Ye Became Followers of Us

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia” (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7). Other translations use the stronger word “imitators” instead of “followers”—Paul and his missionary companions were examples for the people of Thessalonica to follow and to imitate. He also wrote, “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judæa are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Similarly, other translations use the word “imitators” instead of “followers” suggesting that these converts learned how to live the gospel by imitating the missionaries and other members of the church. At the end of the second epistle to them Paul highlighted this point again: “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). Similarly the word “follow” here is replaced with “imitate” in the New International Version and in other translations. Paul realized that these Saints learned how to live the gospel by imitating those who taught it to them, highlighting just how important it is for us to do as Paul taught to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

                And so, as we strive to teach the gospel, we should remember that likely the most important sermon we will give will be with our actions and not our words. We are to provide the kind of example of a Christlike life that we want others to follow to draw closer to Him. We talk a lot about those who have “followers” on social media, and so we should ask ourselves where we are leading the more important kind of followers we might have, whether those are our children, friends, or others who see our actions. I know that I have at least one follower—my five-year-old son. If I ever leave the house to go somewhere, and he realizes it, he is there. He’ll come running out of the house yelling, “I’m coming!” He doesn’t know where we are going and doesn’t care—he just knows I am leaving and wants to come. I have given up trying to tell him he can’t come—it’s no use because he’ll just burst into tears and get in the car anyway. So, when I went recently to get a new calling from a Bishopric member, he was by my side. When I went the other night, well past his bedtime, to practice the piano with some friends, he was there. When I went to my most recent Young Men’s activity, he was with me and joined the older boys building a campfire. When I take my oldest daughter to junior high in her carpool, he is usually there in the backseat in his pajamas. And so, Paul’s words remind me to ask the question, “Where am I leading him?” Or, “If he imitates me, will he become the kind of person that I want him to become?” I have some work to do there, and ultimately the goal is that I lead him to want to follow the Savior, only perfect example. He is the One we should seek each day to imitate: as Nephi taught, He “set the example” for us and invites us with these simple words: “Follow thou me” (2 Nephi 31:9-10). May we, like Paul among the Thessalonians, “make ourselves an ensample” and lead others to Christ so they can ultimately follow Him.