Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela (Oct. '21): "Deepening Our Conversion to Jesus Christ"

-

 I love this talk.  The focus is on the scriptures as key to learning about the Savior.  At the very end of the talk, it transitions to speaking of the Spirit.  This activity really focuses on the section that deals most directly with the scriptures.  

The Activity:

  1. Make sure that everyone has access to the talk either digitally or physically.
  2. On the top part of the board write "How" and "Why."
  3. Explain that the focus of this talk is on the scriptures as a tool of conversion.
  4. Divide the class in half.  Explain that one half of the class will skim the talk looking for counsel about how to study the scriptures and the other half will be looking for explanations of why we should study the scriptures.  
  5. This will be done in two stages:
    1. First, for 3 or so minutes, the class members will work in groups of 2 or 3 to identify information on their topic.
    2. Second, for another 5 or so minutes, the halves of the classroom will come together and talk about what each small group shared.
  6. After this, one person from each half will come up and write on the board some of the things that they talked about in their groups.
  7. Using the information recorded on the board, discuss what was found in the talk.

Using the Activity:

Once again the idea of this activity is to get people examining a talk and talking about what they found.  The hope is that the Spirit will be present and as people speak to one another, they will receive inspiration and revelation for their own lives.  Depending on how you do the follow up discussion (step #7), this activity can require a great deal of familiarity with the talk itself in order to connect points and share relevant quotes.  This can be hard and often daunting, but allowing the class members-- especially as they are influenced by the Spirit-- to set the agenda for the class, so to speak, can lead to truly unforgettable classes.  

Please let me know how it goes.  Thank you.

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