Disciples of the Lord

Elder David F. Evans Emeritus General Authority

March 04, 2025 11:15 AM

"It is not only Book of Mormon Prophets and modern-day apostles who are the Lord’s disciples. Faithful men and women, regardless of position or station in life, have become His disciples and have had the blessing of declaring their love for and discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ"

Thank you for that kind introduction.My wife, Mary, and I, and some of our family, are grateful to be here today and pray that the Lord’s Spirit will be with us.

Today, I am delighted to speak to you remarkable young disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. As I look at your faces, and listen to some of your stories, I feel strongly that many, if not all of you, have been led by the spirit of the Lord to be here and to seek wisdom and learning within the church educational system. What a privilege it is to be a student at Ensign College.

I was called to serve, as President Kusch said, as a General Authority in 2005.Next month, it will be 20 years since the call.My first assignment was to serve as a counselor in the Asia North Area Presidency, living in Tokyo, Japan. The move to Tokyo brought us back to Japan where I had served as a missionary and Mary and I had served as Mission Leaders. It was a joy to be called to serve again among a people and in a place we already loved so very much.

The first year I served as a counselor in the Area Presidency and then to my astonishment and great surprise, I was called to become the Area President of the Asia North Area. I was absolutely stunned.I didn’t know how to be an Area President and didn’t feel qualified for the assignment.It was humbling and caused great personal reflection and prayer.

Have you ever received a calling where you felt overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do? That was how I felt, but I knew that the Lord would send help as it was needed.I believe that Nephi felt this way when he was commanded to obtain and return the brass plates to Lehi.He simply said, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.Nevertheless, I went forth . . .”^[1]Often, starting or beginning with faith that the Savior will help is the only thing we can do.And, that thing that the Lord needs us to do so that we will be humble and seek Him, and He can teach us and help us grow.

A couple of months after we started working as a new Area Presidency, the Lord did send help, and we were very grateful. We were blessed to have Elder Neil L. Andersen visit Japan and Korea.He came and taught throughout the Area to hundreds of missionaries and thousands of members, but I believe that he really came to teach and to bless me.At the time, Elder Andersen was serving in the Presidency of the Seventy, having already served more than 13 years as a General Authority.He had already been an Area President and he came with a love, and humility and desire to help that was different from what I had experienced in some other settings.

Of course Elder Andersen presided and gave counsel and direction.He even gently corrected and taught me and others what we should do.However, wherever he went, and in every setting, he expressed gratitude for those attending.He taught with gentleness and understanding, directly and with love.Let me read to you my notes from one of those meetings as I tried to write down what Elder Andersen said.Now President Kusch asked you to bring a notebook and write down the impressions of the spirit. I was just trying to remember what he said and these are my notes.And you will recognized that they are not complete but they are my notes and convey the feeling that I felt quoting Elder Anderson I wrote:

“I am so very grateful to each of you for coming this evening.I come to you as a fellow disciple of Jesus Christ.I know of His reality. . . I know the language of the Spirit and I know the voice of the Lord.We must each carry the torch, the standard of truth wherever we are.”

Speaking to Stake Presidents, he would ask, “What are the strengths of the stake?”He would then ask, “What are the challenges?”He came to listen and learn and to help.He asked questions and invited faith.He reminded us that the Prophet speaks and motivates with faith, not guilt.He urged humility and that we follow the Prophet and the Twelve.Even when sacrifice is needed, Elder Andersen taught that “you must find time to be in the temple” and warned that “if you don’t you may be deceived.”This counsel is as timely today as it was all those years ago.In all that he did and taught, including in our personal discussions, he exemplified the Lord’s instruction that in everything we do it should be done “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness, meekness and love unfeigned.”^[2]

I came away from that week with Elder Andersen wanting to be better.I already had a testimony.Because of my calling, I was an ordained especial witness of the Savior and His work.I was a General Authority and the Area President of the Church in that part of the world.But what his visit caused me to desire and then to work for all of my life since, was to become a true follower of Jesus Christ, one of His true disciples, as I felt Elder Andersen had already become.It caused me to think and to pray, to repent, to try to become more humble and to seek to root out any worldly feelings that would cause my heart to drift from God.The time I spent with Elder Andersen taught me to be more kind, to notice people and their needs more and to take the time needed to understand before I tried to answer.Elder Andersen taught me and gave me comfort and hope.He helped me have a vision of what would be possible in the coming years and how I could lift other leaders and fulfill the responsibility the Lord had given me.It changed me and was, perhaps, the most important week of teaching, repenting and learning up to that time in my life.

Elder Andersen’s declaration of discipleship reminded me of other prophets and apostles who have made similar declarations.Many of you who have served missions or have read the Book of Mormon, will remember Mormon’s declaration of discipleship.When this great prophet-general finally formally introduces himself to the readers of the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 5:13, he simply said:

“Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.”

In his most recent General Conference address, President Nelson similarly said, “I bear my solemn witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I am His disciple.”^[3]

It is not only Book of Mormon Prophets and modern-day apostles who are the Lord’s disciples. Faithful men and women, regardless of position or station in life, have become His disciples and have had the blessing of declaring their love for and discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ.In a recent General Conference, Sister Michele Craig declared her discipleship in these simple words:

“My fellow disciples of Jesus Christ, with all my heart, I choose to stand with the Lord.”^[4]

Similarly, Sister Linda Burton, former Relief Society General President, reminded us that throughout the life and ministry of the Savior there were women who were certain in their faith and discipleship.These “certain women”^[5] included many who were among the most faithful of the Lord’s disciples.This was true during the time of the Lord’s earthly ministry and continues today. Think, for example, of the unnamed woman at the well who experienced the Lord’s teaching and compassion, and who invited others to follow the Savior.Remember Martha, whose brother, Lazarus, Jesus raised from the dead.She was the Lord’s disciple and testified “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”^[6]Remember Mary, the Savior’s mother, and Mary Magdalene who was a faithful disciple and to whom the Savior may have first appeared after his resurrection.In some New Testament accounts, other women are named as having seen the resurrected Lord even before the Apostles.^[7]Surely, these “certain women” were among the most faithful of disciples.These women whose discipleship is recorded in scripture, together with countless other faithful women and men both ancient and modern developed the faith and did the work needed to become disciples of the Lord.

Today in the Church, we often hear the term, “disciple.”We hear it in youth mottos and meetings as we grow up in the Church.We hear it in the mission field as applied to missionaries, members and even some friends who are being taught.Have you ever thought what the term “disciple” really means?I fear, just a little, that in our constant use of the term, we may not appreciate its full meaning.

President James E. Faust was President HInckley’s Counselor in the First Presidency when I was called as a General Authority Seventy.I felt his love and his gentle strength.Shortly before Elder Andersen’s visit to Japan and Korea, President Faust gave a conference message that was simply entitled, “Discipleship.”In that message, he defined discipleship as follows:

“What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. .. . 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.”^[8]

President Faust noted that “disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily.”^[9]This means that throughout our lives “we follow His commandments and [work] to build up His Church on the earth.”^[10]

He also taught that true followers of the Savior “should be prepared to lay down their lives, and some have been privileged to do so.”^[11]He then observed that “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.”^[12]

Once, Mary and I were with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and a group of missionaries.He invited the missionaries to ask questions.One brave Elder asked Elder Holland if he was willing to give his life for the Church.Elder Holland looked kind of quizzically at the Elder and asked, “What do you think I am doing?It would be so much easier if the Lord just took me.”He then explained that for him, he would continue his discipleship and declare his witness for as long as the Lord gave him breath and opportunity.Now, some 25 years after that experience, we can see President Holland’s true discipleship as he continues his ministry with courage and faith, even in the face of the loss of his dear wife, Pat, and his immense physical challenges. Some of you may have noticed some of these physical challenges as you have seen him on morning devotionals where he has read scriptures or done other things recently.It is just remarkable what he is doing.And it is not surprising to me that in his most difficult circumstances, the Lord has again reached out to Elder Holland and called him to deepen his discipleship and assume even greater responsibilities as the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

During the weeks following Sister Holland’s passing, President Holland suffered a severe and very real medical crisis which caused him to be in and out of consciousness for a month or more.In describing his experiences, he said:

“I cannot speak fully of that experience here, but I can say that part of what I received was an admonition to return to my ministry with more urgency, more consecration, more focus on the Savior, more faith in His word.”^[13]

And so he has.Even for this great apostle, President Holland, and even in these difficult circumstances, the call was to deepen his discipleship and increase his faith, consecration and focus on the Lord.As he closed his conference message, President Holland gave this counsel to all of us:

“[When] Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples.”

Discipleship includes not just short seasons of intense repentance and action but surely includes the lifelong work of embracing the gospel and enduring well – faithfully – to the end of our lives.Elder Uchtdorf expressed this thought when he was serving as a counselor to President Monson.He said,

“Brothers and sisters, we have to stay with it. We don’t acquire eternal life in a sprint—this is a race of endurance. We have to apply and reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to make them part of our normal life. . . Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to craft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking in the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than ours.”^[14]

Today, the Lord needs us, His disciples, to be in the world, living for Him and His gospel.He needs us in the world, being valiant, even as the world swirls around us. He needs faithful disciples, men and women, who love Him and who are willing to share His gospel with the world.

Gratefully, the Lord has taught us how to become better disciples and remain faithful all our lives.The most important way to become better disciples now is to do what you already know you should be doing and to stop doing what you already know you shouldn’t be doing.We call this repentance.Think for a moment what you are doing, or not doing, that causes you to be distant from the Lord, and change.If you need help to overcome a habit or addiction, or if your sins are serious, seek that help by going to your Bishop and asking him to help you.He will help you and you will become happy and feel a closeness to the Lord and gratitude for His atonement. Your wonderful Bishop holds the keys for you that will unlock the blessings of the atonement and provide a way to be forgiven and made whole.

Pray to know what you should do to become His disciple and deepen your discipleship.Our Father in Heaven and His Son, through the Holy Ghost will show you from the scriptures “all things what ye should do.”^[15]For some of you, it might be to move forward and receive a mission call.For others, it may be to have faith and move forward in a relationship that will lead you to being married in the temple and making sacred covenants.For others, it may be to act on the impression you have already received to end a relationship that you know will never lead to the temple and to lasting happiness and joy.Our great blessing and challenge is to do what the Holy Ghost shows us we should do.

In his most recent General Conference address, President Nelson reminded us that “now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.”^[16]

Gratefully, President Nelson has provided counsel regarding what we can do this in today’s world.First, he taught that,

“Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance! We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.”^[17]

Now your going to have to determine in your life what “regular” temple attendance means to you.For me, at this of our life, it means that I am in the temple at least each week.Each season of our lives is different, but “regular” temple attendance is what the Lord expects and what will provide protection in our lives.

Each of you can hold a temple recommend.If you have been endowed, please be sure that your temple recommend is current and that you use it regularly.Remember that you can participate in all the ordinances of the temple, not just the endowment.Make appointment reservations and keep them to participate in initiatory ordinances, as well as the endowment and sealings.You don’t have to be married to participate in sealing ordinances for those who have already passed on.This can be a wonderful addition to your experience and understanding, even as you move toward your own marriage and sealing at some future date.If you haven’t been endowed, ask your Bishop to provide to you a limited use recommend and go and do baptisms for the dead.This ordinance is not just for the youth.All of us have the blessing of being in the House of the Lord and feeling of His presence and love.If you have not been endowed, you may consider counseling with your parents and Bishop regarding whether and when to receive your endowment.If you are not worthy of holding a temple recommend, ask your Bishop to help you become worthy and begin regular temple attendance.

President Nelson has promised that,

“Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.”^[18]

President Nelson then said, “I have learned that the most crucial question (now think about this – the most crucial question) we each must answer is this: To whom or to what will I give my life?”^[19]

For President Nelson, his conversion and his decision to follow the Savior came when he was in post-high school university education.Perhaps that will be the same for you.If it hasn’t happened already, I hope that this testimony and decision comes sooner, rather than later.Perhaps this can even begin today.Here are President Nelson’s words:

“My decision to follow Jesus Christ is the most important decision I have ever made. During medical school, I gained a testimony of the divinity of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Since then our Savior has been the rock upon which I have built my life. That choice has made all the difference! That decision has made so many other decisions easier. That decision has given me purpose and direction. It has also helped me weather the storms of life.”^[20]

In addition to regular temple attendance and the importance of deciding to give your life to the Savior, President Nelson urged that at least each week, for all of our lives, we “devote time . . . to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”^[21]The reason for this is that as we come to understand the atonement and increase our love for the Savior, “There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!”^[22]

There is such hope in the atonement of the Lord.There is peace and joy in making the commitment to change whatever is needed to become His disciple.Deciding that I will give my life to the Lord truly does make every other decision easier.Deciding that I will follow God’s will, rather than constantly fighting the Spirit and struggling with sin, brings such peace and comfort.It also opens the opportunity to not only seek revelation, but to also feel answers and direction from the Lord that will bless our lives and those of our family and loved ones.This is the peace and joy of which prophets and apostles have testified.This is the decision that Mary and I made all these years together.This is the decision that has made us safe and secure in our faith and joyful in our lives.

I am so grateful to be able to join with Mormon and President Nelson, with Elder Andersen and my sweet wife, Mary, and with so many other faithful men and women who are certain in their faith, and declare that I, too, am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I, too, “have been called of Him to declare his word among His people, that they might have everlasting life.”^[23]

I invite you to join with us and millions of other faithful disciples and make the commitment to give your life to Jesus Christ.I invite you to do what you know is needed to become His disciple and deepen your faith and discipleship.This requires not just belief, but also action.I invite you to join me and so many others in not only listening to President Nelson’s words but also doing them.Increase your time in the temple.Learn of the atonement of Jesus Christ.Decide now to give your life to our Heavenly Father and His Son and do Their will.As you do these things, President Nelson has promised and I join in that promise, that “[The Lord] will forgive you as you repent. He will bless you with what you need. He will heal your wounded soul. As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”^[24]

My young brothers and sisters, of these things, and of the absolute joy of discipleship, I bear you my witness, I know that he lives, and I ask him to bless you in every righteous desire, and I do this all in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

^[1] 1 Nephi 4:6-7

^[2] D&C 121:41

^[3] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/57nelson?lang=eng

^[4] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/32craig?lang=eng

^[5] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/certain-women?lang=eng#title1

^[6] John 11:27

^[7] See, for example, Luke 24:1-10

^[8] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2006/10/discipleship?lang=eng

^[9] Ibid

^[10] Ibid

^[11] Ibid

^[12] Ibid