"The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home" Talk Outline

Last updated on November 5th, 2023 at 07:52 am

General Conference Applied

“The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home” by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf; October 2023 General Conference

Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E5

Talk Outline

Invitations

“Though choices may have taken you far away from the Savior and His Church, the Master Healer stands at the road that leads home, welcoming you. And we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ seek to follow His example and embrace you as our brothers and sisters, as our friends. We rejoice and celebrate with you.”
“It is my prayer that each one of us may hear, in this profound parable, the Father’s voice calling us to enter the road that leads home—that we may have the courage to repent, receive forgiveness, and follow the path that leads back to our compassionate and merciful God.”

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

None.

Promises

Action: “The moment you decide to return and walk in the way of our Savior and Redeemer,”
Promise: “His power will enter your life and transform it. Angels in heaven will rejoice. And so will we, your family in Christ.”

Doctrines

Plan of Salvation: “Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential in Heavenly Father’s plan.”
Atonement of Jesus Christ: “Those who repent, obey the commandments, receive the saving ordinances, and keep their covenants will receive the gift of eternal life (see Articles of Faith 1:3).”
Revelation: “Individuals can receive revelation to help them with their specific needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help strengthen their testimonies. Most revelations to leaders and members of the Church come through impressions and thoughts from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost speaks to the mind and heart in a still, small voice (see D&C 8:2–3).”
Commandments: “Commandments are the laws and requirements that God gives to mankind. When we keep the commandments, we manifest our love for the Lord and receive blessings from Him (see Leviticus 26:3–12; John 14:15; Mosiah 2:41).”

Principles

Our Father in Heaven: “The more we know God, the more we love Him and keep His commandments (see 1 John 2:3–5). By keeping His commandments we can become like Him.”
Freedom to Choose: “When we choose to live according to God’s plan for us, our agency is strengthened. Right choices increase our power to make more right choices. As we obey each of our Father’s commandments, we grow in wisdom and strength of character. Our faith increases. We find it easier to make right choices.”
The Atonement of Jesus Christ: “Our sins are our spiritual debts. Without Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Mediator, we would all pay for our sins by suffering spiritual death. But because of Him, if we will keep His terms, which are to repent and keep His commandments, we may return to live with our Heavenly Father. It is wonderful that Christ has provided us a way to be healed from our sins.”
Repentance: “Repentance is the way provided for us to become free from our sins and receive forgiveness for them. Sins slow our spiritual progression and can even stop it. Repentance makes it possible for us to grow and develop spiritually again. The privilege of repenting is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In a way we do not fully understand, Jesus paid for our sins…. Repentance sometimes requires great courage, much strength, many tears, unceasing prayers, and untiring efforts to live the commandments of the Lord.”
Charity: “The life of the Savior reflects His pure love for all people. He even gave His life for us. Charity is that pure love which our Savior Jesus Christ has. He has commanded us to love one another as He loves us. The scriptures tell us that charity comes from a pure heart (see 1 Timothy 1:5). We have pure love when, from the heart, we show genuine concern and compassion for all our brothers and sisters.”
Obedience: “Each of us should ask ourselves why we obey God’s commandments. Is it because we fear punishment? Is it because we desire the rewards for living a good life? Is it because we love God and Jesus Christ and want to serve Them? It is better to obey the commandments because we fear punishment than not to obey them at all. But we will be much happier if we obey God because we love Him and want to obey Him. When we obey Him freely, He can bless us freely. He said, “I, the Lord, … delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end” (D&C 76:5). Obedience also helps us progress and become more like our Heavenly Father. But those who do nothing until they are commanded and then keep the commandments unwillingly lose their reward (see D&C 58:26–29).”
Family Responsibilities: “One of the best ways parents can teach their children is by example. Husbands and wives should show love and respect for each other and for their children by both actions and words. It is important to remember that each member of the family is a child of God. Parents should treat their children with love and respect, being firm but kind to them. Parents should understand that sometimes children will make wrong choices even after they have been taught the truth. When this happens, parents should not give up. They should continue to teach their children, to express love for them, to be good examples to them, and to fast and pray for them.”

Most Important Quote

“Extremely hungry now, abandoned and alone, the young man must have wondered how things could have gone so terribly, dreadfully wrong.

“It wasn’t just an empty stomach that troubled him. It was an empty soul. He had been so sure that giving in to his worldly desires would make him happy, that moral laws were obstacles to that happiness. Now he knew better. And oh, what a price he had to pay for that knowledge!”

Powerful Stories

None.

The Best Footnote

The footnotes in this talk are fantastic, as they provide additional clarity to the parable of the Prodigal Son. In particular, see footnotes 1, 4, 5, 9, and 15. However, the best footnotes are 10, 15, and 19.

Footnote 10 – “Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: ‘Of course, it is better if we are humbled ‘because of the word’ rather than being [humbled] by circumstances, yet the latter may do! (see Alma 32:13–14). Famine can induce spiritual hunger’ (“The Tugs and Pulls of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 36; Liahona, Jan. 2001, 45).”

Footnote 15 – “Remember, the younger son had already received his inheritance. For the older one, that meant that everything else belonged to him. Giving anything to the younger son would mean to take it away from the son who stayed.”

Footnote 19 – “What is given to one does not in the slightest diminish the birthright of others. The Savior taught this doctrine when He offered the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1–16.”

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker

“Can you imagine what the father felt when he heard this? When he realized that what his son wanted more than anything else was to leave the family and perhaps never return?”
“Who among us has not departed from the path of holiness, foolishly thinking we could find more happiness going our own self-centered way?”
“Who among us has not felt humbled, brokenhearted, and desperate for forgiveness and mercy?”

“The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home” Talk Outline