Study Guide for "Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God"

In his talk, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encourages us to remember and contemplate the goodness and greatness of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the transformative power of gratitude, and how reflecting on God's compassion, mercy, and the gifts we have received from Him can make us more humble, prayerful, and steadfast. He illustrates his points with personal experiences and scriptural references, and extends an invitation to remember God's greatness every day.

Before Reading

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

What is the impact of remembering and reflecting on God's goodness and greatness?
How does gratitude transform us and draw us closer to God and Jesus Christ?
How can reflecting on God's compassion and mercy make us more humble, prayerful, and steadfast?
What is the significance of the gifts we have received from God and Jesus Christ?
What blessings come from aligning our will with God's will?

Topics

Remembering and Reflecting on God's Goodness and Greatness

Elder Renlund emphasizes the importance of remembering and reflecting on the goodness and greatness of God. He explains that this is not for God's gratification, but for the profound influence such remembrance has on us. By considering God's kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged, and we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to recall His and His Beloved Son’s goodness, not for Their own gratification but for the influence such remembrance has on us.

By considering Their kindness, our perspective and understanding are enlarged.

By reflecting on Their compassion, we become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast.

Why does God want us to remember His goodness and greatness?
How does remembering God's goodness and greatness influence us?
What changes in us when we reflect on God's compassion?
How can you cultivate a daily practice of remembering and reflecting on God's goodness and greatness?
In what ways have you experienced God's kindness in your life?
How has reflecting on God's compassion made you more humble, prayerful, or steadfast?

The Transformative Power of Gratitude

Elder Renlund shares a personal experience to illustrate how gratitude can transform us. He tells the story of a man who received a heart transplant from his deceased grandson and how this gift transformed him into a more thoughtful and kindhearted person. Likewise, when we remember and express gratitude for the gifts we have received from God, including redemption through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it can and should transform us.

A poignant experience with a former patient shows how gratitude for generosity and compassion can transform us.

Every time we use, benefit from, or even think of these gifts, we ought to consider the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion of the givers.

Reflecting on Their gifts can and should transform us.

How does gratitude transform us?
Why should we consider the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion of God and Jesus Christ when we think of the gifts we have received from them?
How can reflecting on the gifts we have received from God and Jesus Christ transform us?
What gifts have you received from God and Jesus Christ for which you are grateful?
How have these gifts transformed you?
How can you show your gratitude for these gifts?

Remembering God's Gifts and Their Significance

Elder Renlund discusses the significance of the gifts we have received from God and Jesus Christ, including life in this world, physical life in the hereafter, and eternal salvation and exaltation. He emphasizes the importance of not taking these gifts for granted and of reflecting on the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion that these gifts entailed.

We have received life in this world; we will receive physical life in the hereafter, and eternal salvation and exaltation—if we choose it—all because of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Every time we use, benefit from, or even think of these gifts, we ought to consider the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion of the givers.

Reflecting on Their gifts can and should transform us.

What are some of the gifts we have received from God and Jesus Christ?
Why is it important to consider the sacrifice, generosity, and compassion of God and Jesus Christ when we think of these gifts?
How can reflecting on these gifts transform us?
What gifts have you received from God and Jesus Christ?
How have these gifts impacted your life?
How can you show your gratitude for these gifts?

Aligning Our Will with God's Will

Elder Renlund explains that as our trust in God and Jesus Christ increases, our prayers change. We seek not to change God's will but to align our will with His and secure for ourselves the blessings He wants to grant us. This alignment with God's will qualifies us for additional heavenly blessings.

Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His children. We seek not to change His will but to align our will with His and secure for ourselves blessings that He wants to grant, conditioned on our asking for them.

These changes qualify us for additional heavenly blessings.

How does our trust in God and Jesus Christ affect our prayers?
What does it mean to align our will with God's will?
How does aligning our will with God's will qualify us for additional blessings?
How can you align your will with God's will in your daily life?
What changes have you noticed in your prayers as your trust in God has increased?
What blessings have you received as a result of aligning your will with God's will?

Remembering God's Goodness and Mercy

Elder Renlund concludes his talk by inviting us to remember each day the greatness of God and Jesus Christ and what They have done for us. He promises that by doing so, our spiritual sensitivity will increase, allowing us to know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost. This includes gaining a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, knowing that Jesus is our personal Savior and Redeemer, and accepting that His gospel has been restored in these latter days.

I invite you to remember each day the greatness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what They have done for you.

Reflecting on God’s goodness and mercy helps us become more spiritually receptive.

In turn, increased spiritual sensitivity allows us to come to know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Why is it important to remember each day the greatness of God and Jesus Christ and what They have done for us?
How does reflecting on God's goodness and mercy help us become more spiritually receptive?
What truths can we come to know by the power of the Holy Ghost as a result of increased spiritual sensitivity?
How can you cultivate a daily practice of remembering the greatness of God and Jesus Christ and what They have done for you?
In what ways have you experienced increased spiritual sensitivity as a result of reflecting on God's goodness and mercy?
What truths have you come to know by the power of the Holy Ghost?