Elders Quorum Lesson
"Because of Jesus Christ" — Elder Dale G. Renlund

Elder Dale G. Renlund · April 2026 General Conference

“If you chase Jesus as hard as you chase the things you think you want, you will end up with more than you ever needed.

A story from Elder Renlund

Meet Lady.

Years ago our family had a little black dog, a toy poodle named Lady. Lady was smart, energetic, and great at fetching a ball. She was willing to retrieve a ball anytime, anyplace, and for as long as anyone was willing to throw one.

One day, after repeatedly throwing a ball for her to fetch, I decided to throw two balls at the same time, one blue and one yellow. Lady chased after the blue ball, picked it up, began running back to me, and then saw the yellow ball. She dropped the blue ball, dashed to the yellow ball, picked it up, and started back to me. Then she seemed to think of the blue ball, dropped the yellow ball, turned around, ran back to the blue ball, picked it up, and began returning.

As she was passing the yellow ball, she stopped, dropped the blue ball, picked up the yellow ball, and resumed running back. Then she dropped the yellow ball, turned around, scampered back to the blue ball, picked it up, and began running to me. As Lady passed the yellow ball again, she came to a screeching halt. She dropped the blue ball, looked back and forth from the blue ball to the yellow ball. Then she gave up, walked to her basket, and lay down.

For Lady, two balls were too many. She became confused, overwhelmed, and discouraged.

Lady the poodle

"The Renlunds' dog Lady"

In our lives, we need to deal not just with blue and yellow concerns but also with red and green, orange and purple, polka dots and stripes, and every possible combination. We may feel like Lady—overwhelmed and discouraged—and just want to crawl back into bed.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

The counsel

Not all matters are of equal value.

Maintaining an eternal perspective helps us prioritize the things that are of greatest value. On this Easter Sunday, let us consider why focusing on Jesus Christ and the "infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice" is of greatest value and helps us no matter how many other concerns we must manage.

Daily prayer

Good balls

Things that draw you toward the Savior. Prayer. Scripture. Serving someone. Time with family. The Sabbath. The temple. Repentance. Gratitude. They glow because they're worth glowing about.

A scroll

Distractions

Not evil. Just loud. The phone, the worry, the inbox, the next thing. They aren't villains — they're just bright and quick and right in front of your face. They crowd Him out by sheer volume.

If everyone, then anyone. If anyone, then even one. And if even one, then even you.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Keep your eye on Him

You need not be like our little dog, Lady.

Confused, discouraged, and overwhelmed — when facing too many balls; you do not need to crawl back to bed and cower. Instead, keep your eye on the ball. Focus on the Savior. Seek for the "precious gifts His Atonement can impart."

Jesus Christ

The invitation

Then you can joyfully and confidently sing with the children:

I will trust in Jesus. I will hear His call.

He will never leave me, even when I fall.

Jesus gives me power, lifts and comforts me,

Helping me to live and grow eternally.

From the talk

Read it in pieces.

Tap a section to expand. Scripture references link to the study text.

The plan

There was no alternative.

Jesus lived and died to do His Father's will. His infinite Atonement — the series of events He experienced from Gethsemane through His death on the cross and on to His glorious Resurrection — is central to Heavenly Father's plan for our salvation. The plan depended on Jesus Christ; there was no alternative. He completed the Atonement and thereby received "all power … in heaven and in earth."

Because of the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ, we can return home to our Heavenly Father and live in His presence. The Savior Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

First reason for Easter

He conquered death.

Jesus Christ conquered death; He literally rose from the tomb. Because of Him, resurrection is a universal and unconditional gift for everyone who comes to earth. Death is not the end because the spirit and the body will be reunited, never again to be divided.

Scriptures1 Cor. 15:22

Second reason

He saves us from our sins.

Jesus Christ has both the power and the desire to save us from our sins. When we repent and follow Him, "immediately [will] the great plan of redemption be brought about unto [us]." "All mankind may be saved" because of Him. All means everyone.

Jesus Christ has infinite capacity to forgive, promising that "as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me." Sins for which we have sincerely repented leave no spiritual scar, track, or trace. There is no scarlet letter to wear, now or in the eternities.

Third reason

He understands us.

Jesus Christ understands our challenges, having taken on not only our sins but also our griefs, sicknesses, and frailties. Because He endured and completed the infinite atoning sacrifice, He empathizes perfectly with us. He can "calm [our] anguish" and offers "gentle … peace … for [our] beseeching."

Because of Jesus Christ, all that is unfair in life can and will be made right. He will consecrate our afflictions for our gain. He will fill with sweet a bitter cup.

Good crowding out best

8–9 min

Martha & Mary

Nobody's a villain. Martha "received him into her house" — her service is the reason the Lord is even there. She's not sinning; she's spinning. "Cumbered" (Greek perispaō) means dragged around, pulled every direction — the same image as Lady running ball to ball. Her complaint is reasonable; she wants help with a genuinely good thing.

The Lord reorders her values without condemning her: troubled about many things, but one thing is needful — "not all matters are of equal value." "Which shall not be taken away" is the value test: the meal is gone by evening; what Mary received endures.

Fuse it to the priesthood: Martha's posture (prepare, serve, attend to the temporal) is Aaronic in spirit — good and necessary. Mary's (at His feet receiving His word) is Melchizedek — not preparing for the encounter but having it. Almost all quorum work is Martha work: ministering logistics, moves, recommends, activities. All good, all able to become the blue ball we chase until we forget the Master is in the room — holding the Melchizedek Priesthood while living an Aaronic life.

Discuss

When has serving in the Church actually crowded out being with Christ? How do we keep the preparatory from quietly becoming the destination?

ScripturesLuke 10:38–42

The invitation

The answer is always Christ.

Focusing on the Savior, His infinite Atonement, and what He has done for us will bring joy and clarity into our lives, no matter how many other concerns we have. President Russell M. Nelson taught, "Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ." And President Dallin H. Oaks declared, "Jesus Christ is the way."

Celebrate the joyous message of Easter every day by reflecting every day on the blessings you receive because of Him. "Open wide your broken heart and let your Savior in!"

Excerpts from "Because of Jesus Christ" — Elder Dale G. Renlund, April 2026 General Conference.

Talk it over

Three questions for the run.

  1. 1

    What 'balls' are you currently chasing that might be crowding out your focus on the Savior?

  2. 2

    Elder Renlund taught that 'all mankind may be saved' — 'If everyone, then anyone. If anyone, then even one. And if even one, then even you.' How does knowing the Atonement is for you personally change how you face your week?

  3. 3

    What's one thing you can do this week to 'keep your eye on the ball' — to focus more on Jesus Christ?

Now let's run it.

Open the activity on the projector. Everyone joins on their phones with a QR code and types in the distractions pulling at them this week. Then we run together — and see what we reach for.

Based on "Because of Jesus Christ" by Elder Dale G. Renlund, April 2026 General Conference.