Talk Preparation Guide for "Christ—Author and Finisher of Our Faith"

In this message, Elder Eduardo F. Ortega teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is not something we inherit automatically, even in faithful multigenerational families. True discipleship begins with a personal decision to seek the Savior, gain an individual testimony, and continue pressing forward on the covenant path. Drawing from his family history, his own conversion experience, and his witness of Jesus Christ, Elder Ortega shows that both lifelong members and recent converts must rely wholly on the Savior, who refines, heals, and perfects us as we endure faithfully to the end.

Topics

Choose to follow the Savior personally

Elder Ortega teaches that spiritual heritage is a blessing, but it cannot replace an individual decision to believe in and follow Jesus Christ.

Some may think that faith is inherited. True discipleship, however, always begins with a personal decision.

Most inspiring is that their faithfulness depends not only on their spiritual heritage but on their personal decision to follow the Savior.

Our family heritage is a great blessing, but it is not a substitute for our diligent and intentional search for a personal testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truths of His restored gospel.

Our family legacy and traditions are very helpful, but in and of themselves they are not enough for us to build upon the rock of our Savior.

Key Points:

Faith is not automatically passed down through family lines.
A strong family gospel heritage is valuable but insufficient by itself.
Each disciple must make a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ.
A lasting spiritual foundation must be built on the Savior, not only on tradition.

Experiences:

When have you realized that borrowed faith from parents or leaders was not enough for you?
What personal decision helped you become more committed to Jesus Christ?
How has your family heritage blessed you without replacing your need for your own testimony?
When have you chosen discipleship even when it required personal effort or sacrifice?

Seek and receive a personal testimony from Heavenly Father

The talk emphasizes that testimony comes through sincere seeking, revelation from God, and acting on spiritual impressions.

The Lord taught this principle when He said to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

A personal testimony comes in response to our sincere and dedicated quest to want to know for ourselves and then to act upon the impressions and the knowledge received.

But that was not enough—I needed to know for myself.

Key Points:

Testimony is revealed by Heavenly Father, not merely learned from others.
We must sincerely desire to know truth for ourselves.
Spiritual knowledge grows as we act on the impressions we receive.
Even active participation in the Church does not replace personal spiritual confirmation.

Experiences:

What experiences helped you know the gospel was true for yourself?
When did prayer, scripture study, or obedience lead to personal revelation?
How have you acted on a spiritual impression and then seen your testimony deepen?
What would you say to someone who is still seeking their own witness?

Honor faithful pioneers and become a blessing to future generations

Elder Ortega shares his grandmother’s conversion to show how one faithful decision can bless generations and inspire others to follow Christ.

My grandmother Mercedes was the pioneer in our family.

I am deeply grateful for my grandmother’s faith and courage in following the Savior’s example, even though her circumstances were not perfect or ideal.

Her decision brought blessings not only to her but also to many of us.

You may become to your families and descendants what she was to us.

Key Points:

Family pioneers often begin gospel legacies through courageous faith.
The Lord works through imperfect circumstances.
One person’s conversion can bless children, grandchildren, and beyond.
Recent converts may become spiritual pioneers for their own families.

Experiences:

Who in your family or ward has been a spiritual pioneer for you?
How has someone else’s faith blessed your life and testimony?
When have you felt that your choices could influence future generations?
What story from your family history could illustrate the power of one faithful decision?

Gain faith by acting on the word of Christ

Elder Ortega explains that his own testimony grew as he served as a missionary and experimented upon the words of Christ by helping others come unto Him.

It was not until I was serving as a young missionary in Colombia that I gained my own personal and undeniable testimony of Jesus Christ, “even to an experiment upon [His] words” while striving to “invite [and help] others to come unto Christ.”

Over the years I have seen the Lord’s hand and His gospel work in me to perfect and refine me as I have trusted in Him and strived to “press forward with a steadfastness.”

Key Points:

Faith grows through action, not just observation.
Missionary service and helping others come to Christ can deepen testimony.
Experimenting upon the word allows truth to become personal and undeniable.
As we trust in the Lord and press forward, He refines us.

Experiences:

When has serving others strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ?
What gospel principle became real to you only after you lived it?
How has sharing the gospel or bearing testimony increased your conviction?
When have you seen the Lord refine you through active discipleship?

Welcome new disciples and encourage them on the covenant path

The talk warmly addresses recent converts, affirming their faith, welcoming them into the family of God, and encouraging them to keep moving forward in Christ.

Now I would like to address those who have recently joined the Church. We are so happy and we rejoice in your decision to follow the Savior.

We want you to feel welcome to this great family as brothers and sisters and children of a loving Heavenly Father.

The fact that you are here is a testimony of the promise that you have come “by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.”

You may feel that your circumstances are not perfect or ideal, just as they were not for her. But there is hope in Christ and in His restored gospel.

Key Points:

Recent converts should feel welcomed and valued in the Church.
Their presence reflects faith in Jesus Christ and trust in His saving merits.
Difficult circumstances do not prevent discipleship.
There is real hope in Christ and in His restored gospel.

Experiences:

How have you seen someone feel welcomed and strengthened after joining the Church?
When have you personally felt embraced by the family of God?
What experience could help reassure someone whose circumstances are difficult?
How have you seen hope in Christ change a life?

Press forward and endure on the covenant path

Elder Ortega teaches that all disciples, regardless of background, must continue seeking, doing, and enduring faithfully as they rely on Christ.

In addition to the changes you may have already experienced in your lives and hearts, there is a road ahead for you to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” as you endure on the covenant path.

The invitation to seek, to come to know and to do, and then to endure on the covenant path is the same for all of us, regardless of whether the gospel has been in our families for generations or we were baptized just last week.

And it is received individually as we seek diligently and are “nourished by the good word of God, to keep [us] in the right way, to keep [us] continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who [is] the author and the finisher of [our] faith.”

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.

Key Points:

Discipleship requires continued effort after baptism or initial conversion.
Everyone must seek, learn, act, and endure individually.
The word of God, prayer, and reliance on Christ keep us on the right path.
Steadfastness in Christ includes hope, love, and endurance.

Experiences:

What has helped you keep moving forward when discipleship felt difficult?
How have prayer and the word of God kept you on the covenant path?
When have you seen that enduring faithfully is a daily process rather than a single event?
What experience has taught you to rely more fully on the merits of Christ?

Trust the Savior to refine you over time

The talk teaches that becoming a lifelong disciple is gradual and that the Savior perfects us through patient, daily processes.

Sometimes I need the perspective that time gives to see the refining and perfecting hand of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in my life and in my family’s life.

Becoming a lifelong disciple of Christ is a process, the sum of multiple small, daily, personal and spiritual events.

President Dallin H. Oaks taught: “We need to be patient …, even with ourselves. Overcoming doubt … can be a lengthy process, as with building faith.”

Key Points:

Spiritual growth often becomes visible only over time.
The Savior refines and perfects us gradually.
Discipleship is built through many small daily experiences.
We should be patient with ourselves as faith develops and doubts are overcome.

Experiences:

When have you looked back and recognized the Lord’s refining influence in your life?
What small daily habits have strengthened your discipleship over time?
How has patience with yourself or others helped faith grow?
What experience taught you that spiritual progress is often gradual?

Choose the safe path that leads to Christ

Using the image of climbing a mountain, Elder Ortega teaches that the safest path is not always the shortest, and that Jesus Christ and His restored gospel are the secure way to eternal life.

The path of discipleship often resembles climbing a mountain.

The shortest path to the top is not always the most appropriate and often not the safest either.

Thus, we must choose the firm and safe path, even if it is sometimes the longest and most demanding one.

Jesus Christ and His restored gospel constitute that safe path that leads us to the true summit.

Key Points:

Discipleship can be demanding and require perseverance.
Quick or easy alternatives are not always spiritually safe.
The covenant path is firm and secure, even when it is difficult.
Jesus Christ and His restored gospel lead us to our eternal destination.

Experiences:

When have you chosen the right path even though it was harder or longer?
What gospel standard has protected you spiritually?
How have you learned that the Savior’s way is the safest way?
What personal story could illustrate the difference between an easy path and a faithful path?

Testify that Jesus Christ heals, perfects, and completes our faith

Elder Ortega concludes with a witness that Jesus Christ lives, rose from the dead, and is the source of healing, refinement, and the completion of our faith.

I testify of the healing, refining, and perfecting power of Jesus Christ.

I know that Jesus Christ lives, that He was resurrected on the third day, and that the empty tomb is a symbol of His victory.

I testify that He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

Key Points:

Jesus Christ has power to heal, refine, and perfect His disciples.
His Resurrection is central to Christian faith and hope.
Christ is both the beginning and the completion of our faith journey.
A talk based on this message should center on the Savior.

Experiences:

When have you felt the healing power of Jesus Christ in your life?
How has the reality of the Resurrection given you hope?
What experience has taught you that Christ is helping you become more than you could become alone?
How can you bear simple, personal testimony of the Savior in your talk?