Relief Society · Elders Quorum · 25 minutes
Elder Ulisses Soares · Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles · Saturday Afternoon Session
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This class in one line
Abiding in Christ, staying genuinely connected to Him as the True Vine, is an active, daily choice that determines whether we grow spiritually or drift toward voices that cannot satisfy the soul.
Skip the extended background on the 'I am' declarations and Paul's warning about philosophy; go straight to the vine metaphor and the Emmaus story, which carry the heart of the lesson.
Before Sunday
Sunday's class: What does it actually mean to 'abide' in Christ?
This Sunday we'll discuss Elder Ulisses Soares' April 2025 conference talk, 'Jesus Christ, the True Vine.' He teaches that staying connected to the Savior is not occasional or casual, it is a constant, conscious choice that shapes what we listen to, how we speak, and where we turn for nourishment. You can read or watch the talk at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Before Sunday, think about this: What is one voice, online, cultural, or otherwise, that quietly competes with the Savior's voice in your life?
Pick one opening
Think of a time when you felt genuinely connected to the Savior, not just going through the motions, but really drawing strength from Him. What was happening in your life then, and what made that connection feel real? Take a moment, then share with the class.
Think of a time when you felt genuinely connected to the Savior, not just going through the motions, but really drawing strength from Him. What was happening in your life then, and what made that connection feel real? Take a moment, then share with the class.
Elder Soares shares a moment he says he will 'forever treasure.' Just minutes after learning he had been called to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called to welcome him. In that phone call, Elder Soares said he felt the Savior ministering to him through the voice of one of His servants, peace and assurance flowing, as he put it, from the True Vine. Start there. What does it mean that the Savior reaches us through other people?
Teach this first
Elder Soares teaches that abiding in Christ means letting His teachings govern our thoughts, words, and actions in every setting, including digital ones, and letting our covenants guide our daily choices. It is not passive. It is something we choose, and then choose again. The Emmaus disciples had to desire the Savior's presence and then actually invite Him to stay; without that choice, their hearts would not have been changed.
Elder Soares: 'Abiding in Christ is not an occasional or casual act; it is a constant, conscious, and sacred choice.'
Ask the class
If time remains
Elder Soares warns that some voices actively present themselves as aligned with Christ and His gospel while subtly leading minds and hearts elsewhere. Over time they grow into 'tangled vines' that introduce doubt and weaken our connection to the Savior, not all at once, but gradually.
Ask the class
Counsel together
Last 3–5 minutes
This week, identify one specific habit or voice, a podcast, a social feed, a recurring thought pattern, and honestly ask whether it nourishes your connection to the Savior or quietly competes with it. Make one small adjustment based on what you find.
Elder Soares teaches that as we receive spiritual nourishment from the True Vine, the fruits of the gospel grow in our souls and we find 'the true light, life, and hope that flow from Him.'
Your witness: Share, in your own words, what it means to you personally that the Savior is not just a good teacher or moral example but the actual source, the vine, from which real spiritual life flows. What difference does that make?