"God Knows and Loves You" Talk Outline

Last updated on March 16th, 2024 at 10:10 pm

General Conference Applied

“God Knows and Loves You” by Elder Alan T. Phillips; October 2023 General Conference

Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E24

Talk Outline

Invitations

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

“Elder Gerrit W. Gong teaches that ‘our journey to God is often found together.’ As such, our wards should be a refuge for all of God’s children. Are we passively attending church or actively creating communities whose purpose is to worship, remember Christ, and minister to one another? We can heed President Nelson’s counsel to judge less, love more, and extend the pure love of Jesus Christ through our words and actions.”
“For some, you may want to follow President Nelson’s invitation and ask ‘if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.'”
“Know your Father in Heaven. He is perfect and loving.”
“Know who Jesus Christ is. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Bind yourself and those you love to Him.”
“Know who you are. Know your true divine identity.”

Promises

None.

Doctrines

Godhead: “Although the members of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in purpose. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father’s divine plan of salvation.”

Principles

Our Heavenly Father: “God is the Supreme and Absolute Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is ‘the Great Parent of the universe,’ and He ‘looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard’ (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 39). … God is perfect. He is a God of righteousness, with attributes such as love, mercy, charity, truth, power, faith, knowledge, and judgment. He has all power. He knows all things. He is full of goodness. All good things come from God. Everything that He does is to help His children become like Him. He has said, ‘Behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39).”

Christlike Attributes

Faith in Jesus Christ: “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge. Rather, it is an assurance from the Spirit of things you do not see but that are true. (See Alma 32:21.) You express your faith through action. These actions include following the Savior’s teachings and example. They include serving others and helping them choose to follow Christ. You also express your faith through diligence, repentance, and love.”

Attribute Activity

“I believe in Christ and accept Him as my Savior. (2 Nephi 25:29)”
“I feel confident that God loves me. (1 Nephi 11:17)”
“I trust the Savior enough to accept His will and do what He asks. (1 Nephi 3:7)”
“I believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost, I can be forgiven of my sins and sanctified as I repent. (Enos 1:2–8)”
“I have faith that God hears and answers my prayers. (Mosiah 27:14)”
“I think about the Savior during the day and remember what He has done for me. (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79)”
“I have faith that God will bring about good things in my life and the lives of others as we devote ourselves to Him and His Son. (Ether 12:12)”
“I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. (Moroni 10:3–5)”
“I have faith to accomplish what Christ wants me to do. (Moroni 7:33)”

Most Important Quote

“Please know faith requires work. We live in a time when, for many, only ‘seeing is believing.’ Faith can be challenging and requires choices. But prayers are answered. And answers can be felt. Some of the most real things in life are not seen; they are felt, known, and experienced. They too are real.

“Jesus Christ wants you to know and have a relationship with your Father in Heaven. He taught, ‘What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?’ Can you think of a more personal, loving image of God the Eternal Father?

“You are His child. If you are feeling lost, if you have questions or lack wisdom, if you are struggling with your circumstances or wrestling with spiritual dissonance, turn to Him. Pray to Him for comfort, love, answers, and direction. Whatever the need and wherever you are, pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. For some, you may want to follow President Nelson’s invitation and ask ‘if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.'”

Powerful Stories

“Six years ago our family was traveling at night just outside the city of Oxford. As is often the case with young children, we needed to stop, so we found a service station with an array of shops and restaurants. With precision, we filed out of the car, visited the services, and filed back in, resuming our journey.

“Fifteen minutes later our eldest son asked a significant question: “Where is Jasper?” Jasper sits on his own at the back of the car. We assumed he had fallen asleep or was hiding or playing a trick on us.

“As his brother inspected the back of the car more closely, we discovered our five-year-old son was not there. Our hearts filled with dread. As we made our way back to the service station, we pleaded with Heavenly Father that Jasper would be kept safe. We called the police and informed them of the situation.

“When we anxiously arrived, more than 40 minutes later, we found two police vehicles in the car park, lights flashing. Inside one of them was Jasper, playing with the buttons. I will never forget the joy we felt in being reunited with him.”

The Best Footnote

Footnote 26: “‘He [the Holy Ghost] is the Comforter (John 14:26). As the soothing voice of a loving parent can quiet a crying child, the whisperings of the Spirit can calm our fears, hush the nagging worries of our life, and comfort us when we grieve. The Holy Ghost can fill us ‘with hope and perfect love’ and ‘teach [us] the peaceable things of the kingdom’ (Moroni 8:26; Doctrine and Covenants 36:2)’ (Topics and Questions, “Holy Ghost,” Gospel Library).

“‘He [the Holy Ghost] ‘witnesses of the Father and the Son’ (2 Nephi 31:18). It is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can receive a sure testimony of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

“‘The Holy Ghost testifies of truth, and it is through His power that we ‘may know the truth of all things’ (Moroni 10:5)’ (“The Holy Ghost Testifies of Truth,” Liahona, Mar. 2010, 14, 15).

“‘But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me’ (John 15:26).”

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker

“Are we passively attending church or actively creating communities whose purpose is to worship, remember Christ, and minister to one another?”
“If an imperfect, earthly father feels this way about his child, can you imagine how a perfect, glorified, loving Heavenly Father feels about you?”
“He taught, ‘What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?’ Can you think of a more personal, loving image of God the Eternal Father?”

Additional Content

Previous Talk Outline (“Bearing Witness of Jesus Christ in Word and Actions” by Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella)

Next Talk Outline (“Divine Parenting Lessons” by Elder Valeri V. Cordón)

All Talk Outlines

“God Knows and Loves You” Talk Outline