“Who am I, and who can I become?”
INSTA-LESSON Plan and Visuals
Come, Follow Me – January Lesson 5
DOWNLOAD lesson presentation visuals:
• Theme poster (or journal page)
• Mutual Night Activities to do mid-week
DOWNLOAD lesson visuals that youth can insert into the CFM Note/Journal
• January’s Schedule/Goals Page
• Theme notebook divider page
• Scriptures & Notes bookmark
• Lesson Lifesaver Activities
• Personal Progress planners
POST THE THEME POSTER and give youth the same page to post in their Come, Follow Me Journal.
“We are beloved spirit daughters [sons] of heavenly parents, and, as such, we have a divine nature and destiny. By divine design, we have unique gifts and talents that will help us fulfill our destiny as daughters [sons] of God. Knowing who we are giving our lives purpose and helps us make the right decisions.” – LDS.org
What does it mean to you to be a daughter of God?
(“Who am I, and who can I become?”)
• “You are precious” Quote: The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said, “You are very precious, each of you, regardless of your circumstances” . . .
LEADER: Talk to youth about what you especially love about them and ask youth to comment – and spotlight individuals.
• God “cannot succeed without you” Quote: “You occupy a high and sacred place in the eternal plan of God, our Father in Heaven. You are His daughters, precious to Him, loved by Him, and very important to Him. His grand design cannot succeed without you.” (Talk “Daughters of God” (Oct. 1991)
HANDOUT: Give youth this ColorQuote “Our Heavenly Father did not put us on this earth to fail . . . but to succeed gloriously.” – Elder Richard G. Scott (This is included in the Lesson Lifesavers BUNDLE or below.) GO HERE ⇒ or download below ⇓
The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said in his talk “Daughters of God” about faithful Latter-day Saint women, “Great is your power for good. Marvelous are your talents and devotion. Tremendous is your faith and your love for the Lord, for His work, and for His sons and daughters. Continue to live the gospel. Magnify it before all of your associates. Your good works will carry more weight than any words you might speak. Walk in virtue and truth, with faith and faithfulness. You are part of an eternal plan, a plan designed by God our Eternal Father. Each day is a part of that eternity.”
“There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone.” (“Stay on the High Road,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 112.)
How does knowing you are a daughter of God bless you and influence the decisions you make?
(“Who am I, and who can I become?”)
You know where you have been as you have knowledge of God’s plan of salvation, His plan of happiness, and you know where you are going, your DESTINY-destination that only you can plan and carry out.
Why? Because you know that you are divine, a spirit daughter of heavenly parents. You once lived with Heavenly Father, the father of our spirits and with our heavenly brother, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus created you in their image, you have an inborn DIVINE NATURE.
• Know Your Destiny Destination
HANDOUT: Give youth the Lesson Lifesaver Activity: Decisions Determine Destiny ⇒
Tell youth, “The Prophet Thomas S. Monson said, ‘Decisions Determine Destiny.'”
Description of Lesson Activity: Tell youth that every decision they make can determine their destiny or the destiny of another.
They can put themselves in the driver’s seat by making responsible decisions. Challenge youth to make responsible decisions each day at “Home, School, Church,” and “Work” as they think about being dependable.
Make decisions by writing ways in which you can be dependable. Read D&C 82:24. Tell youth that the celestial kingdom can be their destiny if they are steadfast in keeping the commandments.
There are celestial possibilities waiting for you and your reward can be great according to Joseph Smith’s revelation: “Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.” (D&C 76:5–6.)
GO HERE for details to make this activity and see more Come, Follow Me lesson themes this activity can be used for (February, May, November, December).
Post Discussion Banner #3: What is the importance of knowing you are a daughter/son of God? (“Who am I, and who can I become?”)
• We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). President Russell M. Nelson said, “Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred.” . . . “Spirit and body, when joined together, become a living soul of supernal worth. Indeed, we are children of God—physically and spiritually.” Talk: “We Are Children of God”
• Our divine potential is to inherit eternal life (Psalm 82:6; Moses 1:39; Abraham 3:22–26). President Russell M. Nelson said, “Now is the time to prepare to meet God. Tomorrow may be too late.” . . . “We came to be tried, to be tested, and to choose. 9 (See 2 Ne. 9:27*; D&C 98:12; Abr. 3:24–26.) Our decisions determine our destiny.” – Talk: “Now is the Time to Prepare”
*SEE HANDOUT 2 Nephi 2:27 ⇒ (to download) “Wherefore, men are free . . . to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men.“
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Premortal Life, Earth Life, Exaltation mobile (Earn the Gift of Eternal Life)
Have youth create a premortal, earth life, and exaltation tri-sided mobile by writing the following in the blank lines on each.
• Things I Promised in Premortal Life to Do on Earth: Keep my life clean. Marry in the temple. Raise a family and teach them righteousness.
• Things I Must Do on Earth to Gain Exaltation: Have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. Observe the law of strict virtue and chastity. Be charitable, benevolent, tolerant, and pure. Devote both talent and material means to spread truth and uplift the race. Receive temple endowment. Keep the commandments and endure to the end.
• Blessings I Will Receive If I Am Worthy of Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom: Godhood, having all things subject to me. Have angels subject to me. Have all power and dominion. Become creators of other spirits and other worlds. Live with Jesus.
GO HERE for details to make this activity and see more Come, Follow Me lesson themes this activity can be used for.
Post Discussion Banner #4: How does knowing you are a daughter/son of God affect your choices? (“Who am I, and who can I become?”)
I love President Monson’s words, “May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” In his talk CHOICES he explains how:
“The choices we make determine our destiny.
When we left our premortal existence and entered mortality, we brought with us the gift of agency. Our goal is to obtain celestial glory, and the choices we make will, in large part, determine whether or not we reach our goal (as a daughter of God).
Most of you are familiar with Alice in Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. As she contemplates which way to turn, she is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom Alice asks, ‘Which path shall I follow?'”
The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.”1
Unlike Alice, we know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life leads to our destination in the next life. – Thomas S. Monson “CHOICES” April 2016 General Conference Talk
HANDOUT: Give youth this “Path to Eternal Life” Decision Maker mobile to help them pick the Path to Eternal Life by filling out the mobile:
~ Read the scriptures found on the mobile stones.
~ Write on the stone the reward for following each path.
~ Decide which path you want to follow and color that path.
DETAILS:
• There is a Do not make covenants path with D&C 58:30-34 (e.g., “for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above”), and D&C 132:7 (e.g., “for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead”)
• There is a Make covenants but do not keep them path with D&C 1:14-15 (shall be cut off because they have strayed), and D&C 58:29 (“But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.”)
• There is a make a covenant and remain faithful path with Mosiah 5:7, 15 (children of Christ; hearts changed; sons and daughters of God; chapter 15 is being part of the resurrection and redemption) and D&C 54:6 (“Blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.”)
President Monson also said, “May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of the adversary—a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith, we go nowhere. With it, we can accomplish our goals.
Although it is imperative that we choose wisely, there are times when we will make foolish choices. The gift of repentance, provided by our Savior, enables us to correct our course settings, that we might return to the path which will lead us to that celestial glory we seek.”
Thus meeting our “daughter of God” potential.
Walk the Walk Toward God
As you: 1) receive a testimony of Jesus, and 2) you are baptized, and 3) keep the commandments and promises . . . you “shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.” (D&C 76:62.)
As you turn your efforts toward building up the kingdom of God on the earth, and ask for and follow the Spirit to guide you, you will be blessed with power.
You will more easily reach your daily goals and receive the power to withstand the temptations of the world and stay on the narrow path that leads you back to God’s presence.
• Choose Your Path (“The Harder Right”*)
The Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said, “You are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future if you will take control of it.” Talk “How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream?”
Most noteworthy, In this talk, President Hinckley told of two girls he knew in high school both who took different paths and how they lived their life. I would recommend that you share his story of the lives of these two girls (FOUND HERE) and then QUOTE HIS ANALYSIS OF THE TWO GIRL’S LIVES IN CONTRAST TO EACH OTHER.
“The life of the one had been spelled out in a three-letter word: F–U–N. It had been lived aimlessly, without stability, without contributing to society, without ambition. It had ended in misery and pain and early death.
The life of the other had been difficult. It had meant scrimping and saving. It had meant working and struggling to keep going. It had meant simple food and plain clothing and a very modest apartment in the years of her husband’s initial effort to get started in his profession. But out of that seemingly sterile soil, there had grown a plant, yes, two plants, side by side, that blossomed and bloomed in a beautiful and wonderful way.
Those beautiful blossoms spoke of service to fellowmen, of unselfishness one to another, of love and respect and faith in one’s companion, of happiness as they met the needs of others in the various activities which they pursued.”
The one chose the easier wrong and the other chose the “harder right.”
*President Monson said, “May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” Talk “Choices” (See more about this quote below.)
Post Discussion Banner #5: How does knowing you are a daughter/son of God make you feel about yourself and your vision for the future? (“Who am I, and who can I become?”)
• Prepare to Shine
HANDOUT: Give youth the Matthew 5:16 Scripture Poster/Cards ⇒
Help children/youth memorize Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Our Prophet Russell M. Nelson said, “A worthy woman [man] personifies the truly noble and worthwhile attributes of life. A faithful woman [man] can become a devoted daughter of God—more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish, more anxious to exercise compassion than to exercise dominion, more committed to integrity than to notoriety. And she knows of her [his] own infinite worth.” (Talk Oct. 1989 “Woman–Of Infinite Worth”) Note: This pertains to young men as well.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
• Prepare to Share
HANDOUT: Give youth the Lesson Lifesaver Activity: Missionary Prep Mirror Motivators ⇒
Encourage youth to prepare to share the gospel with this set of these motivators to post on their mirror and write how they can prepare to be a missionary. Share your goals with the young women as a group.
Our Prophet Russell M. Nelson that you as youth can “Catch the Wave” as you “strive to be worthy of mission calls.
You see this as a wave of truth and righteousness. You see your opportunity to be on the crest of that wave.
You, teenagers, embrace your new curriculum and teach one another the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Now is your time to prepare to teach others about the goodness of God.
Young men and women, your education is ever important—to us, to you, and to God.” (Talk “Catch the Wave” April 2013)
GO HERE for details to make this activity and see more Come, Follow Me lesson themes this activity can be used for (January, December).
• Prepare to Serve
HANDOUT: Give youth this Lesson Lifesaver Activity Jewels in Crown service list ⇒
Description: Youth can use service list to note ways they can give of their time, talents, and possessions to build up the kingdom of God. Ideas are found in the border.
Explain to youth that service can be their crowning glory. By giving of their time, talents, and possessions, they will be rewarded with blessings here and eternally. Read Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
GO HERE for details to make this activity and see more Come, Follow Me lesson themes this activity can be used for (February, May, November, December).
MUTUAL NIGHT ACTIVITIES
JANUARY Lesson 5
Who am I, and who can I become?
These 5 EXTRA-FUN ACTIVITIES designed by Young Women leaders:
TO FIND:
1) Faith-filled Formulas for Success
2) “Let Your Light Shine” Ceremony & Cake
3) Jewels on My Crown Service Project
4) Promises Kept – Scripture Situations Search
5) “The Lord Never Breaks Covenants” Object Lesson
MORE ACTIVITIES:
. Plan a Party After Temple Baptisms
PLEASE SHARE YOUR IDEAS FOR GREAT “MUTUAL NIGHT ACTIVITIES” – Comment below or email maryrosscontact@gmail.com. Please indicate the lesson subject or theme they coordinate with.
