Study Guide for "Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family"

In his General Conference talk, Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy addresses the profound importance of earning the trust of the Lord and one's family. He emphasizes that trust is built on integrity and adherence to divine principles. Elder Maynes shares personal experiences and scriptural examples to illustrate how trust can be cultivated and maintained, particularly within the family unit. His message underscores the need for priesthood holders to fulfill their divine responsibilities with love, righteousness, and unity, thereby establishing a Christ-centered home.

Before Reading

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

What does Elder Maynes identify as the foundation of trust?
How does integrity play a role in earning the Lord's trust?
What are the three divinely appointed responsibilities of fathers according to "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"?
How does Elder Maynes illustrate the principle of trust through his personal experiences?
What insights do Elder Maynes" daughters provide about trust in marriage?

Topics

Building Trust through Integrity

Elder Maynes emphasizes that trust is fundamentally built on integrity. He explains that integrity of heart is essential for a righteous person’s character and is crucial for earning the Lord’s trust. Integrity involves being pure and righteous in both intentions and actions, in public and private.

Trust is a blessing based on obedience to God’s laws.

Men who have "integrity of heart" are men to be trusted—because trust is built on integrity.

Being a man of integrity simply means your intentions, as well as your actions, are pure and righteous in all aspects of your life, both in public and in private.

What is the relationship between trust and integrity according to Elder Maynes?
Why is integrity essential in both public and private aspects of life?
In what ways can you demonstrate integrity in your daily actions?
Reflect on a time when your integrity was tested. How did you respond, and what did you learn from the experience?

Fulfilling Divine Responsibilities as Fathers

Elder Maynes outlines three divinely appointed responsibilities for fathers as stated in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World": presiding over their families in love and righteousness, providing the necessities of life, and protecting their families. He stresses the importance of fulfilling these responsibilities in unity with one's spouse.

Fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness.

Fathers are responsible to provide the necessities of life.

Fathers are responsible to protect their families.

What are the three divinely appointed responsibilities of fathers according to "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"?
How should fathers approach these responsibilities in partnership with their wives?
How can you better fulfill your responsibilities as a father or future father?
What steps can you take to ensure unity with your spouse in making significant family decisions?

Trust as Exemplified by Nephi

Elder Maynes highlights Nephi as an example of someone who placed his trust in the Lord and, as a result, earned the Lord’s trust. Nephi’s unwavering commitment to doing the Lord’s will and his integrity in fulfilling his assignments brought great blessings to his life and his people.

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.

As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

How did Nephi demonstrate his trust in the Lord?
What were the consequences of Nephi’s trust in God for himself and his people?
How can you develop greater trust in the Lord in your own life?
What specific actions can you take to show your commitment to doing the Lord’s will?

The Role of Trust in Marriage

Elder Maynes shares insights from his daughters, Lara and Christina, on the importance of trust in marriage. They emphasize that trust brings peace, love, and stability to the home. Trust is likened to faith, and its presence or absence significantly affects family dynamics.

When we can trust each other in this way, it brings peace to our home, where we can enjoy raising our family together.

Trust brings peace, love, and an environment where that love can grow.

How does trust affect the dynamics of a marriage according to Elder Maynes’ daughters?
What are the similarities between trust and faith in the context of marriage?
In what ways can you build and maintain trust in your marriage?
Reflect on your own experiences of trust within your family. How has trust influenced your relationships?

The Lasting Impact of a Father’s Integrity

Elder Maynes shares a personal story about his father’s integrity in a business situation. His father’s refusal to compromise his integrity for financial gain left a lasting impression on Elder Maynes and taught him the importance of maintaining integrity in all aspects of life.

Once you take a bribe or compromise your integrity, it is very difficult to ever get it back. Don’t ever do it, not even once.

You can imagine the trust I had in my father due to the integrity of his heart.

What lesson did Elder Maynes learn from his father about integrity?
How did his father’s integrity influence Elder Maynes’ trust in him?
How can you ensure that you maintain integrity in your professional and personal life?
Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced integrity in action. How did it impact you?