General Conference Study Schedule Week 8: Becoming a Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Robert D. Hales

I started a 25 week study schedule of the April 2017 General Conference talks.

You can print the study schedule HERE. Each week, I include quote cards and other fun teaching helps in case you are teaching a Sunday school class, RS lesson or individually.

This week I focused on a talk given by Elder Robert D. Hales called, Becoming a Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This week I created three quote cards. There is also a challenge that Robert D. Hales gives us to become a disciple of Christ.

Elder Robert D. Hales started off by asking this important question:

Question: What does it mean to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ?

• Baptized


• Willing to take upon him or her the name of the Savior


• Follow Him


• Strives to become as He is


• Keep the Commandments


• Be as an apprentice who seeks to become like his or her master

A disciple isn't just a follower but is a state of being. Disciples live so that the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as into a spiritual tapestry.

Quote #1 (PDF)

{Click and print}

The Apostle Peter invited all of us to become a disciple of the Savior...

Scripture:

2 Peter 1:5–7

What does that scripture mean to you and how can you take Peter's invitation into your own lives?

Robert D. Hales answered it perfectly:

As you can see, weaving the spiritual tapestry of personal discipleship requires more than a single thread. In the Savior’s day, there were many who claimed to be righteous in one or another aspect of their lives. They practiced what I have called selective obedience. For example, they kept the commandment to refrain from work on the Sabbath yet criticized the Savior for healing on that holy day.² They gave alms to the poor but offered only their excess—what they did not need for themselves.³ They fasted but only with long faces.⁴ They prayed but only to be seen of men.⁵ Jesus said, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”⁶ Such men and women may focus on mastering a specific attribute or action but do not necessarily become as He is in their hearts.

Question: How can we obtain Christlike characteristics?

It isn't a list to check off (although I love lists) but we must obtain and also use to influence others. Start with one characteristic that you want to obtain. Once you have obtained it and it becomes strong, you will be able to go onto the next one as it were a list but one thing at a time.

Question: What are some attributes of the Savior?

1-Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: "If ye will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me."

2-Virtue: Cleanliness and holiness in mind and body. It is also power.

Faith and virtue go hand in hand. "As we faithfully live the gospel, we will have power to be virtuous in every thought, feeling, and action." We become more receptive to the Holy Ghost. We embody Christ in what we say and do and in who we are.

3-Knowledge: "As we live virtuous lives, we come to know our Heavenly Father and His Son in a special way."

Quote #2 (PDF)

{Click and print}

Knowledge is...

• a personal testimony born from personal experience


• transforms us so that our light cleveth unto His light and our virtue loveth His virtue


• living a virtuous life will make the journey from "I believe" to "I know."

4-Temperance: We live the gospel in a balanced and steady way.

5-Patience: When faced with the storms of tribulation, we ask, "What wouldst Thou have me learn from this experience?"

Quote #3 (PDF)

{Click and print}

6-Godliness: We know our Heavenly Father is patient with us especially when we fail time and time again. He is waiting for us to reach out to him and we must be patient with ourselves as well. We will grow "line upon line" "brighter and brighter" until the perfect day.

7-True Disciple: How can we be a true disciple of Christ?

Challenge:

Think of the Good Samaritan. Read Luke 10:33. We must find others who are in need and help them even if they are not in our own circle of friends. Reach out to a stranger this week. Do good to them and this world will become brighter.

Testimony:

The efforts we make to become disciples of our Savior are truly added upon until we are “possessed” of His love.²¹ This love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ. Everyone can be a disciple of the Savior. Discipleship is not constrained by age, gender, ethnic origin, or calling. Through our individual discipleship, we, as Latter-day Saints, build up a collective strength to bless our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Now is the time to recommit ourselves to being His disciples with all diligence. This is His Church. He Lives.

Remember faith, hope and charity is the work of God. Don't be a part time disciple. Look for opportunities. Be helpful to others in the community. We are ALL called to be disciples of our Savior.

Next week: Songs Sung and Unsung By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland found HERE.

***The purpose of the 25 weeks of General Conference talks came from our ebook called, Growing up with Conference. In our book, we share an FHE lesson titled: Favorite talk. The purpose is to teach your family to use the general conference talks as part of their personal scripture study. This FHE lesson is found in our “Live it” section of our ebook. You can find our ebook HERE. ***