Courage Born of Our Faith in Jesus Christ
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What distinguishes spiritual courage from other forms of courage?
- How do faith in Jesus Christ and courageous choices strengthen each other?
- How does stillness help me nourish my faith amid distractions?
- Which responsibilities or challenges currently require me to exercise spiritual courage?
- What promises does Elder Andersen offer to those who believe in and follow Jesus Christ?
Topics
Build Your Courage on Faith in Jesus Christ
Elder Andersen establishes Jesus Christ as the foundation of spiritual courage. The Savior’s perfect life, atoning sacrifice, and Resurrection give us reasons to trust Him in both mortality and eternity. President Rosemary Chibota’s conversion illustrates how a spiritual witness leads to courageous discipleship and influences others.
Faith and courage are hallmarks of disciples of Jesus Christ.
Because of His incomparable love for each of us, He gave a gift only He could give, suffering for our sins, allowing us to repent and be forgiven.
Because He rose from the tomb, we too will be resurrected.
- How do the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection provide a foundation for faith and courage?
- How does President Chibota’s example illustrate the influence of faithful discipleship?
- Which truth about Jesus Christ gives me the most courage right now, and why?
- How does my testimony influence my choices when others do not share my beliefs?
- What experience helps me recognize the Savior’s love and trust Him more deeply?
Choose Christ Despite Obstacles, Doubt, and Fear
Spiritual courage means overcoming obstacles, doubt, and fear in choosing the right. Moroni’s refusal to deny Christ demonstrates that faithful discipleship can require courage even in isolation and danger. Although our circumstances differ from Moroni’s, Elder Andersen teaches that modern disciples also confront spiritual opposition, including doubts, distractions, and deceptions.
Spiritual courage is the triumph over obstacles, doubt, and fear in choosing the right.
It has always taken spiritual courage, born of faith in Jesus Christ, to be His disciple.
And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ.
- How does Elder Andersen define spiritual courage?
- What does Moroni’s example teach about remaining faithful when we feel alone?
- How does Paul’s description of spiritual opposition help explain the challenges disciples face today?
- Where do doubt, fear, or social pressure make choosing the right difficult for me?
- What does refusing to deny Christ look like in my present circumstances?
- What specific courageous choice can I make this week because of my faith in Jesus Christ?
Create Stillness to Nourish Faith in Christ
Elder Andersen contrasts the constant flow of information in modern life with the quiet he experiences while tending cows as a youth. He teaches that although technology and circumstances change, our spirits still need stillness. Quiet moments help us nourish faith rather than allow distractions to dominate our attention.
Our world is in constant commotion.
Times have changed, but our spirits have not changed.
We need stillness to nourish our faith in Christ.
- What spiritual need does Elder Andersen highlight through his account of tending cows?
- Why does the need for stillness remain important despite changes in technology and daily life?
- How does my use of my phone affect my ability to reflect on Jesus Christ?
- When and where can I create regular moments of stillness?
- What do I notice about my faith when I make room for quiet reflection?
Strengthen Faith Through Prayer and Covenant Courage
Faith and courage strengthen each other: choosing faith in Christ brings courage, and acting courageously increases faith. Elder Andersen identifies private prayer as a source of strength for the inner battles of discipleship. Receiving the sacrament and then remaining true to our covenants also invite increased faith from the Lord.
As we choose faith in Christ, He blesses us with the courage, sometimes in very difficult situations, to choose the right, and as we manifest our courage to choose the right, our faith in Christ strengthens.
In those quiet moments when we speak with our Heavenly Father privately, independently, we are given the increased courage to choose the right.
Then, with courage, we are true to our covenants, and in turn, the Lord blesses us with increased faith.
- How do faith in Christ and courage to choose the right reinforce one another?
- What role does private prayer play in the battles within our souls?
- How does Elder Andersen connect the sacrament, covenant faithfulness, and increased faith?
- What inner struggle do I need to bring honestly to Heavenly Father in prayer?
- How can I prepare for the sacrament with greater attention to taking Christ’s name upon me, remembering Him, and keeping His commandments?
- When does a courageous choice strengthen my faith, and what can I learn from that experience?
Exercise Courage in Everyday Discipleship
Elder Andersen shows that spiritual courage applies to ordinary responsibilities as well as exceptional trials. Faith helps disciples accept callings, minister, obey commandments, pursue missionary service and family responsibilities, and remain true to covenants regardless of marital circumstances. It also gives courage to speak of Christ, repent, worship in the temple, follow living prophets, and respond to the Holy Ghost.
It is our faith in Jesus Christ that gives us the courage to accept a calling from our priesthood leaders even when we feel inadequate or without sufficient time to accept the responsibility.
Gathering all my faith, I accepted the call.
It is our faith in Christ that gives us the spiritual courage to speak openly with others about our Savior, make covenants in the house of the Lord, repent and receive forgiveness, follow living prophets, and be guided by the quiet impressions of the Holy Ghost.
- What does President Oaks’s response to a demanding calling illustrate about faith and courage?
- Which everyday acts of discipleship does Elder Andersen identify as requiring spiritual courage?
- How do the examples of young adults and a young mother broaden our understanding of courageous discipleship?
- Which responsibility or commandment feels difficult for me, and how can I approach it with greater faith in Christ?
- How can I act on a quiet impression from the Holy Ghost this week?
- What step toward repentance, service, or sharing my faith do I feel prompted to take?
Trust the Savior Through Loss and Grief
Faith in Jesus Christ provides courage when illness, financial troubles, natural disasters, or betrayal disrupt life. Elder Andersen shares examples of disciples who trust the Savior despite the loss of a home or deep personal grief. Their experiences illustrate that hope in Christ can remain alive even when difficult circumstances continue.
Our family is safe, and our faith is secure. We can build another house.
Their faith in Jesus Christ lifted their courage, and their courage has elevated their faith.
With our hope alive in Christ, even with life’s challenges, we too may be, as the Apostle Paul said, “troubled on every side, yet not distressed; … perplexed, but not in despair.”
- What does the Woodbury family’s response show about faith during material loss?
- How does the testimony of the woman experiencing betrayal illustrate trust in Jesus Christ?
- What does Paul’s statement teach about the relationship between hardship and hope?
- What difficulty currently tests my trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
- What helps me keep hope in Christ while a painful situation remains unresolved?
- How can I support someone facing loss or grief without minimizing their suffering?
Follow Christ and Trust His Promises
Elder Andersen promises that believing in Jesus Christ, following Him, and keeping His commandments bring answers, increased spiritual power, and courage that shapes our eternal souls. He connects these promises with the Savior’s teaching that those who love Him keep His words. Peter and John’s courageous witness of the resurrected Christ reinforces Elder Andersen’s own testimony that Jesus lives and guides His restored gospel.
I promise you that as you strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by believing and following Him and keeping His commandments, your answers will come, your spiritual power will increase, and your courage in following Christ will define your eternal soul.
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He lives. He guides this holy work, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
- What actions does Elder Andersen connect with his promises of answers, spiritual power, and courage?
- What does John 14:23 teach about expressing love for Jesus Christ?
- How do Peter and John demonstrate courage rooted in faith in the resurrected Savior?
- How can I more deliberately believe in, follow, and obey Jesus Christ?
- As I seek answers, how can I continue following Christ without imposing my own timetable on His promises?
- What testimony of the living Savior can I record and share with someone else?
