Bro. Joseph M. Brough (Oct. 18): "Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice"

-
This is an interesting talk (speaking as a nerd who deals with rhetoric) because it is made up of a number of stories that build until the point is made near the end of the talk.  The message is vital and timely, however, in that we are to have joy at all times in our lives, including in the difficult times.

The Activity:

  1. Divide the class in half through assigning them or allowing them to choose.
  2. Assign one group the topic of "Forgiving others" and assign the other group "Giving ourselves to God"
  3. Ask each group to review the story from Bro. Brough's talk about their assigned topic.
    1. Forgiving others-- para. 10-16 ("Forgiving those who . . . be like them")
    2. Giving ourselves to God-- para. 18-26 ("Young people, God . . . a hard thing")
  4. Then, ask the group members to use their topical guide and review scriptures about their topics.  These scriptures might include the following:
    1. Forgiving others-- D&C 64:9-11; III Ne. 13:11; I Ne. 7:21
    2. Giving ourselves to God-- Omni 1:26; D&C 30:11; Rom. 12:1
  5. Ask each group to answer the following questions about their assigned topic.  Urge them to take time to consider deeper connections and insights.
    1. How does your assigned topic help us come unto Christ?
    2. How can working toward your assigned topic bring us joy even in the midst of hard times?
    3. What are some practical hints for accomplishing your assigned topics?
  6. After a few minutes, ask the class members to find someone from the other group and take 1 minute each to share the most important parts of what they talked about/learned.
Using the Activity:

This activity is valuable because it works towards joining the words of a general authority with the words of scripture.  The idea is to exemplify that the two are aligned.  You could provide the groups with a list of scriptures for each topic, if you felt that would be best for your group.  Still, the act of looking up scriptures is a way for class members to exercise their faith-- thus opening their hearts and minds to the influence of the Spirit.  

Also, this activity goes beyond simple discussion in groups organized around a single topic.  Instead, this lesson then asks that the class members become teachers of those in the other group.  Teaching someone is a powerful way to feel the Spirit.  Think about how many missionaries have gained their own testimonies while teaching or who have had their testimonies strengthened while teaching about something they already knew.  This activity hopes to capitalize on that possibility as the class members meet with each other.

As always I hope that this activity is of use to you.  God bless. And thank you for visiting my blog.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 Dale G. Renlund (Oct. '23): "Jesus Christ is the Treasure"

-
 What a great talk reminding us of the simplicity of the gospel-- Jesus  Christ.  The treasure is always Jesus Christ.  Remembering that is not easy in our modern world, though.  To help us remember, the Lord has given us many things.  Elder Renlund in this talk reviews four of these and this is what the activity below focuses on. The Activity: Make sure that every class member has access to a copy of the talk either digitally or physically. Explain that in this talk, Elder Renlund reviews four actions we can do to avoid looking beyond the mark. Divide the class into four groups. Assign each group one action along with the corresponding part of the talk.  These are: Repentance-- par. 10-11 "The Savior has . . . of our sins." The sacrament-- par. 12-13 "Just like the . . . prospered, and preserved." Temple Worship-- par. 14-15 "When we have . . . it is distant." Listening to the Prophet-- par. 16-17  "After Carter and . . . look no further." Have
Read more

Pres. Russell M. Nelson (Apr. '24): "Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys"

-
 This is a relatively short talk, but it is full of both invitations and promises from our prophet.  The blessings enumerated and promised are especially inspiring (par. 25-31).  However, for this activity I chose to focus on the invitations that Pres. Nelson extends to us as members. The Activity: Insure that every class member has access to a copy of the talk either digitally or physically. Insure that every class member has something to write with and on (a device would work fine). Write on the board (or post printed statements) of the 3 (or 5 depending on how you choose to break up the last one) invitations that Pres. Nelson gives us. Par. 8-9 "Jesus Christ then . . . for you personally." Par. 16 "Consider how your . . . to the earth." Par. 19-22 "I invite you . . . home to Him."  (the three statements here could be listed separately). Ask the class members to read these statements and spend a moment silently considering one of the invitations. (Option
Read more