Lesson Prepration Guide for "The Testimony of Jesus"

In his talk, Elder D. Todd Christofferson explores the concept of "the testimony of Jesus," discussing its meaning, significance, and the role it plays in our eternal destiny. He emphasizes the importance of nurturing, strengthening, and being valiant in our testimony of Jesus Christ. He also shares insights on how we can manifest our testimony through our actions and choices, and the consequences of rejecting or not being valiant in the testimony of Jesus.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Start the lesson by asking class members to share their understanding of what the "Testimony of Jesus" means.
Begin with a discussion about the three heavenly kingdoms mentioned in the talk and ask members to share their thoughts on the distinguishing characteristics of the inhabitants of each kingdom.
Open the lesson by asking the class members to share experiences where they have felt the testimony of Jesus in their lives.

Topics

Understanding the Testimony of Jesus

The testimony of Jesus is the witness of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the divine Son of God, the Messiah and Redeemer. It includes testimonies that He was in the beginning with God, that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and that He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

What is the testimony of Jesus? It is the witness of the Holy Spirit that He is the divine Son of God, the Messiah and Redeemer.

What does the "Testimony of Jesus" mean to you personally?
How does the "Testimony of Jesus" influence your daily decisions?
What experiences have you had that have strengthened your "Testimony of Jesus"?
How can we help others develop their "Testimony of Jesus"?
How does the "Testimony of Jesus" impact our eternal destiny?

Acting on the Testimony of Jesus

Accepting the testimony of Jesus requires us to act on it by being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and overcoming by faith. Our actions and choices should be guided by the principles and truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beyond this testimony is the question, What do we do about it? The inheritors of the celestial kingdom "receive" the testimony of Jesus in the fullest sense by being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and overcoming by faith.

How have you acted on your "Testimony of Jesus"?
What changes have you made in your life because of your "Testimony of Jesus"?
How does acting on our "Testimony of Jesus" influence our eternal destiny?
How can we better act on our "Testimony of Jesus"?
What obstacles might prevent us from acting on our "Testimony of Jesus"?

Being Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus

Being valiant in the testimony of Jesus includes nurturing and strengthening our testimony, being open and public about our witness, heeding His messengers, encouraging others to be valiant, and pursuing personal holiness.

Being valiant in the testimony of Jesus surely includes nurturing and strengthening that testimony. True disciples do not ignore the seemingly small things that sustain and strengthen their testimony of Jesus.

What does it mean to you to be "valiant in the testimony of Jesus"?
How can we nurture and strengthen our "Testimony of Jesus"?
How can we encourage others to be valiant in their "Testimony of Jesus"?
What experiences have you had where you've been valiant in your "Testimony of Jesus"?
How does being valiant in our "Testimony of Jesus" impact our eternal destiny?

The Impact of Our Choices on Our Eternal Destiny

Our choices on earth, especially those regarding our testimony of Jesus, have a significant impact on our eternal destiny. Our Father hopes that we will choose and qualify for the celestial kingdom through the grace of His Son.

God’s plan of redemption constitutes a universal opportunity for all His children, whenever and wherever they may have lived on the earth.

How do our choices on earth impact our eternal destiny?
How can we make choices that lead us towards the celestial kingdom?
What role does the "Testimony of Jesus" play in our eternal destiny?
How can we help others make choices that lead them towards the celestial kingdom?
What experiences have you had where a choice you made influenced your "Testimony of Jesus"?

The Importance of Personal Holiness

Being valiant in the testimony of Jesus also involves pursuing personal holiness. We are encouraged to repent, be baptized, and be sanctified by the Holy Ghost so that we may stand spotless before God at the last day.

One last aspect of being valiant in the testimony of Jesus that I will mention is our individual pursuit of personal holiness.

What does personal holiness mean to you?
How does personal holiness relate to our "Testimony of Jesus"?
What steps can we take to pursue personal holiness?
How does personal holiness impact our eternal destiny?
What experiences have you had where pursuing personal holiness strengthened your "Testimony of Jesus"?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we better 'think celestial' in our daily lives?
What role does the Holy Ghost play in our 'Testimony of Jesus'?
How can we better heed the messengers of Jesus?
What does it mean to 'yield our hearts to God'?
How can we better 'let God prevail' in our lives?
What does it mean to 'be anxiously engaged' in the gospel?
How can we better 'retain the name of Christ written always in our hearts'?
How can we better 'do the things which Jesus shall teach, and command us'?
How can we better 'stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places'?
What does it mean to 'give God a fair share of your time'?