Measuring a Genuine Christian

How are "obedience" and "love" accurate gauges for measuring a genuine Christian?

A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ, and tries to live as he lived.  We cannot know a person's heart, only God and Jesus know those things.  So all we can see are what's shown on the outside.

"Love" seems to be the easy one to notice and identify.  You can know that someone loves you by the way they act towards you.  Showing kindness, a comforting word, help with chores, or being a listening ear when someone is going through a rough trial.

But now that I've written that, what about people who find it difficult to "show" love?  Does it mean they don't love you if they don't do those things?

I've decided no.  People show love the best way they know how.  If they are not talkers or communicative verbally, maybe they show love by working hard for their family every day.  Maybe they keep the yard presentable or shovel snow when it's needed.  Maybe they take care of home issues when they arise, and even though they don't talk to you much, they still love you very much.

Back to the question.  When someone shows love to another, either verbally or through service, they are serving Christ.  That is what He asked us to do.  Love each other.  If someone serves other people, he is being a disciple of Christ.

Obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, and to the commandments, are another way to show discipleship.  It's hard to keep all of the commandments all of the time.  Honoring your parents when you don't agree with them.  Being truthful about every flaw you have casts YOU in a bad light.  Sometimes we slip because we don't want to be uncomfortable or embarrassed.

By trying every day, people can become more like our Savior.  We can never be like him all the way, by ourselves.  But that's not the point.  We try, and each try builds new or stronger connection synapses in our brains!  That makes it easier for us to do it again next time. (Can you tell I just read an article on brain synapses and forming habits...)

Obedience

Hello!

Our Sunday church meetings yesterday made me think about obedience. People obey for different reasons. There is obedience to the commandments, obedience to our parents, obedience to traffic laws.

People probably obey traffic laws to avoid tickets and to keep the privilege of driving. Maybe kids obey their parents to get the privileges that will be taken away if they don't obey. But we should obey the commandments and follow the prophets willingly and thankfully.

Why do I obey? Why should I obey? I think the Lord expects us to follow the commandments and the counsel of the prophets, and it is always for our good. But do we follow counsel grudgingly? Do we do the bare minimum, grumbling just a little?

So, what do the prophets tell us to do? Spencer W. Kimball talked about keeping journals. President Ezra Taft Benson said we should read and study the Book of Mormon. Our prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, testifies of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection. That we are promised peace and comfort by our Savior in our times of greatest need.

Other, most recent General Conference Talks can be read for more inspirational messages from our prophets and church leaders. I think they are best read one at a time, then you can give yourself time to ponder what you just read.

The talks are relatively short and always uplifting!