Pres. M. Russell Ballard (Oct. '21): "Lovest Thou Me More Than These"

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 What a powerful talk.  As I read and studied it, I was pushed to consider for myself how I would answer the Lord's question, and what my daily actions would say about that answer as well.  This activity is designed to help us consider this question in very practical ways.

The Activity:

  1. Pass out paper and something to write with to every class member.
  2. Ask the class members to make 2 lists on their papers (one at a time):
    1. List the activities they did yesterday and approximately how long they spent doing each one.
    2. List the moments they felt happiest in the last week.
  3. After a few minutes, read par. 6-9 "Do you wonder . . . more than these?'"
  4. Discuss this quote with the class
  5. After the discussion (a few moments), ask the class members to return to their lists and review them in light of Pres. Ballard's quote.
  6. Ask them to consider how what is on our lists would (not) be evidence of our love of Christ?

Using the Activity:

I envision this activity as one that I would use at or near the beginning of the lesson to set the stage for what would come during the rest of the time.  However, it could work just as well as at the end (or middle) of the lesson.  The value in this is in the highly practical nature of the activity.  It is designed to help us see how well we are applying the counsel and commandments we have, while at the same time helping us to recognize how we might do better.  It is important in an activity such as this to keep it relatively private.  While I doubt that anyone would write anything truly embarrassing or incriminating in any way on their lists, some might be a bit taken aback and embarrassed by what is on their lists and what it reveals about them.  

I pray that this activity is useful to you.  God bless.

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