Our Heavenly Guidance System
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Recognize the Hooks of Mortality
Elder Vargas discusses the various temptations and challenges we face in mortality, likening them to the hooks that threaten salmon in the ocean. He emphasizes the importance of remembering our divine nature to resist these temptations.
The hooks of mortality are real. They are often enticing, but they seek only one target: to pull us out of the course of living waters that lead to the Father and eternal life.
Moses responded to the temptation by remembering his divine nature, saying, "Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God."Key Points:
- Temptations are like hooks that aim to divert us from our spiritual path.
- Remembering our divine nature helps us resist temptation.
- Our covenant relationship with God entitles us to divine help.
- Recall a time when you felt tempted to stray from your spiritual path. How did you overcome it?
- Share an experience where remembering your divine nature helped you make a better choice.
- Reflect on a moment when you felt the Lord's guidance helping you resist temptation.
Nourish Your Spirit
Elder Vargas emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment, comparing it to the nourishment salmon need in the ocean. He highlights prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and regular church meetings as vital elements of our spiritual diet.
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.
Prayer, the scriptures, the temple, and our regular attendance at Sunday meetings are vital in our spiritual menu.Key Points:
- Spiritual nourishment is essential for growth and resilience.
- Prayer, scripture study, and temple attendance are crucial for spiritual health.
- Regular participation in church meetings strengthens our spiritual foundation.
- Describe how regular scripture study has impacted your life.
- Share a personal experience of how attending the temple has blessed you.
- Reflect on a time when prayer helped you through a difficult situation.
Embrace Our Divine Nature and Destiny
Elder Vargas reminds us of our divine nature as children of God and our destiny to return to Him. He shares the story of Moses to illustrate the power of understanding our identity in resisting temptation.
Each [of us] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.
The truth freed Moses from an attack by the adversary.Key Points:
- Understanding our divine nature empowers us to resist temptation.
- We have a divine destiny to return to our Heavenly Father.
- Our identity as children of God is central to our spiritual journey.
- Reflect on a time when knowing you are a child of God helped you in a challenging situation.
- Share a story of how understanding your divine destiny has influenced your decisions.
- Consider how your life has changed since embracing your identity as a child of God.
Use Jesus Christ as Our Guidance System
Elder Vargas teaches that Jesus Christ is our ultimate guide back to our heavenly home. Through His atonement and teachings, we have the path to follow despite life's adversities.
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.
Jesus taught His disciples, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."Key Points:
- Jesus Christ is the way back to our heavenly home.
- His atonement provides the means for us to overcome sin and adversity.
- Focusing on Christ helps us navigate life's challenges.
- Share a time when following Christ's teachings helped you make a difficult decision.
- Reflect on how the atonement of Jesus Christ has personally impacted your life.
- Describe an experience where you felt guided by the Light of Christ.
Return to Our Heavenly Home
Elder Vargas expresses the deep desire within each of us to return to our heavenly home and emphasizes the role of covenants in that journey. He discusses the trials we face and the support available through Jesus Christ.
Deep inside each of us is a desire to return to our heavenly home, and Jesus Christ is our heavenly guidance system.
Our covenants bring us closer to God to the point of making the impossible possible, filling every space of darkness and doubt with light and peace.Key Points:
- The desire to return to our heavenly home is innate.
- Covenants with God are essential in our journey back to Him.
- Jesus Christ offers support and guidance through life's trials.
- Consider a time when your covenants helped you through a difficult period.
- Share an experience where you felt the Savior's support during a trial.
- Reflect on the peace and hope you feel knowing you can return to your heavenly home.
