Lesson Prepration Guide for "My Love for the Savior Is My “Why”"

In his heartfelt address, Elder Ricardo P. Giménez of the Seventy invites us to deeply reflect on the motivations behind our actions as disciples of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the importance of connecting our deeds with our love for the Savior, urging us to move beyond mere task completion to understanding the profound "why" that underpins our spiritual practices. Through this lens, Elder Giménez guides us to see that our actions should stem from our love for the Savior, which will enrich our spiritual journey and strengthen our covenantal relationship with God.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin with a personal story or testimony about how understanding the "why" behind spiritual practices has deepened your faith.
Show a brief video clip of President Russell M. Nelson extending an invitation to study General Conference talks, and discuss initial impressions.
Ask class members to write down one spiritual tradition they participate in and share why they do it.
Invite a class member to share a recent experience where understanding their "why" changed their perspective on a church activity or tradition.
Start with a hymn or song about the Savior's love, then discuss how that love can be a motivating factor in our lives.

Topics

Understand the "Why" Behind Spiritual Practices

Elder Giménez emphasized the importance of connecting our actions to our love for the Savior. He invited us to understand the purpose behind our spiritual practices, rather than merely checking them off our to-do lists.

Doing this will help us understand the real "why" behind everything we do as disciples of the Savior.

How can understanding the "why" behind our actions change our approach to spiritual practices?
What are some spiritual practices you participate in, and what is your "why" for each?
How does connecting our actions to the Savior's love affect our daily life?
What challenges do you face when trying to understand the "why" behind your actions?
How can we help others find their "why" in their spiritual journey?

Link Traditions to Love for the Savior

Elder Giménez encouraged us to view traditions as opportunities to learn about and connect with the Savior, rather than as mere routines.

We use these traditions as a means to learn more about the Savior and remember His Resurrection.

What are some traditions you have that help you connect with the Savior?
How can we ensure our traditions remain meaningful and Christ-centered?
In what ways can traditions help strengthen our family and community bonds?
Have you ever changed a tradition to better reflect your love for the Savior? How did it impact you?
What can we do to create new traditions that focus on the Savior?

Prophetic Invitations as Opportunities for Growth

Elder Giménez highlighted the invitations from President Nelson to study conference talks as opportunities to deepen our understanding and connection to eternal truths.

I urge you to study [the speakers’] messages. Use them as a litmus test of what is true and what is not during the next six months.

How have prophetic invitations influenced your spiritual growth?
What steps can we take to better respond to prophetic invitations?
In what ways can studying General Conference talks enhance our understanding of eternal truths?
How do you prioritize prophetic invitations in your daily life?
Can you share an experience where following a prophetic invitation brought blessings?

Covenantal Connection Through Church Participation

Elder Giménez explained the importance of the Church as the means to access covenants and receive the Savior's covenantal love, necessary for returning to Heavenly Father.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the means established by Heavenly Father to access covenants that enable us to return home.

Why is it important to participate in the Church to access covenants?
How does understanding our covenantal connection with the Savior change our church participation?
What role do priesthood ordinances play in our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
How can we strengthen our covenantal connection through daily actions?
What blessings have you experienced from making and keeping covenants?

Resisting Misleading Voices About the Gospel

Elder Giménez warned against voices that diminish the need for the restored Church and emphasized the importance of the restoration and the Church's role in our spiritual journey.

I invite you to be slow to consider or even be immune to being influenced by these misleading ideas.

What are some misleading ideas you've encountered about the gospel?
How can we strengthen our understanding of the necessity of the restoration?
Why is it important to have both a personal relationship with the Savior and participate in the Church?
How can we help others recognize the importance of the restored gospel?
What strategies can we use to resist misleading voices and stay true to gospel principles?

Additional Discussion Questions

What does it mean to you to have a covenantal connection with the Savior?
How can we ensure that our spiritual goals are aligned with our love for the Savior?
What role does the Atonement play in understanding our 'why'?
How can we better teach our children the importance of traditions centered on the Savior?
In what ways can studying the Savior's life and teachings help answer our personal questions?
How can we distinguish between traditions that are meaningful and those that are routine?
What does it mean to you to follow the Savior in your daily life?
How can we use General Conference talks to strengthen our testimony?
What are some ways to share the teachings of prophets with others effectively?
How can understanding eternal truths influence our decisions and actions?