Study Guide for "Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It"

In his General Conference talk, Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy explores the profound lessons embedded in the account of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. He emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments, even when the reasons are not immediately clear. Elder Clayton delves into the faith and trust exhibited by Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other scriptural figures, drawing parallels to our own lives and the blessings that come from simple, consistent acts of faith. This talk encourages us to deepen our commitment to align our everyday behaviors with God's will, promising that such obedience will transform our lives in miraculous ways.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What was the first recorded miracle performed by Jesus?
How did Mary demonstrate her faith and trust in Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana?
What does Elder Clayton suggest is the relationship between small acts of faith and the larger challenges we face?
How does the story of Naaman illustrate the importance of obedience?
What are some examples of simple, daily practices of faith mentioned by Elder Clayton?

Topics

Demonstrate Unwavering Faith

Elder Clayton highlights the unwavering faith of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in His divine power. He recounts how Mary, knowing Jesus" capacity to solve problems, instructed the servants at the wedding feast in Cana to do whatever Jesus told them, demonstrating complete trust in Him.

Mary had unshakable confidence in Him and in His divine power. Her simple, straightforward instruction to the servants had no caveats, no qualifications, no limitations: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

What does Mary's instruction to the servants at the wedding feast reveal about her faith in Jesus?
How did Mary respond to the angel Gabriel's message, and what does this teach us about her character?
How can you demonstrate unwavering faith in your daily life?
In what ways can you show trust in God's plan, even when you don't understand it fully?
Reflect on a time when you followed a prompting or commandment without knowing the outcome. What was the result?

Align Everyday Behavior with God's Will

Elder Clayton emphasizes the importance of aligning our daily actions with God's will. He suggests that simple acts of faith such as studying the scriptures, fasting, and praying can deepen our spiritual capacity and help us meet life's challenges.

When we decide to do "whatsoever [God] saith unto" us, we earnestly commit to align our everyday behavior with God’s will.

Simple habits of belief lead to miraculous results. They transform our faith from a seedling into a dynamic power for good in our lives.

What are some examples of simple acts of faith mentioned by Elder Clayton?
How can aligning our daily actions with God's will help us face life's challenges?
What simple acts of faith can you incorporate into your daily routine?
How have small, consistent acts of faith strengthened your spiritual capacity?
Write about a time when aligning your behavior with God's will helped you overcome a challenge.

Understand the Power of Small and Simple Things

Elder Clayton discusses the significance of small and simple acts of obedience. He shares the story of Naaman, who was healed of leprosy by following a simple command, illustrating that seemingly insignificant acts of faith can lead to great blessings.

In my experience, getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be.

Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do.

What lesson can we learn from the story of Naaman and his healing?
Why are small and simple acts of obedience important according to Elder Clayton?
What small acts of faith are you currently practicing?
How can you be more deliberate about doing the "small and simple things"?
Reflect on a time when a small act of faith led to a significant blessing in your life.

Embrace Steadfast Obedience

Elder Clayton encourages steadfast obedience to God's commandments, even when the reasons are not immediately clear. He references Adam's obedience in offering sacrifices without knowing why, emphasizing that blessings often come after a trial of faith.

Some rewards of obedience do come quickly; others come only after we are tested.

Real obedience accepts God’s commandments unconditionally and in advance.

What example does Adam provide about obedience?
How does Elder Clayton describe the relationship between obedience and receiving blessings?
In what areas of your life can you show more steadfast obedience?
How do you respond when you don't understand the reasons behind a commandment?
Write about a time when you received blessings after a trial of faith.

Trust in the Lord and His Timing

Elder Clayton underscores the importance of trusting in the Lord's timing and His perfect love. He explains that God asks us to trust Him and follow Him, even when we don't see the whole picture or receive immediate answers.

God asks us to bear with Him—to trust Him and to follow Him.

Things work out when we stand firm during the "trial of [our] faith," however hard that test may be to endure or slow the answer may be in coming.

Why is it important to trust in the Lord's timing?
How does Elder Clayton describe the process of receiving divine responses?
How can you develop greater trust in the Lord's timing?
What experiences have taught you to rely on God's perfect love and timing?
Reflect on a situation where you had to wait for an answer from the Lord. How did you maintain your faith during that time?