Talk Preparation Guide for "Sons and Daughters of God"

Elder Rubén V. Alliaud's talk, "Sons and Daughters of God," delivered during General Conference, focuses on the profound doctrine that we are literal children of God, a belief that sets The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from other Christian denominations. Elder Alliaud explores the implications of this doctrine for our understanding of the nature of God and our divine potential. He shares personal experiences and scriptural accounts to illustrate the importance of recognizing our divine heritage and the adversary's attempts to make us doubt it.

Topics

Understand Our Divine Nature

Elder Alliaud emphasizes the doctrine that we are literal children of God, which is central to Latter-day Saint beliefs. This understanding shapes our perception of our divine potential and the nature of God.

God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children.

We truly believe that we are all literally the children of God.

Key Points:

We are made in God's image and likeness.
Our divine nature and potential are literal, not metaphorical.
Understanding our divine nature empowers us to resist temptation.

Experiences:

Reflect on a time when understanding your divine nature helped you make a righteous decision.
Share an experience where you felt the Spirit testify that you are a child of God.
Consider how knowing you are a child of God has influenced your life goals.

Recognize the Adversary's Temptations

Elder Alliaud discusses how the adversary seeks to make us question our divine nature, using examples from the temptations of Moses and Jesus Christ.

"If thou be the Son of God"—if you really believe it, then do this or that.

A significant temptation for Moses was to become confused and believe that he was only a "son of man."

Key Points:

The adversary tempts us to doubt our divine identity.
Recognizing our divine nature helps us resist temptation.
Jesus Christ's example shows the importance of knowing our divine identity.

Experiences:

Describe a time when you felt tempted to doubt your worth or divine nature.
How have you overcome temptations by remembering your divine heritage?
Share ways you remind yourself of your divine nature during challenging times.

Learn from Scriptural Accounts

Elder Alliaud uses scriptural stories of Moses and Jesus Christ to illustrate the importance of understanding our identity as children of God.

Moses, I want you to know who I am. And, behold, thou art my son.

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Key Points:

Scriptures affirm our identity as children of God.
God repeatedly emphasized Moses's divine identity.
Christ's baptism affirmed His divine sonship.

Experiences:

Discuss a scripture that has strengthened your understanding of being a child of God.
Share how a scriptural account has helped you in a moment of doubt.
Reflect on how you can incorporate scripture study to reinforce your divine identity.

Embrace Our Divine Potential

Elder Alliaud highlights the eternal potential we have as children of God and the work required to achieve it, emphasizing Jesus Christ's role in this process.

Jesus’s commandment to be "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" is a clear reflection of His high expectations and our eternal possibilities.

We can obtain the celestial only through Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Key Points:

Our potential is to become like our Heavenly Father.
Perfection is a gradual process made possible through Christ.
Our divine work aligns with God's work and glory.

Experiences:

Share a goal that reflects your understanding of your divine potential.
How has Jesus Christ's Atonement helped you in striving for perfection?
Describe a personal experience that strengthened your commitment to divine work.

Remember the Price of Our Happiness

Elder Alliaud reminds us of the great price paid by Jesus Christ for our happiness and the importance of remembering our divine heritage.

Let us always remember, there was a great price paid for our happiness.

Glory be to God that He did not hearken but instead provided the way for us to receive all celestial blessings.

Key Points:

Christ's sacrifice enables our eternal happiness.
Remembering our divine identity helps us appreciate Christ's atonement.
We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Experiences:

Reflect on a time when remembering Christ's sacrifice brought you peace.
Share how understanding the Atonement has influenced your gratitude.
Discuss ways you can keep the Savior's sacrifice at the forefront of your mind.