Disciples

by Chieko N. Okazaki

Think of the blessings that flow from being a true disciple of Christ. In Disciples, Sister Okazaki explores many dimensions of discipleship from the perspective of both sides of the covenant. She rejoices in the Savior's unlimited love for us, and the book is filled with evidence of that love drawn from scriptures and personal experiences. For someone who embarks on the way of a disciple, that love is both the motive and the power to serve, to listen, to uplift, and to deal healingly with others.

Genres: Lds, Religion, Nonfiction, Church, Spirituality

262 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Chieko N. Okazaki was the first non-Caucasian to serve on a general board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was a counselor in the general Relief Society presidency from 1990 to 1997. She is the author of several bestselling books and tapes. She and her husband, the late Ed Okazaki, have two sons.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okazaki's writings are magnificent, as always. I will confess my reading experience was a little different this time. Normally when I read an Okazaki book, I see the model for what I want to become, and I find myself energized and equipped to approach God more authentically, integrate Christ-like action and thought into the things I do, and create spaces where differences are celebrated. This time, I saw a model for what this church could have been if we had been listening. I want to give credit where credit is due and say we did start doing a lot of the things she talked about, especially when it comes to single and blended families. But still, I can't help feeling discouraged that back in 1995, she was addressing issues of how we approach doubt, expanding opportunities for women to use their talents at church (within the current framework), and what treating our LGBT+ members and their families with love should look like, and we are currently paying the price for not doing these things. And of course, her tenure in the presidency had ended by the time this book was published, so she wasn't speaking in an official capacity, but still, I can't help thinking about all the people I care about that have left a faith that meant so much to them, and what we will be missing by their absence, and wondering if things could have been different if we'd spent the last 20 years really listening to and loving each other. I am consoled to see that we have been starting down the path she's outlined, so better late than never?

Regardless, Okazaki is wise, inspiring, big hearted, loving, and Christ-like, and this book made me ask a lot of big questions about what it means to live and think as a disciple of Christ. This was a great read.

[Ashley Furness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and really appreciate Sister Okazaki’s perspective on diversity and inclusion. This book is one that I think all church members and leaders especially should read.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another reread, for the record.

Unlike the previous 3 books, this one got into some very intense territory. One chapter is devoted to physical and sexual abuse. It focuses on recovery, and makes a very cogent point - that the victim cannot be expected to forgive the abuser until healing has taken place. And this, in turn, is likely to require professional counseling.

I also noted an interesting statistic. The stereotype of a Mormon woman is somebody married to a returned missionary, who has approximately four kids in the house. Such a family is actually NOT a majority. Women not yet married, women widowed or divorced. Women married to non-members. Women who haven't yet had children, women who wanted children but were unable to have them, women whose children no longer live with her. Women with stepchildren. Etc.

Today, I quoted to my friend something Sister Okazaki had shared. A man explained why he acted as he did, speaking in pidgin English: "Love not by mouth. Love by behave." Completely comprehensible, does not need fancy language to make the point.

Yes, another great book by a great woman.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how much the audio version is of the printed. It said it was selections from her book, but it also had a coherent line of thought through what I read. So maybe it's most of it?

Okazaki once again brings a practical realism to gospel living that is so very appropriate and needed. Her perspective and counsel is spot on with what we need to understand better in the church. Amazingly she was saying all of this 25 years ago! I remember vague feelings and stories about her when I was young that she was very bold and upfront, but I think she came across as unnecessarily unorthodox and so good, but not needed. Granted, I grew up in just about as privileged/idealized family situation that you get. So, it's nice to see the council getting a resurgence as people discover her, again. We could definitely all use some Okazaki in our gospel discipleship.

[Yamile Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Oh, how I miss her!

[Gena Lott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful discussion helps lead the reader to a greater love of Jesus Christ and presents a grander view for becoming his disciple.

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chieko Okazaki served for seven years as a counselor in the general Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ. In that time she saw many examples of what true discipleship is -- and isn't. As a Christian inspirational writer she is one of the best (her chapters revolve, in particular, around happenings in her own chosen religion but will be uplifting for Christians of any denomination.)
Each chapter is complete in itself (this isn't a book that follows through from the beginning of the topic to a set conclusion ) although each deals with how we can handle our quests to become more effective followers of Jesus Christ.
Some of the chapter titles are "In the Shelter of His Wings", "Knit Together in Love", "Strengthening Every Home", "Stones", "Healing from Sexual Abuse: Eight Messages for Survivors, Families, and Leaders", and (one of my favorites) "Change, Choice, Challenge, and the Cockroach".
In "Steadfast Disciples" she speaks of the problems we may all face with doubts and confusion about doctrines and teachings of our churches. She says, "Think about how faith operates in our own lives. It's not a vacuum cleaner that we can plug in and suck up doubts or confusion. It's not a wind that blows away things we don't understand. Faith is a process. It's part of a living dynamic that takes our questions and works on them in the context of God's patience." Later in the chapter, she points out "I think we should...remember that God is delighted with our questions, because they show we're thinking. Many times questions are not welcomed at church or in classes because they seem to stop or disrupt the teacher's idea of how the lesson should go. Many times doctrinal questions are perplexing, because the Lord reveals concepts to us in language and images that we can't understand. ...our understandings evolve over time...we may have a question that doesn't seem to be a question for anyone else, and so we feel shy about asking it.
"I'm not saying that all questions should be discussed in classes. Some of them may be the kinds... to be pondered privately in our hearts as we seek for answers. Sometimes we need to grow in understanding of other concepts before we can comprehend a particular answer. But as a teacher, I really believe in the value of questions."
This is the sort of topic that assures me that this book will be valuable for anyone who seeks to be a more effective disciple.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Chieko was such a real, open, honest woman that understood the gospel and what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ. I loved her wisdom, her truth, her stories, her quotes, and her messages in this book.

[Leisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago and loved it. It's about what we need to do to be great disciples of Jesus Christ. It is no longer in print however, which is sad.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book!!

[William]

I got this while accompanying my sister-in-law on a visit to her late childhood piano teacher's house. The piano teacher's daughter was cleaning out her mother's stuff, getting rid of a bunch of things, and thought my sister-in-law might want to look through and take some of her old sheet music. While we were there, somehow I was invited to take whatever I wanted from her old books as well, and I'm a sucker for free books. This one reminded me of my mother, who always loved Chieko, only partially because she had known her from years before in Colorado.

So that's how I came to possess and read this book intended for a female audience. . . Really, the only times when that felt like an issue was when she literally referred to it. Otherwise, I'd say the insights here are pretty applicable for male "disciples" as well as female. Chieko's best moments in this book are when she uses some facet of Japanese (Her husband was a mission president there.) or Hawaiian (where she's from) culture as a metaphor for a gospel principle. I also liked the moments when she talked about her courtship and relationship with her husband, Ed.

In this book she does have the tendency to focus on the shortcomings of Mormon culture and conformism--how we should be less judgmental, that its okay that not everyone drives a minivan full of seven children, stuff like that. Perhaps if I had read this when it was published in 1998, this would have felt less "old hat" than it did to me in 2018, after the advent of the Bloggernacle and Facebook Mormonism and all that. Chieko was ahead of the curve. And while there were probably a few moments when I was a little bit annoyed by this self-chastisement, her heart was always in the right place.

I kind of don't think I'll read another Chieko book based on my experience with this one--unless there's one that is, like, way better than this one--but I'm not sorry I read it either. Seems like she was a great lady and an important leader in the Church.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What really pushed this from 4 to 5 stars for me was that this book, published in 1998, is so relevant today, and I feel like members or the church itself has been grappling with many of the topics lovingly addressed in here for these past 20 years. There’s a chapter about dealing with physical and sexual abuse. There’s stories about how to include gay people, single/childless/divorced/remarried/partmember families, a variety of cultures and races, those struggling with mental illness, etc. She is one of my favorite speakers and writers and I wish she were still around today. She focuses on doing what Christ would do in a way that feels doable. May we all have faith and love like Chieko Okazaki counseled us to.