Study Guide for "The True, Pure, and Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ"

In this talk, President M. Russell Ballard shares his experiences and insights from his many years of service in the Church. He emphasizes the importance of living the "true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus Christ" and how it brings peace, joy, and happiness. He discusses the challenges we face in life and how, despite these, we can find joy through faith and service. He also reflects on the adjustments in the Church and how they are meant to help us focus more on the core teachings of Christ.

Before Reading

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

What does President Ballard mean by the "true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus Christ"?
What are some of the challenges we face in life and how can we find joy amidst these challenges?
What adjustments have been made in the Church and how do they help us focus on the core teachings of Christ?
What is the doctrinal foundation of ministering and how does it relate to loving God and our neighbors?
How can we keep our testimonies simple and focused on the gospel of Christ?

Topics

Finding Joy through Faith and Service

Despite the challenges and setbacks we face in life, we can find peace, joy, and happiness through faith in Jesus Christ and service to others. As we strive to become faithful disciples of Christ, we can find joy amidst the worldly troubles that surround us.

But even though we cannot control those external forces that impact our lives here on earth, as we strive to become faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can find peace, joy, and happiness despite the worldly troubles that swirl around us.

When we love and serve the Lord and love and serve our neighbors, we will naturally feel more happiness that comes to us in no better way.

What does it mean to become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ?
How can service to others bring us joy?
How can you strive to become a more faithful disciple of Christ?
What are some ways you can serve others to find more joy in your life?

The Importance of Living the Simple Gospel of Christ

Living the true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus Christ allows us to focus on what is most important. This includes loving God, serving our neighbors, and keeping the commandments. Living the gospel in this way brings peace, joy, and happiness.

Living the true, pure, and simple gospel plan will allow us more time to visit the widows, widowers, orphans, lonely, sick, and poor. We will find peace, joy, and happiness in our life when serving the Lord and our neighbors.

The best ways for us to see the spiritual purposes of the Church are to live the true, pure, and simple teachings of Christ and also to apply the Savior’s two great commandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. … Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

What does it mean to live the "true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus Christ"?
How can living the gospel in this way bring us peace, joy, and happiness?
How can you better live the simple gospel of Jesus Christ in your daily life?
What are some ways you can better apply the Savior’s two great commandments?

The Role of Adjustments in the Church

The adjustments made in the Church are meant to help us focus more on the core teachings of Christ. They are not meant to complicate things but to simplify them. They are designed to help us build faith and strong testimonies.

In the last 18 months, the Lord has inspired His prophet and the Apostles to implement a number of wonderful adjustments. However, I worry that the spiritual purposes of these adjustments might become lost in the excitement about the changes themselves.

Let’s not complicate things with additional meetings, expectations, or requirements. Keep it simple. It is in that simplicity that you will find the peace, joy, and happiness I have been talking about.

What are some of the adjustments that have been made in the Church?
How can these adjustments help us focus more on the core teachings of Christ?
How have the recent adjustments in the Church helped you in your personal and family gospel study?
What can you do to ensure that the spiritual purposes of these adjustments are not lost in your life?

The Power of Simple Testimonies

Keeping our testimonies simple and focused on the gospel of Christ can bring spiritual renewal. We should share our testimonies with one another, focusing on the plan of happiness and the true, pure, and simple gospel of Christ.

As we keep our testimonies simple and focused on the gospel of Christ, He will provide spiritual renewal as we share our testimonies with one another.

What does it mean to keep our testimonies simple and focused on the gospel of Christ?
How can sharing our testimonies bring spiritual renewal?
How can you keep your testimony simple and focused on the gospel of Christ?
What experiences have you had with sharing your testimony and feeling spiritual renewal?

The Joy of Gospel Living

The joy of gospel living is centered on the true, pure, and simple doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ. Living the gospel brings peace, joy, and happiness. President Ballard testifies of the truthfulness of the gospel and the divine guidance he has received throughout his service in the Church.

The joy of gospel living for me has been centered on the true, pure, and simple doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ.

I bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and this is His Church—of which I testify humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

What does it mean to experience the "joy of gospel living"?
How can living the gospel bring us peace, joy, and happiness?
How have you experienced the joy of gospel living in your own life?
What can you do to better live the gospel and experience more joy?