FOUNDATION • MODULE 3 OF 14

The Fruit

Christlike Character

Who do we become as we follow Christ?

Living the Gospel Produces Christlike Character

In Module 1, we learned why eternal marriage matters—it is the covenant that enables exaltation, the laboratory for godhood.

In Module 2, we learned how we prepare—by living the Doctrine of Christ and honoring temple covenants, which together develop our capacity for eternal relationships.

Now we ask: Who do we become as we live that pattern?

The answer is beautiful in its simplicity: We bear fruit. We become like Christ.

Christlike Character Grows as Fruit of the Spirit

The Apostle Paul described what happens when we live by the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
— Galatians 5:22–23

Notice the word Paul chose: fruit. Not “products” or “achievements” or “accomplishments.” Fruit.

Fruit is not manufactured through effort alone. We cannot grit our teeth and force an apple to appear on a branch. Fruit grows naturally when the right conditions exist—when the tree is planted in good soil, receives water and sunlight, and remains connected to its source of life.

Christlike attributes work the same way. They are not self-generated through sheer willpower. They are the natural result of living the Doctrine of Christ, honoring temple covenants, and maintaining the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

This is profoundly good news. It means we do not have to become Christlike on our own. As we exercise faith, repent, honor covenants, and invite the Spirit into our lives, transformation happens. Character grows. We bear fruit.

The Logic of Transformation

Live the Doctrine of Christ and honor temple covenants (Modules 1–2)
Gain and keep the companionship of the Holy Ghost
Bear fruit: Christlike character (Module 3)
This character makes us fit for eternal relationships

The path to God, the path to Christlike character, and the path to eternal marriage are all the same path.

Pause and Reflect

How does the image of “fruit” change how you think about developing Christlike attributes?
What gives you hope about the idea that transformation comes through living the gospel rather than through willpower alone?

Character Matters More Than “Compatibility”

Our culture places enormous emphasis on “compatibility.” Find someone who shares your hobbies, your interests, your personality type. Take compatibility quizzes. Look for your “perfect match.”

But here is what decades of relationship research consistently shows:

Character matters far more than superficial “compatibility”.

Shared hobbies are nice, but they do not save marriages. Shared values and godly character do. Two people with very different interests can build a thriving marriage if both possess humility, forgiveness, emotional maturity, and commitment. Two people with identical interests will struggle if they lack these attributes.

Research has identified specific traits that predict relationship success:

Humility — the ability to see oneself accurately, acknowledge mistakes, and remain teachable. Researchers call this the “master virtue” because it enables all other growth.
Emotional regulation — the capacity to manage strong emotions without being controlled by them. People who regulate their emotions handle conflict constructively rather than destructively.
Forgiveness — the willingness to release resentment and extend grace. Research shows that holding grudges damages the person holding them as much as the relationship.
Empathy — the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. Empathetic partners create emotional safety.

Notice something remarkable: these are precisely the traits the scriptures call us to develop. Research and revelation point to the same attributes.

On humility:

“Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”
— Doctrine and Covenants 19:23

On emotional regulation:

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
— Proverbs 16:32

On forgiveness:

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
—Ephesians 4:32

On empathy:

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
— Romans 12:15

This is not coincidence—it is confirmation. Secular research and ancient scripture independently identify the same traits as essential.

Pause and Reflect

Which of these four traits (humility, emotional regulation, forgiveness, empathy) is most developed in you? Which needs the most growth?
Why do you think character matters more than compatibility in marriage?

Christ Is the Perfect Example of Christlike Character

In Module 2, we saw that Jesus Christ perfectly lived every principle of the Doctrine of Christ and every temple covenant. Now we see the result: He is the perfect example of the character these principles produce. When we speak of “Christlike character,” we are describing the fruit that grew from the pattern He lived.

Consider what the pattern produced in Him:

His perfect faith produced unwavering trust, courage, and hope—even facing the cross.
His heart turned fully to God produced humility, teachability, and complete alignment with the Father’s will.
His covenant faithfulness produced absolute reliability—He never broke a promise, never abandoned a commitment.
His fullness of the Spirit produced perfect sensitivity, compassion, and discernment—He knew what people needed and responded with love.
His endurance produced perseverance that never quit, even when the cost was everything.
His perfect obedience produced a life in complete harmony with the Father—”I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
His sacrifice produced selfless giving—He held nothing back, offering His very life for others.
His living of the gospel produced a life of charity, virtue, and service—blessing all who came to Him.
His chastity and purity produced love uncorrupted by selfishness—seeing every person as a child of God with infinite worth.
His consecration produced total commitment—holding nothing back, giving “all for all.”

This is what we are becoming. Not by our own effort alone, but by walking the same path He walked, empowered by the same Spirit, transformed by the same Atonement.

Christ Calls Us to Wholeness, Not Half the Virtues

When we speak of Christlike character, we must be careful not to create a caricature. Jesus Christ was not one-dimensional. He did not embody only “soft” virtues or only “strong” ones. He was complete—whole in every sense.

Consider the range of attributes Christ displayed:

Often Labeled “Masculine”	Often Labeled “Feminine”
Courageous, dauntless	Emotionally attuned
Assertive, decisive	Compassionate, nurturing
Strategic, discerning	Tender, gentle
Protective, even forceful	Relationally invested
Unyielding to evil	Wept openly

Christ displayed all of these. He cleansed the temple with righteous intensity and wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He spoke with authority and touched lepers with tenderness. He confronted hypocrisy and welcomed children into His arms.

The Savior’s command to “be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48) uses a word that means complete or whole. We are not called to be flawless—we are called to become integrated, complete, fully developed in all the virtues Christ embodied.

We Should Become the Kind of Person We Want to Marry

A powerful question to ask ourselves:

Am I becoming the kind of person I want to marry?

It is easy to make a list of qualities we hope to find in a spouse: kind, honest, faithful, patient, hardworking, spiritually strong. But the more important question is whether we are developing those same qualities in ourselves.

We cannot expect to attract or sustain a relationship with someone who has qualities we do not possess. A person of deep character will be drawn to another person of deep character. A person who is selfish, dishonest, or spiritually shallow will struggle to build an eternal partnership—no matter who they marry.

Research supports this principle. Studies show that people who believe in “growth”—the idea that two good people can build something beautiful together—have more successful relationships than those who believe in “destiny”—the idea that there is one perfect person out there who will complete them.

This aligns perfectly with gospel truth. We are not static beings waiting to find our predetermined match. We are agents, capable of growth and change. The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes genuine transformation possible. Our past does not have to determine our future.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
— Ether 12:27

Pause and Reflect

How would you honestly answer the question: “Am I becoming the kind of person I want to marry?”
Do you tend more toward “destiny beliefs” or “growth beliefs” about relationships? How might this affect your approach?

Change Is Possible Through Christ’s Grace

Some may wonder: “But what if I have real weaknesses? What if my past has shaped me in unhealthy ways?”

Research offers hope here as well. Psychologists have identified a concept called “earned security.” This means that people who experienced difficult childhoods or developed unhealthy relationship patterns can, through awareness and intentional effort, develop the security and health they did not receive earlier.

Our history is not our destiny. Through the grace of Christ, conscious effort, and often the help of others, we can grow beyond the limitations of our past. We can become someone new.

This is the promise of the gospel: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

All the Principles Work Together to Transform Us

Christlike character does not come from any single principle in isolation. All five elements of the Doctrine of Christ work together to transform us, and temple covenants deepen this transformation. Christ Himself lived all of these principles perfectly, and His character is the fruit we are growing toward.

Consider how each contributes:

Faith produces hope, courage, and the willingness to be vulnerable—essential for deep connection.
Repentance produces humility, the capacity for growth, and the ability to repair relationships when we cause harm.
Covenant-making produces commitment, reliability, and the strength to honor promises even when feelings fluctuate.
The Holy Ghost produces sensitivity, discernment, compassion, and the capacity to truly understand another person.
Enduring to the end produces perseverance, patience, and faithfulness through all seasons.

And temple covenants extend this work:

Obedience produces discipline and responsibility.
Sacrifice produces selflessness and proper priorities.
The Gospel produces integrated living—faith, love, and endurance woven together.
Chastity produces what might be called the fruit of charity—seeing others as eternal beings of infinite worth rather than as objects to be used.
Consecration produces total commitment—giving 100% rather than holding back.

Together, these principles and covenants produce the full fruit of Christlike character—the kind of person who is ready for eternal marriage and eternal life.

The Scriptures Guide Us in Developing Christlike Attributes

The scriptures provide detailed guidance on the character we are to develop. Consider Alma’s description:

“And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.”
— Alma 7:24

And Mormon’s teaching on charity:

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him.”
— Moroni 7:48

Preach My Gospel identifies nine Christlike attributes for missionaries to develop—attributes equally vital for marriage: Faith, Hope, Charity and love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, and Obedience.

Every one of these attributes strengthens relationships. A patient spouse handles frustrations gracefully. A humble spouse accepts correction without defensiveness. A charitable spouse exhibits Christlike love—which continues to endure even when other forms of love would fade or give up.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
— Moroni 7:48

Key Scriptures

Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit of the Spirit
Moroni 7:47–48 — Charity, the pure love of Christ
Alma 7:23–24 — Attributes of the faithful
Matthew 5:48 — “Be ye therefore perfect” (complete, whole)
Ether 12:27 — Weakness can become strength through grace
Preach My Gospel, Chapter 6 — Christlike attributes

Reflection Questions

Take time to ponder or write about the following:

Which Christlike attributes do you feel are most developed in your life right now? Which need the most growth?
Christ perfectly lived the Doctrine of Christ and temple covenants. Which aspect of His example inspires you most as you think about your own growth?
“Am I becoming the kind of person I want to marry?” How would you honestly answer this question today?
Do you tend toward “destiny beliefs” (waiting to find the perfect match) or “growth beliefs” (two good people can build something beautiful)? How might this affect your approach to relationships?
Consider the table of Christ’s attributes. Have you limited yourself to only “half the virtues”? What aspect of Christlike wholeness might you develop further?

Discussion Questions

For conversations with a parent, leader, or trusted friend:

Why do you think character matters more than compatibility in marriage? Can you share an example you have observed?
For those who are married: Which Christlike attribute has been most important in your marriage? How have you seen growth in yourself or your spouse over time?
How can we balance striving for Christlike character with extending grace to ourselves when we fall short?

This Week’s Invitation

Choose one of the following invitations to focus on this week:

Self-Assessment: Review the nine Christlike attributes from Preach My Gospel. Prayerfully identify one attribute where you feel prompted to grow. Write down one specific way you will work on it this week.

The Mirror Question: Write a list of five qualities you hope to find in a future spouse (or appreciate in your current spouse). Then honestly assess: Am I developing these same qualities in myself?

Wholeness Practice: Identify one virtue you have neglected—perhaps strength if you tend toward only gentleness, or tenderness if you tend toward only strength. Practice that virtue intentionally this week.

Grace Reflection: If you have been hard on yourself about your weaknesses, spend time this week in Ether 12:27. Write about how Christ’s grace applies to your specific areas of weakness. Ask for His help in making weak things strong.

The Bottom Line

Christlike character is not achieved through willpower alone—it grows as fruit of living the Doctrine of Christ, honoring temple covenants, and keeping the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ lived this pattern perfectly, and His character is the fruit we are growing toward.

Character matters more than compatibility. The most important question is not “Have I found the perfect person?” but “Am I becoming the kind of person who can build an eternal relationship?”

Christ is our model—not a caricature of half the virtues, but complete, whole, integrated. As we follow Him, we too can become whole.

And the best news of all: change is possible. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, weak things can become strong. Our past does not determine our future. We are not static—we are becoming.

And that training has already begun.

“As we walk the path, the fruit will grow. As we follow Christ, we become like Him.”