Study Guide for "Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives"

In his talk, Elder Jose L. Alonso of the Seventy discusses the importance of placing Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. He uses examples from the scriptures and personal experiences to illustrate how Christ's love and atonement can provide peace, strength, and guidance during the trials of mortality. Elder Alonso emphasizes the transformative power of Christ's love and the blessings that come from focusing on His teachings and example.

Before Reading

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

Why is it important to place Jesus Christ at the center of our lives?
How can focusing on Christ's teachings and example help us during times of trial?
What are some examples from the scriptures where individuals found peace and strength through Christ?
How can we apply the principles taught by Elder Alonso in our own lives?

Topics

Finding Refuge in Jesus Christ

Elder Alonso emphasizes that we can find peace and strength in Jesus Christ amidst the trials of mortality. Through His infinite Atonement, Christ offers hope, healing, and His constant, enduring presence in our lives.

The profound questions of the soul, those that surface in our darkest hours and highest trials, are addressed through the unwavering love of Jesus Christ.

It is through His infinite Atonement that we are offered a gift beyond measure—one of hope, healing, and the assurance of His constant, enduring presence in our lives.

What does it mean to find refuge in Christ?
How does Christ's Atonement provide hope and healing?
How have you experienced Christ's love and healing in your life?
What can you do to better seek refuge in Christ during times of trial?

Focusing on Christ Amidst Challenges

Elder Alonso uses the example of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish to illustrate the power of focusing on God during challenging times. By placing Christ at the center of our thoughts and deeds, we can find divine guidance and solutions to our trials.

Jesus Christ exemplified the power of focusing on His Father, offering gratitude, and acknowledging that solutions to our trials do not always lie within ourselves but with God.

By placing Christ at the core of our thoughts and deeds, we align ourselves with His outlook and strength.

How did Jesus demonstrate the power of focusing on God during the feeding of the multitude?
What does it mean to place Christ at the center of our thoughts and deeds?
What challenges are you currently facing, and how can you focus more on Christ during these trials?
How have you seen the power of focusing on Christ in your own life?

Experiencing Redemption Through Christ

Elder Alonso shares the story of Alma the Younger to illustrate the transformative power of Christ's Atonement. By placing Christ at the center of his life and seeking His mercy, Alma experienced a profound transformation from guilt and despair to joy and peace.

In his darkest hour, tormented by guilt and desperate to find a way out of his spiritual anguish, Alma remembered his father’s teachings about Jesus Christ and the power of His Atonement.

The heavy chains of guilt and despair vanished and were replaced by an overwhelming sense of joy and peace.

How did Alma the Younger experience redemption through Christ?
What role did placing Christ at the center of his life play in Alma's transformation?
How have you experienced Christ's redemptive power in your life?
What can you do to more fully embrace Christ's Atonement and experience His transformative power?

Christ as Our Healer and Comforter

Elder Alonso testifies of Christ's role as our Healer and Comforter. Through His sacrifice, Christ took upon Himself all of our suffering and heals us when we trust in Him and seek to change our lives for the better.

Jesus Christ is our hope and the answer to life’s greatest pains.

He is our Healer, comforting and repairing our hearts through His love and power, just like He healed many during His time on earth.

How does Christ heal and comfort us?
What role does trust in Christ play in our healing and comfort?
How have you experienced Christ's healing and comfort in your life?
What can you do to more fully trust in Christ and seek His healing and comfort?

Placing Christ at the Center of Our Lives

Elder Alonso emphasizes the importance of placing Christ at the center of our lives. By doing so, we can experience revelations, profound peace, forgiveness, healing, and the strength to overcome.

As we strive to place Him at the center of our lives, revelations unfold to us, His profound peace envelops us, and His infinite Atonement brings about our forgiveness and healing.

It is in Him that we discover the strength to overcome, the courage to persevere, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

What blessings come from placing Christ at the center of our lives?
How does focusing on Christ help us to overcome challenges and find peace?
In what ways is Christ currently at the center of your life?
What changes can you make to place Christ more fully at the center of your life?