day — for a family member, a friend, or even a stranger — if we look for those opportunities."
2. Jesus was the Good Shepherd, who watched over His sheep and had concern for those who were lost.
"We can seek out the lonely or those who are less-active and befriend them."
3. Jesus had compassion on many, including a poor leper. "We too can have compassion. We are reminded in the Book of Mormon that we are to 'mourn with those that mourn."'
4. Jesus bore witness of His divine mission and of His Father's great work. "For our part, we can all 'stand as witnesses of God at all times."'
5. Jesus invited the little children to come unto Him. "Our children need our attention and love, as well as our care."
President Faust said true followers of the Savior should be prepared to lay down their lives. He shared the story of Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales, two faithful members in the Church's early days in Mexico who were executed after refusing to forsake their religion.
Other disciples, such as Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, offered their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church's first bishop, Edward Partridge, endured physical assaults in defense of the faith. President Faust noted that Joseph Smith said that Bishop Partridge "lost his life in consequence of the Missouri persecutions."
"For most of us," President Faust said, "what is required is not to die for the Church, but to live for it."
President Faust said living a Christlike life every day may be more difficult than laying down one's life.
"I learned during a time of war that many men were capable of great acts of selflessness, heroism, and nobility, without regard to life. But when the war was over and they came home, they could not bear up under the ordinary daily burdens of living and became enslaved by tobacco, alcohol, drugs and debauchery, which in the end caused them to forfeit their lives."
President Faust said some members might consider themselves to be simple people of limited stature, position and ability who can contribute little. Others might think themselves to be too old to change and live lives of discipleship.
"It is never too late to change," he said. "Discipleship does not come from positions of prominence, wealth or advanced learning. The disciples of Jesus came from all walks of life. However, discipleship does require us to forsake evil transgression and enjoy what President (Spencer W.) Kimball has called 'the miracle of forgiveness.'
"This can come only through repentance, which means that we forsake sin and resolve each day to be followers of truth and righteousness."
Many think that the price of discipleship is too costly and too burdensome. For some it involves giving up too much. "But the cross is not as heavy as it appears to be. Through obedience we acquire much greater strength to carry it."
The blessings of discipleship are readily available to all who are willing to pay the price, President Faust said.
"Discipleship brings purpose to our lives so that rather than wandering aimlessly, we walk steadily on that strait and narrow way that leads us back to our Heavenly Father," he said. "Discipleship brings us comfort in times of sorrow, peace of conscience, and joy in service, all of which help us to be more like Jesus."
Discipleship of the Savior also helps followers know and believe in their hearts and minds the saving principles and ordinances of the restored Church.
"Through our discipleship, we come to appreciate the profound mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith in restoring those saving principles in our time," President Faust said. "We rejoice that the keys of the priesthood and its authority have been passed down through the presidents of the Church from the Prophet Joseph to our present prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley."
Peace, contentment, happiness and fulfillment are the fruits of discipleship, he added.
"Through our discipleship we are able to receive the spiritual strength that we need to deal with the challenges of life."
