Elder Ulisses Soares (Apr. 19): "How Can I Understand?"

-
This was the perfect talk to kick off conference.  The focus on teaching and learning the gospel really set the stage for what was to come. 

The Activity:

  1. Make sure that everyone has access to the talk.
  2. Ask everyone to partner up.
  3. Give each partnership a piece of paper and something to write with.
  4. Ask the class members to fold their paper in half length-wise and to label one side "Learning" and the other side "Teaching"
  5. Ask the class members to look over the talk and identify principles of gospel teaching and learning that Elder Soares shares.  As they find a principle, they should distill it into a single word and record it under the appropriate heading.  For example, par. 18 "Brothers and sisters . . . way we live" could be recorded as "Action" or "Behavior."
  6. Give the class a few minutes to find some principles.  You do not need to provide enough to for everyone to completely mine the talk.  It is okay if class members do not find every possible answer here.
  7. Come back together as a class and go around the room asking companionships to share one thing they found.  Note, some groups may read the same sentence but represent it with different words.  That is okay and could be a fruitful discussion.
  8. Record what is shared on the board and discuss as appropriate.
Using the Activity:

In most of these activities I want to get the class members involved in discussing and thinking about the doctrines and principles in the talks as much as possible.  There are a few obstacles to this (some of which I have talked about before).  One of those obstacles is that at times, I want to talk about one part of the talk but for someone in the class there is a different part of the talk that is more meaningful and we may not get to that part of the talk, if we simply rely on what I have planned.  This activity is valuable because it is an example of how we can allow the class members an opportunity to set the agenda, if you will.  By asking for what they noticed in the talk, we are putting their interests and needs front and center.  Doing this will help class members be more engaged and, more importantly, will make our class more useful to them.  

This activity is also adaptable depending on your needs.  This activity could form the framework for most of your class time by providing you discussion points or it could be a simple 5 or 10 minute activity.  For example, instead of coming back together as a whole class, you could ask all of the class members to find a different partner and share with this new person the most important point they found in the talk.  

I hope this activity will work for you either as is or with modification.  Or even simply to spur a different idea.  As always, please let me know how things are going.

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