Elder Richard J. Maynes (Oct. 17): "Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family"

-

The Activity:

1.     On the board draw a Venn diagram (2 circles that partially overlap).  Label the first circle “Earning Heavenly Father’s trust” and the second circle “Earning your family’s trust.”

2.     Create a number of strips of paper.  On each strip of paper write one of the following four questions:

a.      How do we earn Heavenly Father’s trust?

b.     How do we earn the trust of our family?

c.      What is a blessing or earning Heavenly Father’s trust?

d.     What is a blessing of earning our family’s trust?

3.     Put the slips of paper in a hat or bag.

4.     Ask each class member to choose a slip of paper.

5.     Have them write a single answer to the question on the back of strip of paper.  They can get this answer from their own lives or from the talk.

6.     Have class members come up to the board and tape the slip of paper where it goes on the Venn diagram.

7.     Discuss the answers given

8.     At the end, ask the class members to jot down something they can do this next week to more completely earn the trust of Heavenly Father and/or their family.



Using the Activity:

This activity is best used at the beginning of class.  The idea is that by drawing on the collective knowledge of the class members, you begin the discussion with a wealth of information and starting points.  Also, everyone has already contributed.  You have built in a low stakes way for each person to exercise their faith by contributing their ideas.  This will open their hearts more fully to receiving the whispers of the Holy Spirit.  Also, the act of getting up and moving around—even if it is just to walk to the board—can be effective in helping class members engage more fully.  It is something that we don’t normally do in Church classes.  That can carry over to other things the class members do.

I pray that this activity will be of value to you in your planning.  As always, please let me know how things worked for you and if you have any other questions/comments. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Elder Ronald A. Rasband (Apr. '23): "Hosanna to the Most High God"

-
 Like Elder Stevenson's talk, a quick reading of this talk might appear as if the talk were really about a holiday (Palm Sunday in this case).  However, it is really about so much more.  This is a powerful talk on coming to Christ and being prepared for His coming. The Activity: Make sure that everyone has access to a copy of the talk either digitally or physically. Read par. 24-25 "We, like the . . . Father in Heaven." Discuss this passage briefly as a class. Point out that Elder Rasband mentions four ways to fill our lamps with oil. Divide the class into four groups and assign each group one of the doctrines that Elder Rasband discusses: Prophecy (par. 13-15:  "First, prophecy.  For . . . shall rise again.'") The Gift of the Holy Ghost (par. 16:  "Second, the companionship . . . of all things'") Discipleship (par. 17: "Third, discipleship.  True . . . cried, 'Crucify Him'") The Atonement (par. 18-19:  "Fourth, the Atone
Read more

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell (Oct. '23): "More Than a Hero"

-
 This talk is custom made for today.  All around us we can see people who choose worldly heroes to focus on and follow with little, if any, thought given to Christ and Father.  The results are perilous to us and to society.  This talk in some aspects reminds me of some of Pres. Kimball's teachings ( here , for example).   The Activity: Draw a line down the middle of the board. Read par. 23 "For us on . . . Savior and Redeemer." Ask the class members to consider what would characterize too much trust placed in "the politician, the musician, the athlete, or the vlogger" or anyone. Invite them to share their ideas.  As they do, list them on one side of the board. Invite the class members to look over the list they have created and consider how they can either safeguard against these things or walk back from perilous positions. Allow a moment to think and then discuss. Point out that if this is too much attention placed on people, in what ways could we do the same t
Read more

Elder David A. Bednar (Apr. '23): "Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore, Walk with Me"

-
 I have mentioned in other places in this blog that I am a newly called Elders Quorum president.  As such, this talk really struck home.  I feel woefully inadequate in fulfilling my calling.  This talk gave me comfort and confidence in moving forward.   The Activity: Explain Enoch's reaction to his calling and share your own experience with receiving a calling that overwhelmed you at first and/or invite some class members to share their experiences like this. Invite the class members to read paragraph 5 ("And the Lord . . . give thee utterance'") silently and ask them to identify 1) what God asks of Enoch and 2) what God promises Enoch.   Allow class members a moment to read the passage. Come back and discuss as a class what they found. Ask them to think about how these same commands and promises could apply to various callings (including those they currently have and/or those talked about at the beginning). Invite the class members to share experiences/testimonies
Read more