Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Hales: "Now, More Than Ever, We Cannot Be a 'Part-Time Disciple'"

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It can be tempting to become casual with our efforts to live the gospel and develop Christlike attributes. 

But in a recent Facebook post, Elder Robert D. Hales admonished members to not become "part-time disciples" and shared the blessings that come from making the effort to become devoted disciples of the Savior. 

The attributes of the Savior, as we perceive them, are not a script to be followed or list to be checked off. They are interwoven characteristics, added one to another, which develop in us in interactive ways. In other words, we cannot obtain one Christlike characteristic without also obtaining others. As one characteristic becomes strong, so do many more.
I testify that the efforts we make to become disciples of our Savior are truly added upon until we are “possessed” of His love. This love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
It is faith, hope, and charity that qualify us for the work of God. “And now abideth … these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Brothers and sisters, now, more than ever, we cannot be a “part-time disciple!” We cannot be a disciple on just one point of doctrine or another. The constellation of characteristics that orbit around faith in Christ are all necessary to our standing strong in these last days.

Lead image from lds.org
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