Aligning Our Will with His
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What does the parable of the merchant seeking pearls teach us about the kingdom of heaven?
- How can we align our will with the will of the Lord?
- What are the dangers of following worldly philosophies over divine guidance?
- How can spiritual submissiveness impact our discipleship journey?
- What examples illustrate the blessings of choosing God's way over our own?
Topics
Align Our Desires with God's Will
Elder Soares emphasizes the importance of aligning our desires with the will of the Lord, using the parable of the merchant seeking pearls as a metaphor for the eternal value of the kingdom of heaven. He encourages us to set aside self-centered pursuits and embrace the sanctifying process of having the mind of Christ.
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a priceless pearl, truly the most precious treasure that should be desired over all else.
We should align our mind and desires with the will of the Lord and willingly do everything we can during our mortal journey to attain the eternal blessings of God’s kingdom.
- What does it mean to align our desires with God's will?
- How does the parable of the merchant seeking pearls illustrate this principle?
- What self-centered pursuits might be hindering your alignment with God's will?
- How can you more fully embrace the mind of Christ in your daily decisions?
Submit to God's Will
Elder Soares highlights the Savior's perfect submission to the Father's will as the ultimate example for us to follow. He discusses the importance of submitting our will to God's, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, and the transformative power it holds for our lives.
The Savior achieved a perfect and divine level of submission to the Father by allowing His will to be swallowed up in the Father’s will.
Doing always those things that please the Lord relates to submitting our will to His will.
- What does it mean to submit our will to God's will?
- How did the Savior exemplify submission to the Father's will?
- In what areas of your life do you struggle to submit to God's will?
- How can you increase your willingness to follow the Savior's example of submission?
Avoid Worldly Philosophies
Elder Soares warns against the growing trend of worldly philosophies that prioritize self-centeredness and personal preferences over God's plan. He cautions against the mentality of "doing what works for me" and emphasizes the importance of staying true to the covenant path.
One sign that indicates fulfillment of this prophecy is the current growing trend in the world, adopted by so many, of people becoming consumed with themselves.
Being sincerely Christlike is an even more important goal than being authentic.
- What are the dangers of following worldly philosophies?
- How can we discern between personal preferences and divine guidance?
- Have you noticed any worldly philosophies influencing your decisions?
- What steps can you take to ensure you remain on the covenant path despite worldly pressures?
Embrace Spiritual Submissiveness
Elder Soares describes spiritual submissiveness as a beautiful, powerful, and transformational quality that allows us to align our will with God's. He shares stories of individuals who chose to follow God's way, demonstrating the blessings that come from spiritual submissiveness.
Such spiritual submissiveness, so to speak, is beautiful, powerful, and transformational.
At that sublime moment, we become consecrated to the Lord, and we totally yield our wills to Him.
- What is spiritual submissiveness, and why is it important?
- How does spiritual submissiveness transform our lives?
- Reflect on a time when you experienced the blessings of spiritual submissiveness.
- How can you cultivate greater spiritual submissiveness in your daily life?
Choose the Lord's Way
Elder Soares encourages us to choose the Lord's way over self-serving pursuits, sharing examples of faithful individuals who made courageous decisions to follow God's will. He emphasizes the joy and confidence that come from making the Lord's will our own.
We are constantly confronted by similar decisions in our daily journey. It takes a courageous and a willing heart to pause and pursue an honest and meek introspection.
One of the most glorious moments of mortality occurs when we discover the joy that comes when doing always those things that "work for and please the Lord" and "what works for us" become one and the same!
- What does it mean to choose the Lord's way?
- How do we find joy in aligning our will with God's?
- Identify a decision you are facing where you need to choose between your way and the Lord's way.
- How can you strengthen your resolve to choose the Lord's way in challenging situations?
