Discipleship: Following in the Savior's Footsteps

We talk so often about the sweet blessings of discipleship it sometimes seems easy to ignore the cost. In fact depending on how you look at it, the cost of not following the Savior is much higher than that of becoming a disciple. While this is true, it doesn’t mean discipleship is an easy path. It only means that the end result is definitely worth the cost. Often, this cost is more immediate and greater than many feel willing to pay. Even among His disciples, there will be many who try to “short-change” the Savior, never realizing that they’re only cheating themselves not Him.

What does the disciple pay for the Savior’s promised blessings? I think it’s different for each of us and some may actually think the price is negotiable. Different it may be, but the information on the price tag asks the same thing of everyone. He asks for our all. He asks us to turn over all that we are so that He can mold those things into something much more beautiful than any value we might have placed on the original price.

In the words of James E. Faust:

“Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.” James E. Faust, “Discipleship,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 20–23

Part of our purpose in life is to be tried and tested. Not just in a few things, but in all things that are necessary for our eternal salvation. He, and we, need to know the measure of our faith and patience for the things of the Lord. He tests not only our faith in the moment, but also over time. Can we still say, “Thy will be done” when that answer is not forthcoming on our own timetable?

The goal of the disciple is to become as close to Christ’s perfect example as our imperfect lives will allow. Following the Savior’s example requires us to embrace the mission of our own lives, overcome the world and finish the work we have been given to do. Even as Christ did, we need to learn to let our will be “swallowed up in the will of the Father”. We need to learn to embrace the process of change and refinement. While we have been granted the wonderful gift of agency, the best gift we can give back to the Lord in gratitude is the will of our hearts. We can offer that agency back to the Lord with humble sincerity in order to find out what choices He would have us make. That is the time we will truly find out about His love and our own divine potential. The more we are willing to “give up” of ourselves, the more room there is for the Savior in our lives.

“The more we know of Jesus, the more we will love Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the manner of men and women that He wishes us to be (see 3 Ne. 27:27), while living now “after the manner of happiness” (2 Ne. 5:27). Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Plow in Hope’,” Ensign, May 2001, 59

Walking as a disciple of Christ is a lifelong journey and because the journey can be rough there will be those who will chose to leave His path. Fortunately, whether we turn away completely, or simply stumble on the path, the Savior’s atonement is always there as a way back. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can live for and with Him. Discipleship requires a full commitment to the Lord’s way, where ever it may take us, for the duration of our lives. This is the price we pay for His welcoming arms and words of comfort, love and pride at that end of life. That is the price we pay for His guiding and steadying hand every day until then. It’s definitely worth the price.

It may seem like a strange goal in life, but I want to fade into the background. I’m not one who honestly enjoys being in the public eye, on the other hand I love watching my work make someone happy. My favorite place to be is in the background, quietly finding all the little things I can to do help the project along, whatever it may be. That’s my favorite place in the gospel as well.

There is a song I was introduced to many years ago that talks about becoming someone who reflected God’s love so well that those around couldn’t see beyond the glow. It was an honest prayer to live a life that testifies of Christ and draws people to Him. That’s the life I want. I want to be the person in the scriptures who only has one line, but provides a little bit of help or knowledge that leads to greater things. I want to be the man who offered his upper room for Passover; the same upper room that would see Christ administer the sacrament for the first time. Or, the one who offered his tomb. I want to be Rhoda, who happily announces the presence of a prophet whether she is believed or not. Or Lydia, who worshiped God with an open heart. I admire Eunice and Lois, the mother and grandmother of Timothy. Eunice’s letter to her son Timothy contains some of the most quoted scriptures among disciples of Jesus Christ. Though they bring us great faith and courage, we often associate them with the prophet Timothy, not his mother. What are these famous words?

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, . . . 2 Timothy 1:7-8

These are the types of people I admire. I want to be that quiet force for good, the one who gives the council no one really remembers where it came from, but pass on to others around them. I want those around me to truly see Christ in me. I want to radiate His goodness and my love for Him. I don’t mind staying out of the limelight, because that’s where I can do the most good as a disciple of Christ.

The desire of a disciple’s heart is to be of service, to express love for the Savior in every aspect of our lives. That role is not the same for everyone, but each undertaking is an important part of His gospel. Find your role, the place where Christ most needs you to be. Whether great or small, embrace the tasks God gives you and let Him work through you. Take the council of Eunice to heart and let God’s power, love and thoughts work through you as you proudly share a testimony of the Savior. Try fading into the background and letting Christ have the starring role.

What is the best way for a disciple to develop a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father? We learn who They are through following the commandments. We learn what we mean to Them through prayer.

Prayer is an open line of communication between us and the heavens. It can, and should be, a conversation with a dear friend. It is talking out your joys, your worries, your fears and ambitions with the Lord through prayer that allows Him into our lives. Inviting Him in invites his blessings and guidance.

How do we build this type of relationship? Part of it is remembering that prayer is an active connection with deity. As a result, our prayers need to be active as well.

Because prayer should become a part of our daily lives, it runs the risk of becoming so routine that we forget its true purpose. We go through the motions, but our prayers become repetitive, wandering and empty. A disciple of Christ is trying to focus his life around the Savior in every way possible. Perhaps one of the most important ways is to maintain that focus during our prayers. A disciple’s prayers are prayers of action.

What do I mean by action? I mean taking an active roll in all the aspects of our lives that we include in our prayers: thankfulness, forgiveness, and pleadings.

Here’s a simple example. A typical prayer before a meal includes a thanks for the food and maybe a request to bless it for our nourishment. What difference would it make if we made this prayer a little more active? Perhaps it might include a request for us to express love and gratitude for the hands that prepared the meal. Perhaps it’s a greater appreciation for the blessings of bounty. It might even include a discussion about your health and the blessings of a physical body, a request to help you be more mindful of your physical needs, or support for changes to your diet that you are trying to make. The result is an active conversation and a commitment to action on your part.

The same principle applies to all aspects of prayer. When we pray for forgiveness, are we asking for guidance and strength to do our part in making things right? Are we praying for those involved in our error, or only ourselves? Are we acknowledging the great gift of the atonement that makes our repentance possible? Or are we simply stating a closed request for mercy and grace.

Prayers for our needs and concerns can include requests for specific help and guidance. Including our thoughts and ideas about the situation and what we think we can do to help Him, helps us show a commitment to seek His will. We need to really talk to Him, tell Him every aspect of our fears and concerns, and tell Him our desires— though He knows our hearts already. When we do this we are actively opening our heart and mind, humbling ourselves before Him, and asking for the faith and courage to do His will.

Prayers for others carry the same responsibility. Pray for them with sincere intent. Rather than a trite “Please bless” talk to your Heavenly Father about your concerns for them. Imagine what they must be feeling. Ask Him to provide them with comfort and peace. Ask Him what you can do to be an instrument in that peace. Listen to the Spirit, then obey.

Prayers of action require action. Not only do they require us to approach the prayer itself with focus and purpose, but they also commit us to following through with those things we have brought before the Lord. Prayers of action are conversations with an Elder Brother, a loving Father, an understanding friend. We talk, He listens. He talks, we listen. Prayers of action touch heaven and return with blessings of joy.

I love the story of the woman with the “issue of blood” told about in Mark 5:25-34. It’s a story about reaching for Christ, very literally. The woman had a problem that she’d carried for years. There was no help for her, until she heard of Jesus and her faith was renewed and shown a focus. When Jesus came through the streets and crowds thronged to meet Him, her only desire was to get close enough to touch Him. She knew that a brief touch with something so good and so pure would have a deep impact on her life. She had faith in His divine ability to make her whole again.

It couldn’t have been an easy thing to come that close to Christ through the masses of people pressing for His attention. She managed however, for just a brief moment, to extend her hand and touch His garment. That simple act of faith granted her the richest of blessings: she was healed.

The amazing part is that this small gesture did not go unnoticed by the Savior. He knew that there had been a need and a part of Himself had been extended to fulfill it. He immediately asked, “Who touched my clothes?” and the woman came and “fell down before him, and told him all the truth.”

When was the last time you reached out to touch the Savior? Like the woman in the scriptures I often find myself with issues that affect my heart, my life and my soul that I am unable to conquer on my own. At these times I can become lost in the crowds, or I can fight my way back to where I belong- within reach of my Savior.

If I reach out daily with sincere and thoughtful prayer,
If I humble myself and tell Him all,
If I try to stay close to Him by living as He would,
If I remove those things from my life that block me from being near Him, then
I am within reach.

For those brief moments, a part of Him fills me. He carries my sorrow, and speaks peace to my heart. He gives me the courage to face my trials once again and promises that my faith will make me whole. He knows my touch, He knows me.

“Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” 3 Nephi 9:14

One of the greatest challenges many of us face today is a matter of time. We never seem to have enough of it. Often, if we try to look at things rationally we'll feel that we should either have been able to accomplish more with a given hour, day or week or conversely feel that we packed in far too much.

What is it that our Heavenly Father expects of us regarding our time? Where would He have us place our energies from day to day?

If we look to Jesus Christ's example we see that He was a very busy man with very little time to Himself. He gave His time to those around Him and served them in patience even when it was not convenient. He went about doing good and found more good along the way. I think the message, then, is that no matter how we fill our days it should result in good. Good for ourselves, our family, our friends and community. Still, the choices are many and the demands of our society can stretch us very thin. It often becomes a matter of priority. There are many good things, but not all of them may be right for us at the time of our lives we find ourselves in. This is the message He taught to Mary and Martha: that many things were good, but some things are needful. We must look to Him to find which parts are most needful for us, personally.

For me, I have looked a little closer at how the Savior spent His time here on earth. Yes, He was always busy. Yes, He was always doing good and fulfilling His father's will for Him. Still, there were more important things that He would let interrupt Him. There were things that, no matter what else might be at hand, Christ made time for. These were His highest priorities.

He was never too busy to pray.
He was never too busy to spend time with a child.
He was never too busy to notice the needs of one among the crowd.
He was never too busy, though He knew the end would be joyful, to cry with His friends in their sorrow.
He was never too busy for forgiveness.
He was never too busy to serve.

I think for me it is the same. There are simple little things that if I commit to never be too busy for, will make the greatest impact on my happiness and salvation. As always, I follow the Savior's example.

May I never find myself:
Too busy to pray
Too busy to hug my children
Too busy to read the scriptures
Too busy for the Sabbath
Too busy to see another's need

If I am, I have let too much of the world, and Satan's distractions, into my life. If I’m finding myself too busy, it is time to re-humble myself to the Lord's will for me. I ask Him what needs to fall away so that I am never too busy to be His disciple. When I do that, I find He is never too busy for me.

Some time ago I read a book about dealing with personal trials. The most important message I learned was that sometimes it’s not about the trial itself; but rather, our perceptions during that trail.

The classic story of David and Goliath was used as an example of this point.

We are told that Goliath was a giant and a champion by the world’s standards. The army of Israel could not find a champion who felt he was even somewhat equal to the mighty Goliath. No one would meet his challenge, until David. David was a youngest child, a shepherd, untrained in battle; but, when he came to the army’s camp he did not hesitate to volunteer himself for the battle with Goliath that would decide the fate of not only his own life, but that of his people.

Why was David so willing to stand up to Goliath? The simple answer would be faith, but that doesn’t really tell us what we need to know. The difference is subtle but clear in the scriptures.

The description of Goliath is lengthy, giving a very clear image of a well armored and very intimidating individual. The first mention of David is very brief. “And David was the youngest:” (1 Samuel 17:14)

When David asks why no one will fight Goliath the response is essentially: are you kidding?

“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up?” (1 Samuel 17:24-25)
“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying,… who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:26)

The answer to David’s faith is in his perspective. While the others were busy describing and standing in awe of this giant challenge in front of them, David was focused on what Goliath was missing. God.

That’s essentially what we each need to learn as our own Goliath’s call us out to battle. If we spend all of our time focused on the problem, we may forget to see the most important part- Faith in God. Many times keeping our focus on God is the only way we will defeat our own giants.

During times of trial the why is not as important as the how.

Questioning why something happened to us keeps our focus centered on ourselves: it’s self-defeating. We are spending all of our time complaining about the quality of the other guy’s armor and why we shouldn’t have to face him in battle.

Asking how you can best conquer the trial, and what you can learn from it, takes the focus off of us and puts it back on God.

“David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine….
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts,… for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:37, 45, 47)

The “how” empowers us to God’s will and path for us.

This section has been a difficult one to define for the purposes of our discussion. It seems that those who have previously discussed it have two different ideas on what it means. Different, yes, but perhaps not so very different. When you look at the LDS footnotes for this scripture it gives you the word selfishness. This is one tract of thinking. The other is a variation: our perceptions and beliefs about those around us. What is our tolerance and acceptance of all of God’s children and how willing are we to serve them?

There are lots of different ways a person can show themselves selfishness. I think being unable to see other viewpoints and beliefs outside of our own, and being unable to see the needs of others because we are caught up in our own lives are just a couple of facets of the selfishness puzzle. So, for our purposes I have chosen to focus on defining and pondering the whole beast of selfishness in an effort to direct all of our thoughts outside of ourselves and onto developing a greater love for all of our fellow man.

Selfishness seems to be at the root of many of our human frailties and difficulties. In fact, Elder Neil A. Maxwell once sighted selfishness as the tiniest beginning that could cause a person to disobey or disregard all of the 10 commandments. When we become focused and intent on our own needs, the urge to bare false witness can find root, adultery, covetousness, and many other paths that lead to heartache suddenly seem like the answer to our wants and desires. Our focus has shifted away from the Savior and back on ourselves.

Leaving our selfish motives unchecked blocks our ability to feel the things of the spirit that are at the core of the Savior’s love, charity, it blocks out: love, mercy, patience, long-suffering, kindness, graciousness, goodness, and gentleness. We are left entirely to ourselves and that is a lonely place to be. There is an old saying that states, “The smallest of packages is a person wrapped up in himself.” This is not the Lord’s plan for His disciples. Elder William R. Bradford once said: “Of all influences that cause men to choose wrong, selfishness is undoubtedly the strongest. Where there is selfishness, the Spirit of the Lord is absent. Talents go unshared, the needs of the poor unfulfilled, the weak unstrengthened, the ignorant untaught, and the lost unrecovered.”

Thus, if we are to be instruments in the Lord’s hand, if our desire is to be His disciple and me an example of His life, selfishness, the desire to seek after our own, must go.

James E. Faust once said “Taking up one’s cross and following the Savior means overcoming selfishness; it is the commitment to serve others.” How does one accomplish this?

We can look to the scriptures, and those around us for examples of selflessness.

We can focus our prayers more on the Father’s will, and for the needs of others, than for ourselves.

We can seek out opportunities to serve and find opportunities that allow us to develop greater compassion and empathy for those around us.

We can spend more time considering how our actions and desires affect those around us, rather than focusing on how their actions affect us.

Meekness and humility seem to be at the heart of it.

Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee, Shall lead thee by the hand and give the answer to thy prayers. Be thou humble in thy pleading and the Lord thy God shall bless thee, Shall Bless thee with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares.

Be thou humble in thy calling, and the Lord thy God shall teach tee to serve his children gladly with a pure and gentle love. Be thou humble in thy longing, and the Lord thy God shall take thee, Shall take thee home at last to ever dwell with him above. Hymns #130

I have been pondering humility quite a bit this past week. I have a calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A calling is essentially a request from Heavenly Father, through His servants on earth, to serve other members of the church in a specific manner. My calling is enrichment leader for the women’s organization, the Relief Society. As enrichment leader it is my job to put together enriching and gospel-centered activities for the women in my area, church member and nonmember alike. I take this responsibility seriously and receive a lot of joy from my service. It is, however, easy to get caught up in the logistics and my part in this service and forget the most important part. I am working to become an instrument of the Lord: to share His gospel and His spirit.

This was my problem. As I worked on the latest event I found myself subtly changing from the humble servant, trying to do His will to the proud woman who wants things to be perfect. In other words, wanting things to go the way I thought they should rather than listening quietly to hear how He wanted things to go.

Humility is a willingness within us to look to Heavenly Father for guidance and direction in every aspect of our lives. With humility we recognize that who we are, our blessing and talents, our daily support comes from a divine source. We are commissioned with the blessings we have, to see what we will do with them, not to place ourselves above others, or above a need for Him in our lives. It is being teachable and open to the Spirit, allowing it to take the lead in our lives.

Denying ourselves the blessing of humility puts the Lord in a difficult position. How can He use your hands to serve and bless others if you are not willing to acknowledge His ability to do so?

As with most things, when we turn away from the Lord our lives tend toward chaos rather than peace. Thus was the start of my week. Chaos was the reigning element of my life. Things I’d planned for so carefully were falling apart all around me and I was a mess. This situation forced humility back upon me. Fortunately my pride wasn’t so hardened that I couldn’t remember who I was trying to serve. If I wanted to salvage the event I needed to turn it back over to who it belonged to in the first place: The Lord.

Enrichment evening happened last night. Was it perfect? No. Did it go exactly as I wanted it to? No. Did it go the way the Lord wanted it to? Yes. Were lives touched and testimonies of Christ strengthened? Definitely.

Be thou humble and the Lord thy God shall lead thee and give thee answers to thy prayers.