Study Guide for "Integrity and Virtue Lead to Happiness"

Elder Quentin L. Cook teaches that integrity, virtue, and ongoing repentance help disciples of Jesus Christ follow the covenant path and experience true happiness. He invites us to honor our responsibilities, communicate peacefully, obey the Savior, and seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost. As you study, consider how your thoughts, words, and daily choices reflect your beliefs and how the Savior helps you grow.

Before Reading

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

How do integrity and virtue help me follow Jesus Christ throughout my life?
What distinguishes the happiness Elder Cook describes from other ideas about happiness?
How do my words and online interactions reflect the Savior’s teachings?
What connection does Elder Cook draw between professing faith and obeying God?
How can daily repentance bring greater joy to me and my family?

Topics

Act with Integrity in Every Responsibility

Elder Cook uses President David O. McKay’s example to encourage disciples to do their best in every responsibility. Integrity means being honest with God, ourselves, our leaders, and others, and living according to our beliefs and commitments. He also warns that activities need not be inherently evil to distract us from spiritually important pursuits.

He determined that whatever responsibility he had, he would do his very best.

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.

Integrity includes being honest with God, yourself, your leaders, and others.

He may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart.

What does President McKay’s example teach about fulfilling responsibilities?
How does the definition of integrity in Preach My Gospel extend beyond honesty with other people?
How can conduct that is not inherently evil interfere with lifelong discipleship?
In which responsibility can I more fully act well my part this week?
Where do my choices align with my beliefs and commitments, and where do I need to change?
What otherwise harmless activity occupies time or attention I need for spiritual growth?

Pursue Happiness through Virtuous Living

Elder Cook teaches that integrity, virtue, and happiness are intrinsically linked in Heavenly Father’s plan. Virtue includes a strong moral compass as well as cleanliness, modesty, goodness, holiness, and reverence for sacred things. True happiness grows from alignment with God’s will and obedience to His commandments, rather than from choices that disregard virtue.

In the Father’s plan, integrity, virtue, and happiness are intrinsically linked.

True happiness, often translated as blessedness, is the actual outcome of integrity and being virtuous.

Virtue includes not only a strong personal moral compass but also cleanliness, modesty, goodness, holiness, and reverence for the sacred.

Virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping the commandments of God lead to a happy life.

How does Elder Cook explain the relationship between virtue and happiness?
What qualities does he include in his description of virtue?
How does the instruction to let virtue garnish our thoughts support a virtuous life?
What experiences help me recognize the connection between keeping commandments and experiencing joy?
Which aspect of virtue do I feel prompted to strengthen?
What thoughts or influences can I welcome into my life to cultivate greater reverence for sacred things?

Communicate Peacefully and Use Technology Wisely

Elder Cook condemns coarse language, bullying, and efforts to damage another person’s reputation, including online. He teaches that such conduct violates the Savior’s principles and can negatively affect people who do not know God or have a testimony of Jesus Christ. Although disciples cannot control others’ conduct, they can choose peaceable, Christlike behavior and use technology wisely.

Any use of the internet to bully, destroy a reputation, or place a person in a bad light is reprehensible.

The Lord has inspired marvelous technology that provides us with unparalleled experiences and opportunities when used 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.

Why does Elder Cook describe harmful communication as more than a matter of bad manners?
What responsibility do disciples have when others attack them or the Church?
How does Elder Cook distinguish the benefits of technology from its harmful uses?
What do my recent messages, comments, and posts reveal about my discipleship?
How can I respond to disagreement without humiliating or misrepresenting another person?
What specific change can help me use technology to encourage, serve, or build understanding?

Renew Your Spirit through Scripture and Uplifting Thoughts

Elder Cook encourages daily scripture study and spiritual renewal, promising that these practices bring deep blessings. He highlights the value young people find in testimony meetings and quotes Paul’s invitation to think about things that are lovely, virtuous, and praiseworthy. These teachings encourage disciples to give deliberate attention to spiritually nourishing influences.

If we dedicate some time every day to the scriptures and spiritual renewal, we will be deeply blessed.

Young people who attend For the Strength of Youth and young single adult conferences often tell me the testimony meeting, a small portion of the event, is the most appreciated.

Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

What daily practice does Elder Cook recommend for spiritual renewal?
What does Paul’s counsel teach about the thoughts we choose to cultivate?
How does Elder Cook’s observation about testimony meetings illustrate the value of spiritual experiences?
When can I consistently set aside time for scripture study and spiritual renewal?
Which influences help me focus on things that are virtuous and praiseworthy?
What spiritual experience can I record to remember how the Lord strengthens my testimony?

Show Faith in Christ through Obedience

Elder Cook emphasizes Heavenly Father’s love in sending His Son to save the world. He also teaches that calling Jesus Christ our Lord must be accompanied by obedience to His commandments and the Father’s will. Discipleship therefore involves both belief in the Savior and choices that reflect His direction.

The Savior explained that He had not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

The Lord expects us to live lives of virtue and integrity and to follow His commandments.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do John 3:16–17 teach about the Father’s love and the Savior’s mission?
Why is professing belief in Jesus Christ not a substitute for obedience?
How do the Savior’s teachings connect integrity with doing the Father’s will?
Which teaching of Jesus Christ do I need to put into practice more consistently?
How does remembering the Father’s love influence my desire to obey?
What concrete action can make my discipleship more visible in my daily life?

Live Virtuously and Serve to Invite the Holy Ghost

Elder Cook teaches that integrity becomes evident through virtuous living and caring service to others. He identifies the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as the ultimate reward of integrity and virtue. Choosing what is right allows the Spirit to dwell with us and guide our actions.

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.

But when we do what is right, He can dwell with us and guide us in all that we do.

How does serving others demonstrate integrity?
What reward does Elder Cook associate with integrity and virtue?
What does he teach about the relationship between our conduct and the Holy Ghost’s companionship?
Who needs my care or service, and how can I respond?
What choices help me invite the Holy Ghost’s companionship?
What experience helps me recognize the Spirit’s guidance as I choose what is right?

Repent Daily and Share the Savior’s Joy

Elder Cook teaches that integrity includes acknowledging faults to the Lord and repenting of transgressions. His account of a former sailor illustrates the profound gratitude and joy that forgiveness through repentance, baptism, and confirmation brings. Ongoing repentance helps us approach the Lord honestly and receive the saving blessings made possible by Jesus Christ.

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.

Integrity, virtue, and ongoing repentance are the answer in a world where coarse language and serious challenges are so prevalent.

I testify that Jesus Christ accomplished the eternity-shaping sacrifice necessary for our salvation and exaltation, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Why is acknowledging faults and repenting an expression of integrity?
What does the former sailor’s experience illustrate about the joy of forgiveness?
How does Elder Cook connect repentance and saving blessings with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice?
How can I make repentance a sincere, daily practice rather than an occasional response?
What experience with the Savior’s forgiveness can I record with gratitude?
How can I help my family experience the joy of Jesus Christ’s gospel without pressuring them?