Come, Follow Me

Acts 11

What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?

Christ Teaching His Disciples, 19th-Century English School, © Look and Learn / Bridgeman Images

In the book of Acts we learn that the disciples who followed Christ in the early Church “were called Christians” (Acts 11:26). Likewise, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strive to be good Christians. But what does it mean to be a Christian?

It is not a simple declaration of belief. Being a Christian requires more than devotion in name only. Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked: “What kind of Christians are we? In other words, how are we doing in our quest to follow Christ?”¹

Christlike Qualities

Elder Hales encouraged us to evaluate our progress in developing the following Christlike qualities:²

• Love

• Faith

• Sacrifice

• Caring

• Service

• Patience

• Peace

• Forgiveness

• Conversion

• Endurance to the end

Discussion

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that one of our most important identities is that of “disciple of Jesus Christ.”³ How do people know that you are a Christian, or a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Notes

1. Robert D. Hales, “Being a More Christian Christian,” Liahona, Nov. 2012, 90.

2. See Robert D. Hales, “Being a More Christian Christian,” 91–92.

3. Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity” (worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.