Weekly Study

Conference Talk of the Week

One conference talk each week, pre-selected on a rolling cycle. Start with the overview here, then open the official talk when you are ready to read it in full.

Week 5 of 37Viewing another talk in the series

Sunday Afternoon Session

The Character of Christ

President D. Todd Christofferson

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

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If we are to succeed in developing a Christlike character, we must possess His motivations—His thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart.

Overview

President D. Todd Christofferson uses Peter’s question, “What manner of persons ought ye to be?”, to focus on developing the character of Jesus Christ as part of preparing for the Second Coming. He teaches that Christlike attributes are the fruit of Christlike motivations (“thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart”), and that receiving those motivations requires a “mighty change of heart” through faith in Christ, repentance, covenants, and the enabling grace of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost. He highlights three motivations that shape the Savior’s character: pure love (charity), a drive to bless and advance others, and a steady desire to glorify the Father and do His will.

Three Key Takeaways

1Christlike character is not just a checklist of traits; it grows out of a changed heart, new motivations that shape our thoughts, desires, and intentions.
2A “mighty change of heart” can come suddenly or gradually, but in every case it is made possible by faith in Christ, repentance, baptismal covenants of obedience, and the grace of Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.
3Three motivations to seek are the Savior’s: (1) charity, the pure love of Christ that turns outward even in suffering, (2) a passion to lift and advance others, which produces humility, meekness, selflessness, and courage, and (3) a desire to glorify the Father and do His will, which leads to integrity and virtue, “a life of moral excellence.”

Reflection Questions

When I think about my own patterns of behavior this week, what underlying motives (thoughts, desires, intents) are driving them, and how do they compare to the Savior’s motives described in this talk?
Where in my life do I most need the Holy Ghost’s transforming help (not just more willpower) to experience a “mighty change of heart,” and what repentance would make space for that help?
In a current stress, loss, or disappointment, what would it look like to “turn outward” like the examples in the talk, who is one person whose need I can discern and respond to?

Application Prompt

Each day this week, pray specifically for the Holy Ghost to change one motive in your heart (charity, lifting others, or doing the Father’s will) and then take one concrete action that day that matches the motive you prayed for.