And They Sought to See Jesus Who He Was
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- How did Elder McConkie and his missionaries spend time with Jesus?
- What lessons did Elder McConkie learn from studying the life of Jesus?
- How does the story of the paralyzed man relate to our own efforts to come unto Christ?
- What roles do community and fellowship play in our spiritual journey?
- How does Jesus respond to our efforts to seek Him?
Topics
Spending Time with Jesus in Scriptures
Elder McConkie emphasizes the importance of studying the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through scriptures. He shares how this practice transformed his understanding and appreciation of Jesus.
Together with our missionaries, we spent extended time with Jesus, studying Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John from the New Testament and 3 Nephi from the Book of Mormon.
For me, for Laurel, and for our missionaries, spending time with Jesus in the scriptures changed everything.
- What does it mean to "spend time with Jesus" in the scriptures?
- How can studying the life of Jesus transform our understanding of Him?
- How can you incorporate more study of Jesus's life and teachings into your daily life?
- What aspects of Jesus's life or teachings do you want to understand better?
Learning from Jesus's Healing Miracles
Elder McConkie discusses the story of the paralyzed man healed by Jesus. He emphasizes Jesus's power to heal and forgive, and His recognition of our sincere intentions to bring others to Him.
First, when we try to help someone we love come unto Christ, we can do so with confidence that He has the capacity to lift the burden of sin and to forgive.
Second, when we bring physical, emotional, or other illnesses to Christ, we can do so knowing He has the power to heal and comfort.
- What lessons can we learn from the story of the paralyzed man healed by Jesus?
- How does this story illustrate Jesus's power to heal and forgive?
- How have you experienced or witnessed Jesus's healing power in your life?
- How can you help bring others to Christ?
The Importance of Community and Fellowship
Elder McConkie highlights the role of community and fellowship in our spiritual journey. He uses the example of the friends of the paralyzed man, each carrying a corner of his bed, to illustrate the importance of working together in the kingdom of God.
The four emphasize the spiritual importance of community and fellowship. In order to bring their friend to Christ, each of the four must carry their corner.
Each of us has a role to play in the kingdom of God. As we fill that role and do our part, we carry our corner.
- What does it mean to "carry our corner" in the kingdom of God?
- How does the story of the friends of the paralyzed man illustrate the importance of community and fellowship?
- What is your "corner" to carry in the kingdom of God?
- How can you better support others in your community in their spiritual journey?
The Transformative Power of the Gospel
Elder McConkie testifies of the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He shares how his time spent studying the life of Jesus deepened his belief in the power of the gospel to change lives.
Just as Elder Wirthlin had promised, we learned in a very real way that "the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities."
I witness that Jesus lives, that He knows us, and that He has the power to heal, to transform, and to forgive.
- What does it mean for the gospel to be transformative?
- How has the gospel of Jesus Christ transformed your life?
- How have you experienced the transformative power of the gospel in your life?
- How can you help others experience this transformative power?
Bringing Others to Christ
Elder McConkie speaks about our role as disciples in bringing others to Christ. He emphasizes the qualities worth emulating in this endeavor, such as being bold, adaptive, resilient, creative, and faithful.
Whether as missionaries, ministers, Relief Society presidents, bishops, teachers, parents, siblings, or friends, we are all engaged as Latter-day Saint disciples in the work of bringing others to Christ.
When we make effort like the four to bring others to Christ, we can do so with certainty that He sees our true intentions and will appropriately honor them.
- What qualities are important in our efforts to bring others to Christ?
- How does Jesus respond to our efforts to bring others to Him?
- How can you cultivate these qualities in your own efforts to bring others to Christ?
- Who in your life can you help come unto Christ?
