What Should We Be Like as a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
A Dissection of Alma 63:2
Anchor Scripture
“And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually,
to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother.”
— Alma 63:2
1. Just
Poignant Scriptures
Mosiah 18:1
“And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins
and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—”
Doctrine and Covenants 97:8
“Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits
contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord,
shall command—they are accepted of me.”
Proverbs 21:3
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Alma 41:14
“Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do
good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy
restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment
restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.”
Why These
These passages show that being just means we align our lives with God’s fairness, mercy, and integrity. Justice in discipleship is not cold legalism — it is covenant loyalty. We treat others with the same righteous fairness God extends to us.
Principle
We walk as disciples who deal honestly, judge righteously, and let God’s fairness shape our relationships.
2. Walk Uprightly Before God
Poignant Scriptures
Psalm 84:11
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.”
1 Nephi 10:21
“Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before
the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.”
Mosiah 2:41
“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the
commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold
out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of
never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”
Doctrine and Covenants 68:28
“And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.”
Why These
To walk uprightly is to live transparently before God — no hidden corners, no divided loyalties. These scriptures show that uprightness is a way of life where our actions, motives, and desires are aligned with holiness.
Principle
We live openly before God, letting our daily walk reflect sincerity, purity, and covenant integrity.
3. Do Good Continually
Poignant Scriptures
Acts 10:38
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
Mosiah 2:17
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service
of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
Alma 7:24
“And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.”
3 Nephi 27:27
“And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you,
which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”
Why These
Christ “went about doing good,” and discipleship means we follow His pattern. These passages show that doing good is not occasional — it is continual, habitual, and rooted in love. We become a people who bless, lift, and heal.
Principle
We cultivate a life of steady goodness, serving others as Christ served us.
4. Keep the Commandments
Poignant Scriptures
John 14:15
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Mosiah 4:30
“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your
deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming
of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.”
1 Nephi 3:7
“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath
commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way
for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”
Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings
are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
Why These
Keeping the commandments is the covenant expression of our love for God. These scriptures show that obedience is not burdensome — it is the path of protection, transformation, and joy.
Principle
We show our discipleship by obeying God with willing hearts, trusting that His commandments shape us into Christlike people.
5. Do Good Together
(“…and also did his brother.”)
Poignant Scriptures
Mosiah 18:21
“And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward
with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one
towards another.”
Philippians 2:2
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Alma 1:30
“And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry,
or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon
riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female,
whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.”
3 Nephi 12:9
“And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
Why These
The verse ends by noting that both brothers lived this way. Discipleship is not solitary — it is communal. These passages show that unity, shared goodness, and mutual strengthening are part of Christ’s design for His people.
Principle
We grow as disciples together — strengthening one another, walking in unity, and building a community that reflects Christ.
What We Become as Disciples of Jesus Christ
When we gather all five traits from Alma 63:2, a single, unified picture emerges. Discipleship is not abstract. It is not theoretical. It is a way of being — a way of walking — a way of loving — a way of living before God and one another.
As we look at these patterns, we are not simply studying a verse; we are studying the kind of people we are covenanting to become.
Closing Summary
As disciples of Jesus Christ:
- We are just — letting God’s fairness, mercy, and integrity shape how we treat one another.
- We walk uprightly — living with transparency, sincerity, and holiness before the Lord.
- We do good continually — following Christ’s pattern of steady, healing goodness.
- We keep the commandments — showing our love for God through willing obedience.
- We do good together — building unity, strengthening one another, and becoming a covenant people.
These are not five separate tasks. They are one shared identity. One covenant shape. One Christlike pattern.
Final Thoughts
When we read Alma’s description, we are not reading about spiritual elites. We are reading about ordinary disciples who chose to live extraordinarily faithful lives. Their example is not meant to intimidate us — it is meant to invite us.
We are not asked to be perfect today.
We are asked to be willing today.
Willing to be just.
Willing to walk uprightly.
Willing to do good.
Willing to obey.
Willing to walk together.
Discipleship is built on willingness — and willingness is built on love.
Testimony
I testify that as we choose this path — as we let these five traits settle into our bones and shape our daily walk — Christ Himself forms His image in us. He does not leave us to become disciples on our own. He walks with us, strengthens us, corrects us, and lifts us.
I know that when we deal justly, He restores justice to us.
When we walk uprightly, He walks with us.
When we do good continually, His goodness flows through us.
When we keep His commandments, He prepares the way before us.
And when we do good together, He knits our hearts into a true covenant people.
May we be the disciples Alma described — not in word only, but in the living witness of our lives. May we walk in the way of Christ, reflect the heart of Christ, and become a people who carry His goodness into every corner of our world, amen.
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