Exceeding Great and Precious Promises
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What are the "exceeding great and precious promises" mentioned by Peter?
- How do the Sabbath day, the holy temple, and our homes help us remember these promises?
- What role do ordinances and covenants play in our spiritual rebirth?
- How can we avoid being overcome by the routine and mundane matters of mortality?
- What is the ultimate purpose of our mortal journey according to Elder Bednar?
Topics
Understanding Our Divine Identity
Elder Bednar outlines our divine identity as children of Heavenly Father, created in His image with a divine nature and destiny. He references "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" to explain our premortal existence and the purpose of our earthly life.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.
God promises His children that if they follow the precepts of His plan and the example of His Beloved Son, keep the commandments, and endure in faith to the end, then by virtue of the Savior’s Redemption, they "shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
- What does "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" say about our divine nature?
- How does understanding our divine identity impact our daily lives?
- How can I better recognize and act according to my divine identity?
- What steps can I take to align my daily actions with my eternal destiny?
Experiencing Spiritual Rebirth
Elder Bednar discusses the process of spiritual rebirth, emphasizing that it involves a gradual transformation through faith in Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and the Holy Ghost. He highlights the importance of priesthood ordinances and covenants in this ongoing process.
As we press forward submissively with faith in the Savior, then because of His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, "a mighty change [takes place] in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Ordinances that are received worthily and remembered continually open the heavenly channels through which the power of godliness can flow into our lives.
- What are the key elements of spiritual rebirth?
- How do priesthood ordinances and covenants facilitate spiritual rebirth?
- In what ways can I more fully embrace the process of spiritual rebirth in my life?
- How can I ensure that I am worthily participating in and remembering the ordinances and covenants I have made?
Remembering the Promises through the Sabbath
Elder Bednar explains that the Sabbath day is a sacred time set apart for worshipping God and remembering His promises. He emphasizes that keeping the Sabbath day holy helps us stay unspotted from the world and focus on eternal blessings.
The Sabbath is God’s time, a sacred time specifically set apart for worshipping Him and for receiving and remembering His great and precious promises.
On His holy day, our thoughts, actions, and demeanor are signs we give to God and an indicator of our love for Him.
- What is the purpose of the Sabbath day?
- How does keeping the Sabbath day holy help us remember God's promises?
- How can I improve my observance of the Sabbath day?
- What specific actions can I take on the Sabbath to better focus on worship and remembering God's promises?
Elevating Our Vision through Temple Worship
Elder Bednar highlights the temple as a sacred space where we can participate in ordinances and remember covenants. He explains that the temple helps us elevate our vision from worldly distractions to eternal blessings.
A temple literally is the house of the Lord, a sacred space specifically set apart for worshipping God and for receiving and remembering His great and precious promises.
A principal purpose of the temple is to elevate our vision from the things of the world to the blessings of eternity.
- What are the purposes of temple worship?
- How does the temple help us focus on eternal blessings?
- How can I make my temple worship more meaningful?
- In what ways can I bring the spirit of the temple into my daily life?
Creating Sacred Time and Space in Our Homes
Elder Bednar emphasizes that our homes should be the ultimate combination of sacred time and space where we remember God's promises. He explains that the spirit and strength derived from Sabbath and temple experiences should be brought into our homes to sustain our spiritual focus.
Importantly, a home should be the ultimate combination of time and space wherein individuals and families remember most effectively God’s great and precious promises.
Our Sabbath and temple experiences should be spiritual catalysts that imbue individuals and families and our homes with continual reminders of key lessons learned.
- Why is it important to create sacred time and space in our homes?
- How can our homes become places where we remember God's promises?
- What changes can I make in my home to create a more sacred environment?
- How can I better integrate the lessons and spirit from Sabbath and temple experiences into my home life?
