Elder Gary E. Stevenson (Apr. '21): "Hearts Knit Together"

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 There are certain gospel principles that seem to be very challenging to us as a world.  Kindness and mercy to all certainly seem to be some of those principles.  It's easy to be kind and even merciful to a lot of people, but to all people?!?  That seems to be another issue.  Especially at this time in our society, this seems to be a crucial talk for us as we strive to become Zion.  

The Activity:

  1. Make sure everyone has access to a copy of the talk.
  2. Explain the challenging nature of the counsel given in this talk and that much of it runs counter to our natural man impulses (and to prevailing ideas in much of society today).
  3. Tell them that you will read a few scenarios that could happen in the real world.  Then, the class members will skim the talk and identify a passage from the talk that gives advice on how we-- as disciples of Christ-- should respond.
  4. Share 3-5 scenarios such as the ones that follow.  I have also included paragraph hints that give advice on these scenarios.  Modify, ignore, or create other scenarios as you are led by the Spirit.
    1. You are skimming social media when you come across a post that expresses a viewpoint you do NOT agree with and that criticizes unfairly, it seems to you, the position you support.  (Par. 29:  "There is no . . . kinder and safer")
    2. A co-worker expresses some unfair criticism of your.  It makes its way back to your boss and you are passed over for a desirable opportunity (Par. 38:  "As you strive . . . despitefully use you'").
    3. A family that lives on your street has been very antagonistic-- perhaps even threatening-- to you in the past suffers a significant setback economically that is very public.  (Par. 32:  "We have a . . . how we act.").
  5. As each scenario is shared, discuss what the counsel says and how a Christ-like response (one that follows from Elder Stevenson's counsel) might look.

Using the Activity:

Be sensitive as you lead this activity.  Truly there are times when we humans simply want to be angry and to yell at someone.  So, some people may want to bring up excuses for 'natural man responses' (the kinds that I would be most likely to fall back on outside of this lesson, if truth be known).  In these instances, respond with love and simply reiterate that in this activity we are simply looking for what Elder Stevenson's counsel directs and that in real life these are tough situations and perhaps more nuanced than what we can get into during a single class.  So, we are examining and talking about the ideal.

This activity is designed to push class members to liken the counsel here to themselves.  As they consider how such responses may actually look, they will hopefully be led closer to Christ.  

As always, thank you for coming to my blog.  I hope that this idea is helpful to you.  God bless.  

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