Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Understanding Symbolism in Gospel Teachings
Sister Dennis opens her talk by discussing the importance of understanding symbolism in gospel teachings. She shares personal experiences of teaching her children to find deeper meanings in stories and draws parallels to how Jesus taught using parables and symbols.
Jesus taught through stories and symbols—a mustard seed to teach the power of faith, a lost sheep to teach the worth of souls, a prodigal son to teach the character of God.
When God the Father offered His Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice for us, Jesus Christ Himself became the highest symbol of our Father in Heaven’s undying love for each of us. Jesus Christ became the Lamb of God.Key Points:
- Jesus often used stories and symbols to teach deeper lessons.
- Jesus Christ Himself is a symbol of God's undying love for us.
- Can you think of a time when understanding the symbolism in a gospel teaching helped you gain a deeper understanding or testimony?
- How have you seen symbolism used in the scriptures or in the teachings of Church leaders?
The Power and Importance of Covenants
Sister Dennis underscores the importance of covenants in our relationship with God. She explains how covenants allow us to draw closer to God and enable Him to bless us more fully.
Covenants create the kind of relationship that allows God to mold and change us over time and lift us to become more like the Savior, drawing us closer and closer to Him and our Father and eventually preparing us to enter Their presence.
The covenant path is all about our relationship with God—our hesed relationship with Him.Key Points:
- Entering into covenants with God allows Him to mold us and make us more like the Savior.
- Covenants deepen our relationship with God.
- How have covenants helped you draw closer to God?
- Can you share a time when you felt the blessings of keeping your covenants?
Baptism and Sacrament as Symbols
Sister Dennis talks about the symbolism in the ordinances of baptism and the sacrament. She explains how these ordinances are symbolic of Christ's Atonement and how we symbolically put on Christ through these covenants.
Baptism by immersion is the symbolic gate through which we enter into a covenant relationship with God.
The ordinance of the sacrament also points to the Savior. The bread and water are symbolic of Christ’s flesh and blood shed for us.Key Points:
- Baptism is a symbolic entry into a covenant relationship with God.
- The sacrament is a weekly opportunity to symbolically put on Christ.
- How did you feel when you were baptized?
- What does taking the sacrament mean to you?
The Symbolism of the Temple Garment
Sister Dennis discusses the deep symbolic meaning of the temple garment. She explains how it points to the Savior and His Atonement and serves as a reminder of the covenants we make with God.
The garment of the holy priesthood is deeply symbolic and also points to the Savior.
Our temple garment reminds us that the Savior and the blessings of His Atonement cover us throughout our lives. As we put on the garment of the holy priesthood each day, that beautiful symbol becomes a part of us.Key Points:
- The temple garment is a symbol of the Savior and His Atonement.
- Wearing the temple garment daily serves as a reminder of our covenants with God.
- How does wearing the temple garment remind you of your covenants?
- Can you share an experience where the temple garment served as a comfort or protection to you?
Invitation to Deepen Our Relationship with God
Sister Dennis extends an invitation to deepen our relationship with God by making and keeping sacred covenants. She urges us to learn from the teachings of the prophet and to meet the standards of personal holiness required to make temple covenants.
If you have not yet done so, I invite you to choose a deeper relationship with God by making covenants with Him in the house of the Lord.
Through a covenant relationship with God, our own lives can become a living symbol of our commitment to and deep love for our Father in Heaven, our hesed for Him, and our desire to progress and eventually become like our Savior, being prepared to one day enter Their presence.Key Points:
- Making and keeping covenants deepens our relationship with God.
- Our lives can become a living symbol of our commitment to God through our covenants.
- How have you felt God's love through making and keeping covenants?
- What steps are you taking to prepare to make or keep your covenants?
