Daily Restoration
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What does Elder Uchtdorf mean by "Daily Restoration"?
- How does Elder Uchtdorf use the analogy of walking in a straight line?
- What are the spiritual landmarks Elder Uchtdorf refers to?
- How does daily restoration help us in our spiritual journey?
- What does Elder Uchtdorf teach about repentance and forgiveness?
Topics
Understanding the Difficulty of Staying on the Right Path
Elder Uchtdorf discusses the human tendency to drift off course, both physically and spiritually. He uses the analogy of a scientific experiment where participants struggled to walk in a straight line without visible landmarks, and compares it to our spiritual journey where we can easily veer off course without spiritual landmarks to guide us.
Without reliable landmarks, we drift off course.
Without the help of landmarks to guide us, we inevitably deviate off course and end up in places we never thought we would be.
- What does Elder Uchtdorf mean when he says we can drift off course spiritually?
- How can we identify when we are drifting off course in our spiritual lives?
- Can you identify a time when you drifted off course in your spiritual journey? What helped you get back on track?
- What spiritual landmarks can you set in your life to help you stay on the right path?
Embracing Daily Restoration
Elder Uchtdorf emphasizes the importance of daily prayer, scripture study, and introspection as spiritual landmarks that can help us stay on the right path. He introduces the concept of daily restoration, a time of reflection and recalibration where we can align ourselves with God’s will.
Think of it as your personal, daily restoration.
When darkness creeps into our lives, as it often does, our daily restoration opens our hearts to heavenly light, which illuminates our souls, chasing away shadows, fears, and doubts.
- What is daily restoration according to Elder Uchtdorf?
- How can daily restoration help us in our spiritual journey?
- How can you incorporate daily restoration into your routine?
- What changes have you noticed in your life when you have practiced daily restoration?
Recognizing the Power of Small Actions
Elder Uchtdorf discusses the power of small actions in shaping our lives. He uses the analogy of a small rudder steering a large ship to illustrate how small, seemingly insignificant actions can have a significant impact on our spiritual journey.
Do you want to change the shape of your life? Change the shape of your day.
Minutes and hours well spent are the building blocks of a life well lived.
- What does Elder Uchtdorf mean when he says, "Do you want to change the shape of your life? Change the shape of your day."?
- How can small actions impact our spiritual journey?
- What small actions can you take today to improve your spiritual journey?
- Can you recall a small action that had a significant impact on your spiritual life?
Understanding God as a God of New Beginnings
Elder Uchtdorf emphasizes God’s willingness to forgive and offer new beginnings. He reminds us that no matter how far we may drift, we can always find our way back through repentance and daily restoration.
We can become new creatures in Christ, for God has promised, “As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” and “remember them no more.”
We can navigate our way through the darkness and trials of this life and find our way back to our loving Heavenly Father if we seek and accept the spiritual landmarks He has provided, embrace personal revelation, and strive for daily restoration.
- What does it mean to become a new creature in Christ?
- How does repentance and daily restoration help us become new creatures in Christ?
- How have you experienced God as a God of new beginnings in your life?
- What steps can you take today towards repentance and daily restoration?
Recognizing the Ongoing Process of Restoration
Elder Uchtdorf teaches that the restoration of the gospel and the Church is an ongoing process that happens one day at a time, one heart at a time. He emphasizes the need for a steady flow of spiritual experiences and personal testimonies.
After all, the Restoration of the gospel and the Church is not something that happened once and is over. It is an ongoing process—one day at a time, one heart at a time.
We can’t rely on others’ testimonies forever. We must build our own.
- What does Elder Uchtdorf mean when he says the restoration of the gospel and the Church is an ongoing process?
- Why is it important to have our own testimonies?
- How are you participating in the ongoing process of restoration?
- What steps can you take to build your own testimony?
