“I’m a Christian!” Friend, Jan. 2002, 26
“I’m a Christian!”
Based on a true story
I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ (Mosiah 5:8).
“What is a Christian?” Lisa asked Mom. They were in the car, driving to piano lessons. “What religion is that?”
“A Christian is someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Mom glanced at her. “What’s this about?”
Lisa sighed. “Some kids asked me if I was Christian, and I told them that I was Mormon.”
“Mormon is a name some people call our Church members because we believe in the Book of Mormon as well as in the Bible.” Mom smiled at her. “Do you know the full name of our church?”
“Yes—it’s The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
“Right! It has Jesus’ name in it because it’s His Church, and we worship Him and obey His commandments. So we are definitely Christians.” Mom patted Lisa’s knee. “But I can think of two quick answers you can use to tell someone about our church.”
“What are they?”
“I know that you’ve already learned most of the Articles of Faith,” Mom said. “Tell me the first one.”
“OK. ‘We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.’” [A of F 1:1]
Mom smiled. “Excellent! Did you listen to what you said? You just told the whole world what Latter-day Saints believe.”
“Yes! I did!” Lisa sat up straight, “We believe in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.”
“Good. The second way to tell people about our church is even easier. This one is a song.”
“A song?”
“Can you think of a Primary song about the Savior and the Church?”
“‘Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,’” Lisa sang, her voice cracking on the high note.
They both laughed.
“Well, that’s a good song,” Mom said. “But I was thinking of ‘The Church of Jesus Christ.’”*
“Oh!”
“Let’s sing it together. Listen closely to the words and see if you can hear what we believe. Ready?”
“I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name.
I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim.”
Lisa was smiling when they finished singing. “That is easy!”
“If anyone asks you what church you belong to, tell them, ‘I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’”
“And I’m a Christian!”
“And you’re always going to be one of Jesus’ sunbeams, too!”
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler by Heinrich Hofmann
Illustrated by Rob McKay