President James E Faust

One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word for disciple and the word for discipline both come from the same Latin root—discipulus, which means pupil. It emphasizes practice or exercise. Self discipline and self control are consistent and permanent characteristics of the followers of Jesus, as exemplified by Peter, James, and John, who indeed "forsook all, and followed him."

What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. It is family home evening. It is keeping all 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.

The words of a beloved Primary song resonate with all who follow the Master:
I'm trying to be like Jesus;
I'm following in his ways.
I'm trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
For most of us, however, what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult than laying down one's life.

Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.

I know that it can be hard to try to be like Jesus in all that we do and say but I also know that it is worth it. I know that I have a lot of trouble with my discipleship. It is so easy to let the things of this world take 1st place in my thoughts and actions. Today is the Sunday choir broadcast after Veterans Day and as I watched I could not help but think with tears in my eyes that Freedom is far from free. Another of the wonderful blessings that the Lord has allowd me to enjoy but I allow myself to consider it a free gift. Everything that is worth anything has a price to pay. I hope that I can learn to be willing to pay the price of discipleship because I know that the blessing attached to this is eternal. I do pray each day that each of us will allow the gospel light to shine through our actions. I add my testimony to that of President Faust and pray that each of us will make His ways our way for I know that it will bring us joy today, notwithstanding the price, and joy forever as we have the blessing of association with the Father and the Son forever and ever. Love Dad