Elder David F. Evans (Oct. 17): "The Truth of All Things"

The Activity:

1.     Ask the class members to remember when they received their testimonies of the Book of Mormon.  As you feel so impressed, you may want to ask them to record their memories.  This could be done on nicer paper so as to create a keepsake for themselves or others.  You may also choose to ask one or two people to share their memories (this invitation could be made in advance).

2.     Tell the class that you are going to talk about how to maintain our testimonies vibrant over the course of our lives, especially when we face difficult questions.  Do NOT dwell on potential questions.

3.     Explain that Elder Evans gives us a pattern to follow when we are having trouble feeling our testimonies and review the pattern with them.  It is this:

a.      Step 1:  search, read, and pray for the answer (Paragraph 3:  “I often discussed . . .”)

b.     Step 2:  repentance, with a determination to keep the commandments (Paragraph 12:  “To know the truth . . .”)

c.      Step 3:  seek out of the best books (Paragraph 13:  “We are commanded . . .”)

d.     Step 4:  keep our covenants patiently (Paragraph 15:  “Patiently, keeping our covenants . . .”)

4.     For each step read a quote (such as the ones given, but any will do) from Elder Evans’s talk.

5.     Ask the class members to consider this process and then write down a question they either have about the process or that they might ask a youth to teach them this principle.

6.     Collect the questions.

7.     Use these questions to guide the discussion on this talk.

Using the Activity:

I think an important thing to keep in mind with this talk is that this talk addresses what to do when we have questions.  Therefore, any classroom discussion or activities should be similarly focused.  We should not unnecessarily bring up controversial or sensitive issues.  Yes, these may arise on their own.  For guidance on how to address those types of questions, I would refer you to the Church’s manual Teaching in the Savior’s Way.  You can find a copy of it here.  There is excellent guidance and direction about addressing those issues.  Rest assured that you do not need to have the answers.  In fact, remember that the only answers that really count will come from the Spirit—through you or not.    

I feel that this activity has a couple of really strong things going for it.  First, this activity sets the stage for a discussion that is centered on the class members’ needs and questions.  Even when the question is one that they would use to teach this to a youth, it is obviously a question that is important to them.  Second, the research on teaching and learning is pretty clear about a few things.  One of these things is that one of the best, if not the best, ways to learn something is to teach it.  While this activity does not ask the class members to actually teach this process, it does ask them to consider teaching it.  The thought that goes into writing a question that could be used there is a rather complex and sophisticated process, which will help the class members to internalize the message better.

I pray that this activity is helpful to you either as is or as a catalyst for another idea.  Please remember to share how this works and how else you may have approached teaching this talk.