Seek Him with All Your Heart
L. Todd Budge, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
Bishop Budge counsels us to prioritize spiritual nourishment by seeking the Lord with focused stillness.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Begin with a discussion on what it means to be "too busy" in today's world. Ask class members to share their experiences of feeling overwhelmed and how it affects their spiritual well-being.
- Share the story of Sister Wada's calligraphy and discuss the significance of approaching spiritual practices with full purpose of heart and real intent.
- Introduce the concept of "mui" and "non-doing" by asking the class what it means to truly be still and how it differs from simply doing nothing.
- Start the lesson with a moment of silence to illustrate the concept of being still and invite the class to ponder their current relationship with the Lord.
- Read the quote from President Nelson about making time for the Lord and ask the class to reflect on how they can incorporate this counsel into their daily lives.
Topics
Prioritize Spiritual Nourishment Over Busyness
Bishop Budge emphasized the importance of prioritizing spiritual nourishment in our busy lives. He shared insights from President Nelson about the dangers of neglecting our spiritual needs and the need to make time for the Lord daily.
I would ask if they were too busy to eat lunch that day and then teach them that they have both a body and a spirit, and just as their body will die if not nourished, so will their spirit if not nourished by the good word of God.
- What are some ways you can prioritize spiritual nourishment in your daily routine?
- How does being too busy affect your relationship with God?
- What changes can you make to ensure you have time for spiritual nourishment each day?
- How does spiritual nourishment impact your overall well-being?
- Can you share an experience where putting spiritual nourishment first made a difference in your life?
Embrace Stillness to Focus on the Savior
Bishop Budge taught that being still is an act of faith that requires mental exertion and focus on the Savior. He explained that true stillness involves letting go of doubts and fears to concentrate on Christ.
Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.
- What does it mean to you to "be still" in a spiritual sense?
- How can embracing stillness help you strengthen your relationship with the Savior?
- What challenges do you face in trying to be still and focus on the Savior?
- How can you create moments of stillness in your daily life?
- Can you share a time when stillness helped you receive personal revelation?
Approach Worship with Heartfelt Devotion
Bishop Budge highlighted the importance of approaching worship with full purpose of heart and real intent. He used the example of Sister Wada's calligraphy to illustrate how our worship can become an expression of love for God.
Likewise, God desires that we approach our time with Him with the same kind of heartfelt devotion. When we do so, our worship becomes an expression of our love for Him.
- How can you make your worship more heartfelt and intentional?
- What does it mean to approach worship with full purpose of heart?
- How does heartfelt worship affect your relationship with God?
- What are some ways you can enhance your worship experiences?
- Can you share an experience where heartfelt worship brought you closer to God?
Utilize Sacred Opportunities Mindfully
Bishop Budge encouraged members to utilize sacred opportunities such as prayer, scripture study, and temple worship with mindfulness and focus. He suggested moving these practices from "to-do lists" to "non-doing lists" to deepen our connection with God.
The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us opportunities to return to Him often. These opportunities include daily prayers, scripture study, the sacrament ordinance, the Sabbath day, and temple worship.
- What does it mean to approach sacred opportunities mindfully?
- How can you shift your perspective from "to-do" to "non-doing" in your spiritual practices?
- What impact does mindfulness have on your spiritual experiences?
- How can you make the most of sacred opportunities in your life?
- Can you share a time when being mindful during a sacred opportunity enriched your spiritual experience?
Find Rest and Strength in the Lord
Bishop Budge spoke about the importance of finding rest and strength in the Lord through quiet communion and devotion. He shared examples from the Savior's life to illustrate the value of retreating to solitary places for prayer and reflection.
Even the Savior took time from His ministry to be still. The scriptures are replete with examples of the Lord retreating to a solitary place—a mountain, the wilderness, a desert place, or going "a little way off"—to pray to the Father.
- How can finding rest in the Lord help you in your daily life?
- What lessons can we learn from the Savior's example of seeking quiet time with God?
- How does finding strength in the Lord impact your ability to face challenges?
- What are some ways you can create moments of rest and reflection in your life?
- Can you share an experience where finding rest in the Lord brought you peace and strength?
Additional Discussion Questions
- How can we better recognize when we are spiritually malnourished?
- What role does meditation play in your spiritual life?
- How can we balance our busy schedules with the need for spiritual nourishment?
- What are the dangers of neglecting our spiritual well-being?
- How can we help others prioritize their spiritual nourishment?
- What does it mean to seek the Lord with all your heart?
- How can we cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in our lives?
- What are some practical ways to incorporate more quiet time with the Lord?
- How can we support each other in our efforts to be still and focus on the Savior?
- What insights have you gained from this talk that you can apply to your life?
