Integrity and Virtue Lead to Happiness
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Display the phrase “Whate’er thou art, act well thy part.” Invite class members to silently consider one responsibility they currently carry and what acting well in that responsibility looks like. Introduce Elder Cook’s invitation to live as lifelong disciples rather than merely fulfill assignments.
- Write “integrity,” “virtue,” and “happiness” on the board. Ask class members how these qualities connect, then read Elder Cook’s statement that they are intrinsically linked in the Father’s plan. Invite the class to explore how the talk distinguishes lasting joy from temporary pleasure.
- Present a hypothetical situation in which someone encounters an insulting social media post about the Church. Invite class members to consider possible responses and what each response communicates about discipleship. Introduce Elder Cook’s teachings about integrity, virtuous communication, and peacemaking.
- Read the paragraph describing repentance as a constant, day-to-day part of life. Ask class members to silently consider how viewing repentance as an opportunity to receive the Savior’s help affects their feelings about it. Explain that the lesson explores integrity and virtue as qualities we develop through Jesus Christ, not as claims of personal perfection.
- Invite class members to identify a phrase in the talk that draws their attention or offers encouragement. Allow a few volunteers to share their phrases and explain why they matter. Use their responses to introduce the topics most relevant to the quorum or Relief Society.
Topics
Act Well in Every Responsibility
Elder Cook uses the message that inspires President David O. McKay to emphasize doing our best in every responsibility. He also warns that activities need not be inherently evil to distract us from spiritually important matters. Lifelong discipleship requires intentional choices about how we fulfill our roles and use our time.
It was clear that one of President McKay’s purposes in mentioning this incident was to teach that some conduct which is not inherently evil can keep us from engaging in spiritual matters that will bless us now and throughout eternity.
- What does “act well thy part” mean in your current family, Church, work, or community responsibilities?
- How can we recognize when an otherwise acceptable activity crowds out something spiritually important?
- What helps you give your best in a responsibility that receives little recognition?
- How does remembering that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ change the way you approach ordinary tasks?
- What adjustment in your use of time can make more room for a spiritual priority this week?
Align Your Actions with Your Beliefs
Integrity includes honesty with God, ourselves, our leaders, and others. Elder Cook presents integrity as the willingness and ability to live according to our beliefs and commitments. Our discipleship becomes trustworthy as our everyday conduct reflects the principles and covenants we profess.
Preach My Gospel teaches, “Integrity includes being honest with God, yourself, your leaders, and others.”
- What does honesty with yourself look like in everyday discipleship?
- Where do people commonly feel pressure to separate their actions from their beliefs?
- How do our covenants help us make honest choices when those choices carry a cost?
- What examples of quiet integrity inspire you to become more trustworthy?
- What practice helps you notice and address a gap between your commitments and your conduct?
Seek Happiness through Virtuous Living
Elder Cook teaches that integrity, virtue, and happiness are intrinsically linked in Heavenly Father’s plan. Virtue encompasses a strong moral compass as well as cleanliness, modesty, goodness, holiness, and reverence for sacred things. Lasting happiness grows from alignment with God’s will rather than from choices that merely promise immediate satisfaction.
In the Father’s plan, integrity, virtue, and happiness are intrinsically linked. Living a virtuous life with integrity aligns us with God’s will. True happiness, often translated as blessedness, is the actual outcome of integrity and being virtuous.
- How does Elder Cook’s description of virtue broaden your understanding of the word?
- What distinguishes the happiness Elder Cook describes from temporary pleasure or public approval?
- How can we understand the connection between virtue and happiness while acknowledging that faithful people also experience sorrow?
- What experiences help you recognize the joy that comes from living according to God’s will?
- Which aspect of virtue in this talk invites greater attention in your life, and what can you do to cultivate it?
Communicate Virtuously and Make Peace
Elder Cook condemns coarse language, bullying, and efforts to damage another person’s reputation, including online. He teaches that our communication affects both other people and their understanding of the Savior’s gospel. Although we cannot control others’ conduct, we can choose peaceable, Christlike responses and use technology wisely.
We cannot control the conduct of others, but we can strive to be a peaceable people who live in accordance with the Christlike conduct and virtues taught by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
- What makes a response genuinely peaceable rather than merely polite?
- How can we defend a belief or correct misinformation without attacking another person?
- What helps you pause before sending or sharing something that may harm someone’s reputation?
- What examples of Christlike communication help you respond constructively to disagreement?
- How can your use of technology more clearly reflect integrity, virtue, and respect for others?
Renew Your Spirit and Cultivate Virtuous Thoughts
Elder Cook encourages daily time in the scriptures and spiritual renewal. He also highlights scriptural invitations to let virtue shape our thoughts and to focus on things that are lovely and of good report. These practices help orient our attention toward the Savior and strengthen our ability to live as His disciples.
If we dedicate some time every day to the scriptures and spiritual renewal, we will be deeply blessed.
- What makes scripture study a source of spiritual renewal rather than simply another task?
- How do the things we regularly read, watch, and listen to influence our thoughts and conduct?
- What does letting virtue garnish your thoughts look like during a busy or stressful day?
- What role do testimonies and other spiritually renewing experiences play in strengthening your discipleship?
- What realistic change can help you make room for daily scripture study or spiritual renewal?
Obey Christ and Serve Others with Integrity
Elder Cook emphasizes that calling Jesus Christ our Lord includes doing what He teaches. We demonstrate integrity through virtuous living, caring for others, and service. He identifies the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as the ultimate reward of integrity and virtue, with the Spirit guiding us as we choose what is right.
We show our integrity by living virtuous lives and caring for and serving others. The ultimate reward of integrity and virtue is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
- How does the Savior’s question about calling Him Lord invite us to examine our discipleship?
- Why are caring for others and serving them expressions of integrity?
- What helps you act on the Savior’s teachings when obedience feels inconvenient?
- What experiences help you recognize the Holy Ghost’s guidance as you seek to do what is right?
- Who in your daily life needs care, and what specific act of service can you offer this week?
Repent Daily and Receive the Savior’s Joy
Elder Cook teaches that integrity includes acknowledging our faults to the Lord and repenting of transgressions. His account of a former sailor illustrates the profound relief and joy that forgiveness through Jesus Christ offers. Ongoing repentance helps us approach the Lord honestly, receive His saving blessings, and desire that same joy for others.
Part of having integrity is acknowledging our faults to the Lord and repenting of transgressions. When we make repentance a constant, day-to-day part of our lives, we can approach the Lord with integrity and receive His saving blessings.
- How does seeing repentance as part of integrity change the way we think about admitting mistakes?
- What does Elder Cook’s account of the former sailor teach us about the joy of forgiveness?
- How does the Savior’s mission to save rather than condemn encourage us to turn toward Him?
- Without sharing private transgressions, what helps you make repentance a hopeful, daily practice?
- How can we help our families and others experience the Savior’s joy without pressuring or judging them?
Additional Discussion Questions
- Which teaching in this talk most directly addresses a challenge you currently face, and how can you apply it?
- How do integrity and ongoing repentance support each other rather than contradict each other?
- What does joyful lifelong discipleship look like when circumstances remain difficult?
- How can our quorum or Relief Society make honesty, repentance, and spiritual growth easier for one another?
- What connection do you see between the thoughts we cultivate and the way we communicate with others?
- How can we teach the relationship between virtue and happiness without suggesting that righteousness eliminates every hardship?
- What helps us remain faithful to our commitments when no one else notices our choices?
- How can daily spiritual renewal prepare us to respond peacefully in a moment of conflict?
- How does the Savior’s love and saving sacrifice give you hope as you seek greater integrity and virtue?
- What specific action do you feel invited to take because of this discussion, and how can you remember that commitment during the week?
