YOUTH CLASSES
December 26, 2021
Come, Follow Me
DOCTRINAL TOPICS & ACTIVITIES
December 12
How Do I Find Answers to My Questions?
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Every family is different, and no family is perfect. But we all have perfect Heavenly Parents, who want us to receive the blessing of LIVING HAPPILY AS ETERNAL FAMILIES. To help us achieve this, God has inspired prophets and apostles to declare eternal truths in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
As you prepare to teach about the importance of families, think about why your family is important to you. What role has Jesus Christ played in helping your family find happiness? As you prepare to teach, you could study “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org); “Family” in For the Strength of Youth ([2011], 14–15); and Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s message “Why Marriage, Why Family” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 50–53). What principles from these resources do you feel would be most meaningful to those you teach?
Why Marriage, Why Family
Learn Together
To begin a discussion about the importance of families, you could ask the quorum or class what they learned about happiness in family life as they read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” at home. WHAT DID THEY LEARN THAT MIGHT HELP THEM STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILIES?
Then select one or more of the activities below to help quorum or class members better understand why families are important in Heavenly Father’s plan.
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The scriptures in “Supporting Resources” support inspired truths in the family proclamation. Perhaps you could assign each quorum or class member to read one of these scriptures and then search the family proclamation to find a passage that relates to his or her scripture. Each quorum or class member could share what he or she found.
Living the teachings of Jesus Christ leads to true and lasting happiness within our families. To help quorum or class members understand this, you could invite each person to choose a Christlike attribute (see “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?” in chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel [2019], 121–29)* and then find a scripture or prophetic statement that teaches about that attribute. As quorum or class members share what they found, they could answer one or more of the following questions: How would more fully living this Christlike attribute affect my family? What do I learn from the example of the Savior about how to apply this attribute in my family?
*Christlike Attributes listed chapter 6 are: Charity & love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, obedience (DOWNLOAD activities to match these subjects below)
*Developing Christlike Attributes
As you study and seek to develop the attributes described in this chapter and other attributes found in the scriptures, the following pattern may be helpful:
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Identify the attribute you wish to develop.
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Write a definition and description of the attribute.
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Record questions to answer as you study.
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List and study thoroughly passages of scripture that teach about the attribute.
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Record your feelings and impressions.
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Set goals and make plans to apply the attribute in your life.
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Pray for the Lord to help you develop the attribute.
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Evaluate your progress periodically in developing each attribute.
ACTIVITIES: Christlike Attributes
CHARITY & LOVE
LOVE
CHARITY & LOVE
VIRTUE
KNOWLEDGE
PATIENCE
PATIENCE
HUMILITY
HUMILITY
HUMILITY
DILIGENCE
DILIGENCE
OBEDIENCE
President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate” (“Opening Remarks,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 7). To help quorum or class members guard against these attacks, you could invite them to list on the board several attitudes and behaviors that Satan promotes in order to weaken families. Why are these things harmful to families? Quorum or class members could then search the seventh paragraph of the family proclamation for attitudes and behaviors that can counter Satan’s attacks. How can we seek the Savior’s help in developing these attitudes and behaviors? As part of this discussion, you could show the video “Proclamation” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn about how we can protect our families from Satan’s influence?
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“In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan. . . . We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.”– L. Tom Perry, Apostle, “The Importance of the Family”
Act in Faith
Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.
Supporting Resources
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Romans 8:16–17; Hebrews 12:9 (We are children of Heavenly Father)
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Genesis 2:18, 24; Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4 (God ordained marriage)
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Mosiah 4:14–15; Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–29; 93:40–50 (Parents are to teach their children the gospel)
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L. Tom Perry, “Why Marriage and Family Matter—Everywhere in the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 39–42
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“Families Can Be Together Forever,” “The Home Is a Divine Institution” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
