Study Guide for "The Savior’s Touch"

In this talk, Elder Walter F. González of the Seventy presents the story of the Savior healing a leper as an example of Christ's willingness to bless us, heal us, and help us to endure trials. He emphasizes the importance of accepting God's will and trusting in His eternal perspective, no matter the challenges we face.

Before Reading

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

What does the story of the Savior healing a leper teach us about Christ's character and His desire to bless us?
How does Elder González relate this story to our own personal trials and afflictions?
What does it mean to accept God's will and how can this attitude help us in our mortal and eternal lives?
What is the significance of the Savior's touch in our lives today?
How does Elder González illustrate the principle of trust in God through personal experiences?

Topics

Understanding the Savior's Willingness to Bless Us

Elder González uses the story of the Savior healing a leper to illustrate Christ's desire to bless us. He emphasizes that blessings may come at different times, but they will always come in due time.

The Savior then extended His hand and, touching him, said, "I will; be thou clean."

We learn here that our Savior always wants to bless us. Some blessings may come immediately, others may take longer, and some may even come after this life, but blessings will come in due time.

What does the Savior's response to the leper teach us about His willingness to bless us?
How does understanding the Savior's willingness to bless us help us to endure trials and challenges?
How have you personally experienced the Savior's willingness to bless you?
How can you cultivate a stronger faith in the Savior's desire to bless you?

Accepting and Trusting in God's Will

Elder González emphasizes the importance of accepting God's will and trusting in His eternal perspective. He shares a personal experience of his wife's health challenge to illustrate the peace and strength that come from surrendering our will to God's will.

We must come unto Christ with a sincere desire that our will be swallowed up in the will of the Father, as His was. This will prepare us for eternal life.

In that very important moment, the Spirit whispered to her that she had to accept the will of the Father. She then decided to place her trust in God.

What does it mean to accept God's will?
How does trusting in God's will help us to face challenges and trials?
Can you recall a time when you had to accept and trust in God's will during a trial?
What steps can you take to better align your will with God's will?

Coming Unto Christ in Times of Brokenness

Elder González discusses the feelings of brokenness that can result from trials and afflictions. He reminds us that in these moments, we can turn to the Savior for healing and comfort.

Sometimes—in one way or another—we too can feel broken, whether due to our own actions or those of others, due to circumstances we can or cannot control. In such moments, we can place our will in His hands.

We too can feel the touch of the Savior’s loving, healing hand. What joy, hope, and gratefulness come to our souls in knowing that He wants to help us to be clean!

What does it mean to feel "broken" and how does the Savior offer healing?
How does the Savior's healing touch provide comfort and hope during times of brokenness?
Have you ever experienced feelings of brokenness? How did the Savior help you during those times?
How can you seek the Savior's healing touch in your current circumstances?

Recognizing Christ as a God We Can Trust

Elder González emphasizes that we can trust God because He loves us and wants what is best for us. He reassures us that nothing bad can come from God, and that He can lighten our burdens.

A God we can trust emboldens our hope. We can trust Him because He loves us and wants what is best for us in every circumstance.

Nothing bad can come from God. He knows what is best for us. Perhaps He will not remove our burdens right away. Sometimes He can make those burdens feel lighter, as He did with Alma and his people.

What does it mean to trust in God?
How does knowing that God wants what is best for us help us to trust Him?
How have you experienced God's trustworthiness in your life?
What steps can you take to cultivate greater trust in God?

Experiencing the Savior's Healing and Cleansing Power

Elder González emphasizes the Savior's power to heal us and make us clean. He reassures us that through Christ, all things in our lives that have been broken can be mended.

He can heal us and lift us up because He has the ability to do it. He took upon Himself all the pains of body and spirit so that His bowels would be filled with mercy in order to be able to help us in all things and to heal us and lift us up.

If you feel that in any way you are not clean, if you feel broken, please know that you can be made clean, you can be mended, because He loves you. Trust that nothing bad can come from Him.

What does it mean to be "made clean" or "healed" by the Savior?
How does the Savior's atonement enable Him to heal and cleanse us?
How have you personally experienced the Savior's healing and cleansing power?
What steps can you take to seek the Savior's healing and cleansing power in your life?