Lesson Prepration Guide for "Be Reconciled to God"

In his General Conference address, Elder Kelly R. Johnson of the Seventy invites us to examine the concept of reconciliation with God. Drawing from his experience as a forensic accountant, Elder Johnson likens the process of reconciling financial records to the spiritual journey of aligning our will with God's. He emphasizes the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in this reconciliation process and encourages daily repentance to maintain a strong connection with the Savior. Through personal anecdotes and scriptural examples, Elder Johnson illustrates how reconciliation brings peace, unshakable faith, and a restored relationship with God.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin the lesson by asking the class to think about a time when they felt distant from God. Invite them to ponder what actions or changes helped them feel closer to Him again.
Share a personal story or experience about reconciliation in your own life, either with God or with another person, to help set the tone for the lesson.
Start with a short video or audio clip of President Russell M. Nelson speaking about letting God prevail in our lives, and discuss its relevance to the topic of reconciliation.
Pose a thought-provoking question: "What does it mean to you to be "reconciled to God"?" and invite a few class members to share their thoughts.
Read the story of Enos from the scriptures, and ask the class to reflect on how his experience of reconciliation with God can apply to our lives today.

Topics

Understand Reconciliation with God

Elder Johnson explained that reconciliation with God involves aligning our will with His and restoring a strained relationship through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This process requires us to actively choose to draw closer to God.

To be reconciled to God means to be brought back into harmony with God or to restore a relationship with God that has been strained or broken because of our sins or actions.

What does reconciliation with God mean to you personally?
Why is it important to align our will with God's?
How can we actively choose to draw closer to God in our daily lives?
What role does the Atonement of Jesus Christ play in our reconciliation with God?
Can you share an experience where you felt you needed to reconcile with God?

Repentance Leads to Unshaken Faith

Elder Johnson emphasized that repentance is crucial for reconciliation and leads to unshaken faith. Regular, prompt, and frequent repentance strengthens our connection to Jesus Christ and prevents us from becoming "ripe for destruction."

Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance.

How does regular repentance strengthen our faith?
What does it mean to have "unshaken faith"?
How can we develop the habit of daily repentance?
Why is it important to avoid becoming "ripe for destruction"?
How has repentance helped you feel more connected to Jesus Christ?

Avoid Being Easily Shaken

Elder Johnson used the metaphor of the cherry shaker to illustrate how disobedience, doubts, and fears can weaken our connection to Jesus Christ, making us easily shaken. He encouraged us to guard against this by staying spiritually strong.

As faithful as we may be, we must guard against a weakening of our connection to Jesus Christ.

What are some ways we can strengthen our connection to Jesus Christ?
How can we guard against being easily shaken by doubts or fears?
What role does prayer play in maintaining our spiritual strength?
Have you ever felt your connection to Christ weakening? What did you do to strengthen it?
Why is it important to be aware of the potential to be "easily shaken"?

The Role of Prophets and Revelation

Elder Johnson highlighted the importance of listening to prophets and seeking revelation to maintain unshaken faith. These practices fill us with hope, confidence, and strength, helping us stay aligned with God's will.

Listening to and acting on the words and invitations of the prophets and apostles can fill us with hope, confidence, and strength, resulting in our faith becoming unshaken.

How do the words of prophets strengthen our faith?
What is the relationship between revelation and reconciliation with God?
Why is it important to seek and act on personal revelation?
How can we better listen to and apply the teachings of modern prophets?
Can you share an experience where following prophetic counsel helped you?

The Circular Pattern of Reconciliation and Faith

Elder Johnson described the iterative pattern of reconciliation leading to unshaken faith, which in turn fosters a desire to remain reconciled with God. This cycle strengthens our discipleship and connection to the Savior.

Repenting and experiencing the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ lead to unshaken faith. Unshaken faith leads to a desire to always be reconciled to God.

How does unshaken faith influence our desire to be reconciled to God?
What steps can we take to maintain this circular pattern in our lives?
Why is it important to recognize this iterative process of faith and reconciliation?
How has experiencing the blessings of the Atonement strengthened your faith?
What can disrupt this pattern, and how can we overcome those challenges?

Additional Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'let God prevail' in your life?
How can we recognize when we are out of harmony with God?
What are some daily practices that help us stay reconciled with God?
Why is it important to address even small discrepancies in our spiritual lives?
How can we help others who may feel distant from God?
What are the dangers of becoming 'ripe for destruction'?
How does the story of Enos inspire you in your own spiritual journey?
What is the significance of having a 'desire to repent'?
How can we strengthen our ability to withstand spiritual 'shaking'?
What role does humility play in our reconciliation with God?