Study Guide for "A Faithful Search Rewarded"

In this talk, Elder Patricio M. Giuffra shares his personal journey of faith, starting from his early quest for religious truth to his encounter with the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He draws parallels between his own journey and that of the early pioneers, as well as Joseph Smith's search for truth. Through his story, Elder Giuffra emphasizes the importance of faith, the reality of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the restoration of the gospel, and the power of the Book of Mormon.

Before Reading

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

What sparked Elder Giuffra's interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
How does Elder Giuffra's journey parallel with that of Joseph Smith?
What are the truths Elder Giuffra learned from the missionaries?
What is the significance of the Book of Mormon in Elder Giuffra's conversion?
How has faith in Christ changed Elder Giuffra's life?

Topics

Seeking Truth and Encountering the Church

Elder Giuffra shares his early experiences of searching for religious truth and how he encountered the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was touched by the sincerity of the prayers and teachings offered by the missionaries and his neighbor.

One afternoon, I noticed two young men in dark suits and white shirts entering my neighbor’s home. These young men looked—special.

The missionaries first asked Leonor to offer a prayer. This touched me very deeply because her prayer was not a repetition of memorized words but an expression from her heart.

What motivated Elder Giuffra to explore different churches?
How did Elder Giuffra's initial encounter with the missionaries impact his perspective on faith?
How have you sought truth in your own life?
Have you ever felt the way Elder Giuffra did when he first encountered the missionaries? How did it impact your faith journey?

Learning about the Restoration

Elder Giuffra recounts the teachings of the missionaries about the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith. He was deeply moved by the account of Joseph Smith's First Vision and the truths it revealed.

They continued, teaching us how Jesus established His Church in ancient times, with Him at the head joined by twelve Apostles. They taught us about the Apostasy—how truth and Christ’s authority had been taken from the earth after His Apostles died.

One of the missionaries read Joseph’s account of what happened as he prayed: "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me."

What truths about God and the nature of the Godhead did Elder Giuffra learn from Joseph Smith's First Vision?
How did the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith impact Elder Giuffra's understanding of Christ's Church?
How has the account of Joseph Smith's First Vision influenced your understanding of God?
How have the truths restored through Joseph Smith impacted your faith and testimony?

The Power and Truth of the Book of Mormon

Elder Giuffra shares his experience of learning about the Book of Mormon and the profound impact it had on his faith. He highlights the invitation found at the end of the Book of Mormon to ask God if these things are true.

Finally, we learned about another testament of Jesus Christ: the Book of Mormon. Written by ancient prophets, it tells of the people who lived in the Americas before, during, and after the birth of Jesus.

The missionaries gave us our own copy of the Book of Mormon. We read and accepted the invitation found at the end of the Book of Mormon, which reads: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

What did Elder Giuffra learn about the Book of Mormon from the missionaries?
How did the Book of Mormon contribute to Elder Giuffra's conversion?
How has the Book of Mormon impacted your personal faith journey?
Have you experienced the promise found at the end of the Book of Mormon? How has it influenced your testimony?

Faith in Christ and Its Blessings

Elder Giuffra testifies of the transformative power of faith in Christ, as seen in his own life and the lives of those who shared their faith with him. He emphasizes the blessings that come from allowing God to guide our lives.

It has been almost 45 years since my mother and I first learned the joy and power of having faith in Christ.

During these blessed years, we have known, as President Russell M. Nelson declared: "Everything good in life—every potential blessing of eternal significance—begins with faith. Allowing God to prevail in our lives begins with faith that He is willing to guide us."

How has faith in Christ transformed Elder Giuffra's life?
What blessings does Elder Giuffra attribute to faith in Christ?
How has faith in Christ changed your life?
What blessings have you received as you've allowed God to guide your life?

Testimony of Christ and His Restored Church

Elder Giuffra concludes his talk by bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, and the living prophet, President Nelson. He affirms that Heavenly Father listens and answers all His children's prayers.

I know that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration, that President Nelson is our prophet today, that Jesus is the living Christ and our Redeemer, and that Heavenly Father lives and answers all His children’s prayers.

What core beliefs does Elder Giuffra include in his testimony?
How does Elder Giuffra express his belief in the power of prayer?
How do you feel about Elder Giuffra's testimony?
How does your own testimony align with Elder Giuffra's? How is it different?