Study Guide for "Confidence in the Presence of God"

In his inspiring address, President Russell M. Nelson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks about the profound comfort and spiritual strength that comes from having confidence in the presence of God. He emphasizes the importance of charity and virtue in developing this confidence and calls upon the members of the Church to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. With a focus on the rising generation and the acceleration of temple-building, President Nelson outlines how living the gospel can lead to greater joy and spiritual power.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What does President Nelson say about the current momentum in the Church?
How does President Nelson describe the confidence that disciples of Jesus Christ can have?
What are the two key attributes President Nelson highlights for gaining confidence before God?
How does President Nelson suggest we can prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

Topics

Gain Confidence Through Covenants

President Nelson teaches that making and keeping covenants with God allows us to have confidence that is born of the Spirit. This confidence enables us to approach God with the assurance that He hears us, understands our needs, and loves us beyond comprehension.

When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.

Imagine the comfort of having confidence in the presence of God!

What does President Nelson say is the source of our confidence before God?
How can covenants help us approach God with assurance?
How can you strengthen your confidence in the presence of God through your covenants?
Reflect on a time when you felt supported by your covenants during a challenge.

Cultivate Charity as Peacemakers

President Nelson emphasizes the importance of charity, particularly in our interactions with others. He calls for followers of Jesus Christ to be peacemakers and to eliminate hostility and contention from their discourse, both public and private.

True charity towards all men is the hallmark of peacemakers!

Charity towards all men is essential to our progress.

What role does charity play in being a peacemaker?
How does President Nelson describe the impact of contention on the Holy Ghost?
What steps can you take to increase charity in your interactions with others?
Consider a situation where you can act as a peacemaker. How will you apply charity?

Embrace Virtue in Thought and Action

President Nelson describes the transformative power of virtue in our lives. He encourages us to garnish our thoughts with virtue unceasingly, which will drive away impure and anxious thoughts, and lead to greater purity as the world grows more wicked.

The Lord tells us to garnish our thoughts unceasingly with virtue.

Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts.

How does President Nelson suggest virtue affects our thoughts?
Why is it important to increase our purity as the world grows more wicked?
What are some ways you can incorporate more virtue into your daily thoughts and actions?
Reflect on how living virtuously has impacted your confidence before God.

Prepare for the Second Coming

President Nelson urges members to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by increasing their time in the temple, which enhances both charity and virtue. He emphasizes the importance of readiness and spiritual preparedness for this "great and dreadful day."

Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The great opportunity before us is to become the people God needs us to be.

What does President Nelson say about the role of temple worship in preparing for the Second Coming?
How can we become the people God needs us to be for the Second Coming?
How can you increase your temple attendance and what impact might this have on your spiritual preparedness?
Reflect on your personal readiness for the Second Coming. What steps can you take to improve it?

Experience Joy Through Increased Faith

President Nelson invites members to take intentional steps to grow in confidence before the Lord, leading to increased joy and faith in Jesus Christ. He assures that by approaching God with confidence, we will experience spiritual power beyond our greatest hopes.

As we diligently seek to have charity and virtue fill our lives, our confidence in approaching God will increase.

We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes.

What are the effects of increased confidence before the Lord, according to President Nelson?
How does faith in Jesus Christ relate to experiencing joy and spiritual power?
What intentional steps can you take to grow your confidence before the Lord?
Journal about a time when increased faith brought you joy and spiritual power.