Brother John G. Bytheway: The discipline inside a disciple

“I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ” is the powerful opening line of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 2024 youth theme (3 Nephi 5:13). 

If we take a more in-depth have a look at that word, “disciple,” we see it is comparable to the word, “discipline.” A disciple is greater than a believer. Being a disciple implies discipline. 

I could consider wholeheartedly that vegatables and fruits are good for my health, but when I proceed to live to tell the tale soft drinks and donuts, I’ll forfeit the blessings of discipline in my food regimen. I could also be a believer of a great food regimen but not a superb disciple. Being a disciple takes our beliefs to the following level. As disciples, we attempt to live in keeping with what we consider. We value the discipline in standards, boundaries and commandments, and we benefit from the blessings connected with them.

Of course, being a disciple doesn’t mean being perfect. One young man who was combating some bad habits told his bishop that perhaps he should stop coming to Church because he felt like a hypocrite. His leader replied, “You’re not a hypocrite because you’ve gotten a nasty habit you are attempting to interrupt. You are a hypocrite should you hide it, lie about it, or attempt to persuade yourself the Church has the issue for maintaining high standards. Being honest about your actions and taking steps to maneuver forward will not be being a hypocrite. It is being a disciple.” (See Bradley R. Wilcox, “Worthiness is Not Flawlessness,” general conference Oct. 2021) Truly, a disciple is one who has the discipline to maintain on attempting to “Let God prevail” in his or her life.

It is common today for people to say that they follow their “own truth.” As disciples, we seek to know and love the reality. Disciples of Jesus Christ recognize that if we decide to not follow Him, we’re simply following another person. President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor within the First Presidency, taught:

“When we reject the counsel which comes from God, we don’t decide to be independent of out of doors influence. We select one other influence. We reject the protection of a wonderfully loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to offer us everlasting life, to offer us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we decide the influence of one other power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred” (“Finding Safety in Counsel,” general conference, April 1997).

Jesus never said, “Find your personal way.” He said, “I’m the way in which” (see John 14:6). He never said, “You do you.” He said, “You do me” or, in other words, “What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? … Even as I’m” (see 3 Nephi 27:27).

Some may feel that giving their lives to God, making covenants or becoming devoted disciples requires an excessive amount of sacrifice on their part. President Russell M. Nelson disagrees:

“I grieve for individuals who leave the Church because they feel membership requires an excessive amount of of them. They haven’t yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each one who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples — and keeps them — has increased access to the facility of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth! (“Overcome the World and Find Rest,” general conference, October 2022).

Choosing to be a disciple of Christ isn’t just the fitting thing to do, it’s the neatest thing to do. We are all disciples of somebody or something. Popular opinion, social trends and online influencers all have their disciples. But we will decide to be mentored by Christ. The decision is straightforward — who else would you moderately have in your life? Who loves you more and has shown it in countless ways? Who is more trustworthy? Who else has the facility to vary your heart and who else extends boundless mercy and offers forgiveness of your sins? It’s a no brainer. 

Together with Mormon, allow us to all decide to say, “Behold, I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I actually have been called of him to declare his word amongst his people, that they may need everlasting life” (3 Nephi 5:13).