I have been an admirer of Mormon for many years and here’s why: Mormon lived during the most evil period of American history and witnessed the destruction of the entire Nephite civilization. At the tender age of 16 he became the leader of the Nephite armies (Mormon 2:1,2), an appointment which began his valiant ministry among the Nephites with firm hopes of circumventing inevitable doom. His frantic and heart wrenching calls to repentance despite his better judgment were for one purpose only - "to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life" (3 Nephi 5:13). Likewise, his purpose in writing and compiling The Book of Mormon was to have us, in our day, "come unto Christ" (Mormon 8:35). Mormon did this for this one outstanding reason. It sends shivers up my spine when I read: "And behold I am called Mormon.....and I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." (3 Nephi 5:12,13).
And here is food for thought: “The word ‘disciple’ comes from the Latin meaning ‘a learner’. A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Christ – learning to think, to feel, and to act as he does. To be a true disciple, to fulfil that learning task, is the most demanding regimen known to man. No other discipline compares….in either requirements or rewards. It involves the total transformation of a person from the state of the natural man to that of a saint, one who loves the Lord and serves with all of his heart, might, mind and strength.” (Chauncey C. Riddle, ‘Becoming a Disciple’, Ensign Sept 1974, p 81).
A further food for thought for those of you who are suffering: “…the very act of choosing to be a disciple can bring to us a certain special suffering….such suffering and chastening is the dimension that comes with deep discipleship, when the Lord takes us to the very edge of our faith, we teeter at the edge of our trust….in a form of learning as it is administered at the hands of a loving Father.” (Neal A Maxwell).
What I see in Mormon as Christ’s disciple is someone who has absolute, unrestrained devotion to His teachings and a sacrifice of all that is necessary to maintain such commitment. Despite the challenge of living in such an evil day, my hat goes off to this man who found a reason to rejoice: “I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless my God and my Saviour Jesus Christ…that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls” (3 Nephi 5:20). It’s the scripture that I will carry with me into 2022.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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