Bishop Dean M. Davies (Oct. 18): "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice"

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The Activity:
  1. Provide every class member with an index card and something to write with.
  2. Ask the class to list topics that the prophet has spoken of in recent years (Pres. Nelson and Pres. Monson).  Write the list on the board.  It would be okay for students to consult appropriate technology, or you could come prepared with ideas based on your own research.
  3. Ask the class members to read over the list and identify one of the listed items that they have applied in their own lives (only one).  Ask them to think of the specific actions they took and the blessings that they received as they worked to follow the counsel of the prophet.
  4. Have the class members share briefly what they did and the blessings received in small groups.
  5. Read para. 31 "We come to  . . . blessings upon him."
  6. Ask the class members to consider what else they might do to more fully sustain the prophet based off of this quote and the list on the board.
  7. If appropriate/comfortable, ask the class members to share their idea with a partner.  Or you could ask a couple of class members to share what they feel they can do to more fully sustain the prophet.
  8. Have the class members write down what they will do this week to more fully sustain the prophet.
Using the Activity:

So, the first part of this activity may seem a bit unusual.  I have noticed in the scriptures and in Church history that often the Savior and His emmisaries will ask a person if they have faith prior to healing them.  This activity is an attempt to operationalize this for a whole class.  By asking the class members to think about and share a time when they have applied the prophet's counsel and been blessed for it, this activity is, in essence, asking them to bear testimony prior to seeking for the Spirit.  This is a strategy that I have used in various ways over the years and it does strengthen the presence of the Spirit and the blessings that can be received when people bear testimony first and seek to have guidance and/or blessings second.  

I hope that this activity is useful and that it works well for you.  God bless.

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