Discipleship

                                                                    Discipleship

            Calvin is a true disciple.  On Sundays when the regular chorister is not in attendance at Sacrament Meeting, Calvin's dad gets to substitute.  Calvin's dad is a very accomplished chorister by his own rights.  But, Calvin?  Well, you see, Calvin is about three years old, and when Calvin's dad leads the music in Sacrament Meeting, Calvin gets to sit on the stand with him.  And, when Calvin's dad stands up to lead the music, Calvin stands right next to him.  And, when Calvin's dad raises his arms to lead the music, so does Calvin.  Then, when Calvin's dad starts the singing, Calvin also starts the singing.  And, when Calvin leads the music, we all sing a little louder and with a little more enthusiasm.

            Yes, Calvin is a true disciple.  Don't get me wrong, at three years of age, Calvin is all boy.  But, during the past months that I have watched, I've thought about what it is that makes this little miracle take place and I've decided that there are lessons to be learned from both Calvin and his dad.

            First, Calvin has unquestioned trust in his dad.  That means he must know his dad pretty well for a three year-old, at least as much as a three year-old can know his dad.  It also means that he loves his dad quite a bit.  It is not a simple ordinary love and trust.  It is a love and trust that makes him to want to be with his dad and to be just like his dad.  It is a love and trust that moves him to action.

            Second, Calvin follows the example of his father.  Part of wanting to be just like somebody means following that person's example.  It means learning how to do something just like the person we are trying to emulate.  After we have learned it, the action becomes second nature to us.  It is a part of us and we do it without thinking.

            Third, Calvin's father has been a willing example.  He welcomes his son who wants to follow.  He patiently instructs, guides, and directs.  He overlooks the mistakes, but also corrects and encourages and shows a better way.

            True discipleship of Christ is manifest by the acts of those who say they follow him.  Their acts are consistent and harmonious with those of the Savior.  Let me illustrate with a story of a modern-day "Good Samaritan."

            Vern Payne was the Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, the highest court in New Mexico.  While serving in this position he also served as president of the Santa Fe New Mexico Stake.  While traveling between Albuquerque and Santa Fe one afternoon with one of his counselors, he spotted a mother with small children standing outside of her car on the opposite side of the interstate.  With little warning at all, President Payne announced to his passenger that the "sister" on the other side of the interstate needed help.  He made a U-Turn in the median and traveled back down the interstate to the "sister" in need.  Discovering the problem to be a flat tire, this six-foot two-inch man, arguably the most powerful man in the state of New Mexico shed his suit jacket, rolled up the sleeves on his white shirt, and changed the woman's tire.  As quickly as he decided to help the woman in need, when he finished the task, he thanked the woman for allowing him to change the tire, got back in his car and headed off to his stake meetings.  He left no card with his name and position engraved on it.  He left no copy of the Book of Mormon nor did he invite her to church.  He did his work and quietly left.

            As the Savior visited with his disciples on the American Continent he entreated them with the following: "(W)hat manner of men ought ye to be?"  Then answering his own question he said, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27).  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day" (3 Nephi 27:21, 22).

            It seems that a young man once approached the Savior and asked the question, "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"  The Savior then recited the commandments to the man.  The young man then reported to Jesus that he had kept all of those commandments from his youth.  The Savior, perceiving that the young man's heart was elsewhere told him to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven: and then follow him.  When the young man heard this, "he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matt. 19:16-22).  The young man, though good and righteous, neither knew nor loved the Savior nor was he willing to serve those in need.  With his heart on his treasure he could not bring himself to follow Jesus.  But, which would have brought him the greatest happiness, keeping his wealth or following the Savior?

            Let me share a personal example from my own life.  I recently retired from a career in police work.  Half of my career was spent as a patrol officer and detective.  As I look back over the years I find that I really enjoyed that part of my career.  A recent look through my personnel file explains why.  In that file are several letters of appreciation from people in the community where I worked.  Though I made several arrests and placed numerous criminals in prison, there is not one single letter of appreciation for those efforts.  Likewise, there are no letters of appreciation for the times I was lied to, yelled at, cursed at, spit on, beaten and kicked, clawed, scratched, or sliced with a knife.  To the contrary, the letters I received from the public are those thanking me for changing flat tires, jump-starting stalled cars, talking with school children, helping deliver babies, finding lost children, guiding lost motorists, and simply caring.  None of these acts are found in the job description for police officer.  Yet, which do you think brought me the greatest satisfaction?

            The latter half of my career was spent as an administrator.  I would guess that I interviewed thousands of young men and women who wanted to be police officers.  I was privileged to hire several good police candidates.  After they are hired, without fail, those who want to help people while they are police officers are the happiest and most successful officers.  They are often promoted and rewarded for outstanding service.  They are happy in their marriages and in their homes.  Those who want to be involved in an exciting career and chase bad guys are constantly being disciplined, receiving complaints from the public, and dealing with low morale.  Often, their marriages are in trouble and their financial status is dim.  Those seeking excitement in stead of service are often asked to resign or are fired.  What is it, do you suppose, that makes the difference?

            Sister Belle Smith Spafford represented the Church when the National Council of Women was organized and for many years served very quietly and unnoticed until she was called to be the Relief Society General President.  Then, she was called upon to address that organization, and for the first time was recognized as a member of the Church.  Afterwards at a luncheon, she went from table to table with vacant seats only to be told that the seats were taken.  Obviously shaken and disturbed, she was about to leave when the president of that organization noticing that Sister Spafford was holding back tears, asked her what was wrong.  Sister Spafford simply said, "Tell me, please, where it is that you would like me to sit."  This gracious lady looked around the room and said, "I understand.  I would like you to sit with me at the head table."

            Upon her return to Salt Lake, Sister Spafford reported to President George Albert Smith that the Relief Society should withdraw its membership from that organization because we, as a Church, were not getting anything out of it.  President Smith repeated, "We should get out of the National Council of Women."

            "Yes," was her reply.

            "We should get out of it because we are not getting anything out of it?" Quizzed President Smith.

            "That is right," she said.

            Then, President Smith asked, "Tell me, please, Sister Spafford, what is it that you are putting into it?"  It was then that she was reminded by a prophet of God of the importance of duty and service to others.  Sister Spafford later became president of the National Council of Women, and upon her resignation from that position was informed that her post would never be filled and that her standards would never be duplicated or surpassed.          

            Near the end of the Savior's earthly ministry he spoke to his disciples about the qualifications of those who would sit at his right hand in the Celestial Kingdom.  "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt 25:34-40).

            I would like to go back to Calvin for a minute.  Calvin at the age of three is a disciple of his father.  He knows his father.  He loves him and wants to be like him.  He does the things he sees his father do and tries to perfect himself in those actions.  His father, on the other hand is patient with him.  He allows Calvin to make mistakes but also gives him a chance to improve.  Indeed, there is a true discipleship relationship here.  If we were to become true disciples of Christ, we would follow Calvin's example.  First, we would get to know Christ.  We would learn all that we can about him.  Second, we would love Christ and third, we would strive to be like him.  Having studied his life we would emulate his life in every way.  That of course would mean a life of obedience and service.

            Discipleship is not always easy.  It often means sacrifice; giving up what you want in order to meet the needs of others and doing what Jesus would do.  It means being different sometimes.  I know several times I compared my life to the lives of my colleagues and subordinates.  I had (and still have) cars held together with bubble gum and bailing wire, while my subordinates were driving new cars.  I spent my Sunday's and many evenings during the week at Church trying to help others while my friends were busy fishing with their new boats and pursuing other recreational activities.  I have always tithed, lived the Word of Wisdom, and tried to live the commandments, but those around me seem to have the good life.  Have you ever noticed that?  Has that ever happened to you?  If you have, have you ever asked who it is that is getting all the blessings for all this obedience and service?

            I have, and about the time I feel like I am getting left out of the blessing side of the ledger, I get put in my place.  For example, several years ago an undercover police officer moved into our town and needed help in moving into a home.  As you know, moving is not an easy task and this officer needed help.  Asking other police officers to help would have been like waving a red flag and putting a flashing neon light over his house pointing out the man as a police officer.  Arrangements were made for the undercover officer to call me at Church where he would ask for assistance.  When he called, rather than asking for help from the elders quorum like was planned, he asked for my two oldest sons.  Plans were made and the next Saturday, my two oldest sons helped the officer move his belongings into his new home.  At the end of the day, according to the officer, he went to pay the boys and send them on their way.  A few minutes after he paid them, they approached the officer and told him that they had been overpaid.  He had paid them for their lunch hour.  Not only that, but he had bought their lunch and furnished them with soft drinks throughout the day.  The officer then went on to tell me that the boys told him that it was something that they had learned from their parents, not just what they had been told to do, but what they had been taught.  He then went on to explain how he had never seen two young men speak with honor and respect for their parents as did these two young men.  The officer, who was not a member of the Church, then went on to tell me of my activities in the Church and the acts of service that I had, quite frankly, forgotten.  He then spoke of the pride that these two boys had in their father and how they both wanted to be like their dad.

            Yes, about the time you wonder where all the blessings are that come from service, a little reminder just drops out of the heavens.  And "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

            Indeed, true discipleship is marked by service to others, by bearing one another's burdens and comforting those in need of comfort; in short, doing what Jesus would do.  The blessings that result are greater than all the material possessions available.

Note: This was delivered to the Binghamton Ward, Owego New York Stake, in March 1996.  Calvin has since graduated from high school, completed two years of college in a single year, and served a two-year mission.