Burying Our Weapons of Rebellion
D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Elder Christofferson invites us to bury our "weapons of rebellion" and fully embrace God's will.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Embrace Enduring Conversion
Elder Christofferson discusses the Lamanites" transformation through sincere repentance and how they achieved enduring conversion by laying down their weapons of rebellion.
For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.
Their sincere repentance led to forgiveness of their sins, but God also took away the stain of those sins and even the desire to sin from their hearts.Key Points:
- The Lamanites" conversion was both literal and figurative as they laid down their weapons and sins.
- True conversion involves burying our disposition to sin and fully turning to the Lord.
- Enduring conversion can prevent us from falling away.
- Reflect on a time when you felt a profound change of heart.
- Share an experience where you overcame a personal challenge through repentance.
- Discuss how a particular scripture has helped you in your conversion process.
Identify and Lay Down Weapons of Rebellion
Elder Christofferson encourages us to identify our own "weapons of rebellion," whether active or passive, and to lay them down to follow God's will.
We might ask ourselves what we could do to follow this pattern, to "lay down the weapons of [our] rebellion."
Rebellion can be active or passive.Key Points:
- Active rebellion is exemplified by figures like Lucifer and the anti-Christs in the Book of Mormon.
- Passive rebellion can be ignoring God's will and choosing our own path.
- Understanding and identifying personal "weapons of rebellion" is crucial for spiritual growth.
- Consider a time when you realized you were resisting God's will.
- Think about a habit or attitude you have had to change to align more with the gospel.
- Share how you have seen others lay down their "weapons of rebellion."
Avoid Passive Rebellion
Elder Christofferson warns against passive rebellion, which involves ignoring God's will and pursuing our own paths without regard to divine direction.
Perhaps the more insidious form of rebellion against God, however, is the passive version—ignoring His will in our lives.
Our theme song ought to be "I did it God’s way," because truly there is no other way.Key Points:
- Passive rebellion can be more subtle and insidious than active rebellion.
- Following Christ means submitting to God's will instead of insisting on our own way.
- Even good things can become rebellion if they divert us from God's path.
- Reflect on a time when you prioritized personal goals over spiritual ones.
- Discuss how you have learned to recognize and avoid passive rebellion.
- Share an experience where following God's way brought unexpected blessings.
Transform Neutral Things into Weapons of Righteousness
Elder Christofferson explains how neutral or good things can become "weapons of rebellion" if misused, and how we can transform them into tools for righteousness.
There are things in our lives that may be neutral or even inherently good but that used in the wrong way become "weapons of rebellion."
The tongue [it seems] can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.Key Points:
- Speech, careers, and even care of our bodies can become rebellious if not aligned with God's will.
- We must use our talents and opportunities to serve God and others.
- Recognizing the potential misuse of neutral things can help us maintain focus on eternal goals.
- Think of a talent or resource you have and how you use it to serve God.
- Share how you balance career ambitions with spiritual priorities.
- Reflect on how you use your speech to uplift rather than demean.
Yield to the Enticings of the Holy Spirit
Elder Christofferson concludes by urging us to yield to the Holy Spirit, become saints through Christ's atonement, and let God prevail in our lives.
Burying our weapons of rebellion against God simply means yielding to the enticing of the Holy Spirit.
It means putting the first commandment first in our lives. It means letting God prevail.Key Points:
- True conversion involves yielding to the Holy Spirit and becoming a saint through Christ's atonement.
- Putting God first in our lives leads to spiritual strength and joy.
- Allowing God to prevail removes the stain of sin and rebellion from our hearts.
- Describe a moment when you felt the Holy Spirit guiding you.
- Consider how you prioritize God's commandments in your daily life.
- Reflect on how letting God prevail has changed your perspective or priorities.
