Study Guide for "Are You Still Willing?"

In his talk, "Are You Still Willing?", Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy explores the concept of willingness in our spiritual journey. He emphasizes the importance of partaking of the sacrament, focusing on the Savior, and maintaining our spiritual foundation. He also expresses concern about the distractions and deceptions of the modern world that can lead us away from Christ. This talk challenges us to assess our own willingness to follow Christ and to strengthen our faith.

Before Reading

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

What does Elder Pearson mean by "willingness" in the context of our spiritual journey?
What are some of the distractions and deceptions of the modern world that Elder Pearson highlights?
How does Elder Pearson suggest we can strengthen our faith and maintain our spiritual foundation?
What is the role of parents and grandparents in teaching faith to the younger generations?
What is the significance of the sacrament in our willingness to follow Christ?

Topics

Understanding the Significance of the Sacrament

Elder Pearson emphasizes the importance of the sacrament, stating it is not a passive ritual but a powerful reminder of the Savior's Atonement. He underscores the need to always remember Him and keep His commandments.

Partaking of the sacrament is not a passive religious ritual implying our mere consent. It is a powerful reminder of the reality of the Savior’s infinite Atonement and the need to always remember Him and keep His commandments.

Understanding the truth of what Heavenly Father so willingly offers each of us through His Only Begotten Son should evoke our utmost efforts to always be willing in return.

How does Elder Pearson describe the sacrament?
Why is the sacrament a powerful reminder of the Savior's Atonement?
How can you make your sacrament experience more meaningful?
What can you do to better remember the Savior and His Atonement during the sacrament?

Building a Solid Spiritual Foundation

Elder Pearson stresses the importance of having a solid spiritual foundation built on Jesus Christ. He warns against basing our willingness on social or personal convenience, and encourages us to center our lives on Christ.

Is our own spiritual foundation built solidly on Jesus Christ?

If our spiritual foundation is shallow or superficial, we might be inclined to base our willingness on a social cost-benefit analysis or a personal inconvenience index.

Our determination to center our lives on Christ, therefore, must be consistent—not conditional, situational, or superficial.

What does it mean to have a solid spiritual foundation?
Why is it important to center our lives on Christ?
How can you strengthen your spiritual foundation?
What changes can you make in your life to center it more on Christ?

Navigating the Distractions and Deceptions of the Modern World

Elder Pearson discusses the challenges of living in a world filled with distractions and deceptions that can lead us away from Christ. He encourages us to spend more time in holy places and less time seeking the opinions of others.

We live in unprecedented times long foretold by ancient prophets, a day when Satan rages “in the hearts of the children of men, and stir[s] them up to anger against that which is good.”

We would do well to spend more time in meaningful conversation discussing our concerns with a loving Father in Heaven and less time seeking the opinions of other voices.

What are some of the distractions and deceptions of the modern world that Elder Pearson mentions?
Why is it important to spend more time in holy places and less time seeking the opinions of others?
What distractions or deceptions are you struggling with in your life?
How can you spend more time in holy places and less time seeking the opinions of others?

Teaching Faith to the Younger Generations

Elder Pearson highlights the critical role parents and grandparents play in teaching faith to children. He warns that casual and inconsistent covenant keeping can lead to spiritual casualty, especially for the younger generations.

The most powerful spiritual influence in the life of a child is the righteous example of loving parents and grandparents who faithfully keep their own sacred covenants.

Casual and inconsistent covenant keeping leads to spiritual casualty. The spiritual damage is often greatest on our children and grandchildren.

What role do parents and grandparents play in teaching faith to children?
What are the consequences of casual and inconsistent covenant keeping?
As a parent or grandparent, how can you better teach faith to your children or grandchildren?
How can you be more consistent in keeping your covenants?

Maintaining Willingness in the Face of Criticism and Opposition

Elder Pearson addresses the challenges of maintaining our willingness to follow Christ in the face of criticism and opposition. He emphasizes the need to strengthen our spiritual spines and heed not the harsh and hateful criticism.

As harsh and hateful criticism is increasingly leveled at the Savior’s Church and those who follow Him, our discipleship will require a greater willingness to straighten and strengthen our spiritual spines and heed them not.

If our spiritual foundation is built solidly on Jesus Christ, we will not fall and we need not fear.

What challenges do we face in maintaining our willingness to follow Christ?
What does it mean to strengthen our spiritual spines?
How do you react to criticism and opposition to your faith?
What can you do to strengthen your spiritual spine in the face of criticism and opposition?