Lesson Prepration Guide for "Our Heavenly Guidance System"

In his talk "Our Heavenly Guidance System," Elder Sergio R. Vargas of the Seventy shares a deeply personal testimony of how Jesus Christ transformed his life following his baptism at the age of 26. Drawing parallels between the migratory journey of salmon and our spiritual journey back to our Heavenly Father, Elder Vargas emphasizes the importance of relying on Jesus Christ as our guide. He discusses our divine nature and destiny, the necessity of spiritual nourishment, and the role of covenants and the temple in our return to our heavenly home. Through personal stories and scriptural insights, Elder Vargas invites us to center our lives on Christ to navigate the challenges of mortality and find true joy.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin by sharing a personal story or experience where you felt guided by the Light of Christ, similar to how Elder Vargas was guided after his baptism.
Show a short video or slideshow of salmon migration to visually illustrate the metaphor used by Elder Vargas about the guidance system.
Invite a class member to share a brief testimony about how focusing on Jesus Christ has helped them navigate life's challenges.
Start with a hymn or song that relates to the theme of guidance, such as "Lead Me, Guide Me."
Ask the class to ponder silently for a moment about a time when they felt lost and how they found their way back.

Topics

Recognize the Light of Christ as Our Guide

Elder Vargas compared our spiritual journey to that of salmon using a natural guidance system. He emphasized that, like salmon, we have the Light of Christ to guide us back to our heavenly home.

We can all return one day to the heavenly home from where we came. And like the salmon, we have our own magnetic map, or Light of Christ, to guide us there.

How does the Light of Christ help you in your daily life?
What are some ways you can better recognize and follow this guidance?
Can you share an experience where you felt guided by the Light of Christ?
Why is it important to have a spiritual "guidance system"?
How can we teach others to recognize and trust in the Light of Christ?

Embrace Our Divine Nature and Destiny

Elder Vargas reminded us of our divine heritage as children of God and the importance of remembering our divine nature to resist temptations.

Moses responded to the temptation by remembering his divine nature, saying, "Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God."

How can remembering our divine nature help us overcome challenges?
What does it mean to you to be a child of God?
Share a time when remembering your divine nature helped you in a difficult situation.
How can we help others recognize their divine potential?
What role does our divine nature play in our daily decisions and actions?

Nourish Ourselves Spiritually

Elder Vargas highlighted the importance of spiritual nourishment through prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and regular church participation.

Just as salmon need to be nourished in the ocean to grow, we also need to nourish ourselves spiritually to avoid dying of spiritual malnutrition.

What are some ways you nourish yourself spiritually?
How does spiritual nourishment impact your daily life?
Can you share a time when you felt spiritually malnourished and how you overcame it?
Why is it important to have regular spiritual nourishment?
How can we encourage others to prioritize spiritual nourishment?

Return to Our Heavenly Home Through Covenants

Elder Vargas emphasized the role of covenants and the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our journey back to our heavenly home, highlighting the importance of the sacrament and temple worship.

His atoning sacrifice makes it possible for us to make sacred covenants with God.

Why are covenants essential in our journey back to Heavenly Father?
How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ help us in our covenant path?
Share an experience where keeping a covenant brought you closer to God.
How can we better prepare to make and keep sacred covenants?
What blessings have you seen from attending the temple regularly?

Focus on Jesus Christ to Overcome Challenges

Elder Vargas encouraged centering our lives on Jesus Christ to avoid temptations and withstand life's storms, promising joy and strength in doing so.

I invite all of us today to center our lives on Jesus Christ and His teachings.

How has focusing on Jesus Christ helped you overcome personal challenges?
What does it mean to you to center your life on Christ?
Can you share a time when focusing on Christ brought you peace or joy?
How can we help others to focus their lives on Jesus Christ?
What are some practical ways to keep Christ at the center of our lives?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we recognize when we are being led by the Light of Christ?
What are some common 'hooks of mortality' that distract us from our spiritual path?
How can we strengthen our spiritual 'guidance system'?
What role does prayer play in staying spiritually nourished?
How can we help others recognize their divine nature and potential?
What are the dangers of spiritual malnutrition, and how can we avoid it?
How does participating in the sacrament renew our covenant relationship with God?
What are some ways to find joy regardless of life's circumstances?
How can we support each other in our spiritual journeys?
What blessings have you seen from focusing your life on Jesus Christ?