Study Guide for "Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny"

In this talk, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles focuses on the profound truths found in the Young Women theme, emphasizing that these truths are applicable to everyone. He discusses our divine nature and eternal destiny, the love of our Heavenly Parents, the role of the Holy Ghost, the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants, and the power of repentance.

Before Reading

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

What are the four truths Elder Renlund identifies in the Young Women theme?
How does Elder Renlund explain the role of the Holy Ghost in communicating God’s love?
What does Elder Renlund say about our divine nature and eternal destiny?
How does Elder Renlund relate the process of repentance to our eternal destiny?
What insights does Elder Renlund share about the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants?

Topics

Understanding Our Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny

Elder Renlund explains that understanding our divine nature and eternal destiny is crucial to our spiritual development. He emphasizes that these truths are intrinsic to who we are and that our most important identity is as children of God.

The Young Women theme begins, "I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny."

This is our most important identity, regardless of how else we choose to identify ourselves.

What does it mean to have a divine nature and eternal destiny?
How does understanding our divine nature and eternal destiny influence our choices and actions?
How can you remind yourself of your divine nature and eternal destiny during challenging times?
What steps can you take to align your life more closely with your divine nature and eternal destiny?

Experiencing God's Unconditional Love

Elder Renlund emphasizes that God's love for us is unconditional and always present, although our ability to sense that love may be obscured by our emotions, behaviors, or challenging circumstances.

First, you are a beloved daughter. Nothing you do—or do not do—can change that. God loves you because you are His spirit daughter.

God’s love is perfect. Our ability to sense that love is not.

What can prevent us from sensing God's love?
How can we improve our ability to sense God's love?
How have you experienced God's love in your life?
What can you do to feel God's love more deeply?

Recognizing the Role of the Holy Ghost

Elder Renlund discusses the pivotal role of the Holy Ghost in communicating God’s love to us and warns that certain behaviors, such as sin, can make it difficult for us to perceive God’s love.

The Spirit plays a pivotal role in communicating God’s love to us.

So too, behaviors that distance us from the Holy Ghost, including sin, make it difficult for us to perceive God’s love for us.

What is the role of the Holy Ghost in helping us perceive God's love?
How can sin affect our ability to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost?
How have you felt the influence of the Holy Ghost in your life?
What can you do to invite the Holy Ghost more fully into your life?

Making and Keeping Sacred Covenants

Elder Renlund emphasizes the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants in realizing our eternal destiny. He warns against trying to create our own path and expecting God’s promised outcomes.

Realizing our eternal destiny is dependent on our choices. It requires making and keeping sacred covenants.

We cannot create our own path and expect God’s promised outcomes.

Why are making and keeping sacred covenants crucial to realizing our eternal destiny?
What are the consequences of not following the revealed path?
What covenants have you made and how are you striving to keep them?
How can you better align your actions with the covenants you have made?

Embracing the Power of Repentance

Elder Renlund talks about the power of repentance, explaining that through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we can repent, learn from our mistakes, and not be condemned by them.

Because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we can repent, learn from our mistakes, and not be condemned by them.

As often as we repent and seek forgiveness with real intent, we can be forgiven.

How does the Savior's atoning sacrifice enable us to repent?
What is the role of repentance in our spiritual growth?
How has repentance brought you closer to the Savior?
What steps can you take to fully embrace the power of repentance in your life?