Comments on: “Discipleship” by President James E. Faust

by: Mary A

Fri, 11 May 2007 22:41:33 +0000

Hi, Micky! Thanks for stopping by our blog and for sharing your experience. I am sorry you had to go through such trials, but isn’t it wonderful what the Lord can do for us. I’m glad you were able to reach out to Jesus Christ and to find peace and joy. That is wonderful to hear! Best wishes and take care!

by: Micky

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:50:31 +0000

About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].

Peace Be With You
Micky

by: Mary A

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:56:42 +0000

Thanks for listing those point, RoAnn. They are a good summary of discipleship. I think they did come from the teacher’s manual. Important to keep in mind!

by: RoAnn

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:13:57 +0000

In our SS lesson yesterday, discussing Matthew 6 & 7, the teacher listed on the board four principles of true discipleship. Not sure where he got these–maybe from the lesson manual–but I thought they were good ways of looking at what the Savior taught in those two chapters:
1. Do the right things for the right reasons.
2. Follow the Savior’s example of prayer.
3. Treat others kindly and fairly.
4. Serve God and do His will.

by: Mary A

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:02:38 +0000

Hello, Gerald. Obedience to Jesus Christ in all areas of our life is true discipleship. It grows and deepens as we grow in the gospel. Since we belong to Christ’s church, naturally the church is teaching Christ’s commandments. That those teachings come through the church doesn’t mean that they are invented by the church. Church attendance, tithing, chastity, etc. are taught in the scriptures. Those things are not the whole of discipleship, but they are a part of it. President Faust’s talk mentioned far more than that. People have to start with basic obedience, though, and grow into completely following Christ and serving others–doing all that we see Christ do in the scriptural reports we have of His teachings and actions.

The way I see it is that a person can’t skip over parts of discipleship, choosing to do one thing and skipping something else–it is all necessary and we progress in discipleship just as we do in anything else. We learn, we grow.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

by: Gerald Garvan

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 10:34:08 +0000

I don’t get it. When the rhetoric is striped away, what is being called discipleship to the Savior is really nothing more than discipleship to the institutionalized church. That is not the real call of discipleship. Church attendance, tithing, chastity and things like this. The mark is missed. This is not biblical discipleship. True discipleship goes far deeper than this.

by: Mary A

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:09:53 +0000

Stephanie, thanks for your comment! It is hard, daily work to be a disciple, but the blessings match the work, or exceed it. I’ve been re-reading Elder Maxwell’s The Promise of Discipleship and he writes about the difficulties of it, but also the tremendous blessings that come to the disciple. And the growth–the becoming worthy to return to our Heavenly Father’s presence. Elder Maxwell calls it “the trek of treks” and that’s a good way to describe it!

by: Stephanie C

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 06:59:24 +0000

I love the part about being a disciple meaning to carry the cross daily…showing that it is not easy, it is not laden with ease and all fun and games. It is work, it is sweat, it is trials and sorrow. And in the implication of that… since we believe that everything has its opposite… that we will experience the joy, the sweet, the love from the hardships that come by being a disciple. I think of all those who followed Jesus when he was on the earth and the suffering that they endured, the trials and persecutions and the martyrdoms, but also the exquisite joy…the joy they felt in being worthy to be persecuted for Jesus Christ’s sake! What a unique way to look at being a disciple of Christ.

by: Mary A

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:35:59 +0000

Alison, thanks! I love Elder Maxwell’s writing about discipleship (and anything else, for that matter!). I have his book, The Promise of Discipleship and it is full of insight.

by: Mary A

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:03:54 +0000

Cheryl, thanks for your comments–glad you liked the post! It is hard to put our gospel knowledge into action day in and day out. I, too, appreciate the reminders–they help me keep focused.