How Do I Hear the Voice of the Lord?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)
YOUTH CLASSES
June 12, 2022
TOPIC #1
Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-3
HOW DO I HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD?
June 27, 2022
TOPIC #2
2 Samuel 5-7; 11-12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below
Counsel Together
Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; 10–20 minutes
At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.
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Live the gospel. What recent experiences have strengthened our testimonies?
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Care for those in need. Who needs our help and prayers? What do we feel impressed to do to help them?
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Invite all to receive the gospel. How can we be a light to family members or friends who don’t share our beliefs?
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Unite families for eternity. How can we show more love and support for our families and make a positive difference in our homes?
At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:
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Testify of the principles taught.
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Remind class or quorum members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.
- Live the gospel. What recent experiences have strengthened our testimonies?
- Care for those in need. Who needs our help and prayers? What do we feel impressed to do to help them?
Invite all to receive the gospel. How can we be a light to family members or friends who don’t share our beliefs?
- Unite families for eternity. How can we show more love and support for our families and make a positive difference in our homes?
MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
REACH OUT TO OTHERS HUMANITARIAN PROJECT: Start with the Church website JustServe, or ask humanitarian representatives in your ward or stake, city, or library for ideas. Make sure the less-active young men and women are brought to this activity. Go out of your way to include all!
Idea #1: Get together with the youth to a humanitarian center to serve. Give young men the assignment to cut out small wooden blocks or animal shapes that young women can sand and paint to share with young children.
Idea #2: Go around and collect teddy bears, and donate them to your local fire department, police department, hospital, or homeless center.
Idea #3: Make quilts or collect food or hygiene items to donate to homeless shelters.
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Many members of your class or quorum may be able to relate to the boy Samuel. When the Lord spoke to him, Samuel didn’t yet have enough experience with revelation to recognize the Lord’s voice. Samuel’s mentor, Eli, was able to help Samuel learn to recognize this voice. Like Eli, you have the opportunity to testify to those you teach that the Lord wants to speak to them. You can help them learn to recognize the voice of the Lord, even as you are also learning to hear Him. Together, you can study what His prophets have taught about personal revelation. And you can learn to say to the Lord, as Samuel did, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10).
In addition to reading 1 Samuel 3 this week, you can prepare to teach by reading President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Hear Him” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 88–92). SEE VIDEO BELOW
MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS (Compare to the Spirit – the Holy Ghost):
1. Create a room full of clutter with a bouquet of flowers in the center of the table. Have dirty dishes on the table. Scatter magazines, papers, and clothes all over the floor. Have a dust cloth, vacuum, a pan of dish soap, and a dishcloth to wash dishes available. Ask youth to enter the room, sit down, and write down their feelings.
2. Ask youth to go out, but have a few stay after and help clean up the room. Leave the bouquet of flowers in the center of the table.
3. Ask youth to come back into the room and write down their impressions. Say, “The bouquet of flowers you see can be compared to the Holy Ghost in our lives. The first time you saw this room, you saw a room full of clutter. You may not have noticed the flowers. But when the room was free of clutter, you might have seen the flowers first. This is how it is with the Holy Ghost. When our minds are free of clutter, we are free to listen to and enjoy Heavenly Father’s spirit.”
4. Make a list of things that clutter their lives that might prevent us from listening to the Spirit (for example, not doing homework, not going to church, not reading the scriptures, not helping around the house, not going to seminary, etc.)
5. Blindfold one of the youth, saying, “Sometimes we blindfold ourselves with things that don’t matter and neglect the things that do matter.” Ask youth what our decisions would be without the influence of the Holy Ghost.
ENCOURAGE WRITING OF PERSONAL STORIES OF FEELING THE SPIRIT: See the My Writing Creation Activity (HERE) TO DOWNLOAD (for youth to write their stories) and the following example. • I Felt the Spirit – From an interview with Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General Board President; by Linda Davies
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below
Learn Together
To prepare those you teach for the discussion today, consider asking them to review 1 Samuel 3:1–14. Invite them to share what they learn from this account about hearing the Lord’s voice. What are some additional ways the Lord communicates with us? The following activities can help the youth deepen their understanding of personal revelation.
- Here is one way to help those you teach better understand how to receive revelation. You could write on the board the scripture references suggested in “Supporting Resources” (or others you know). Invite the youth to read each scripture. They could then write on the board next to each reference what that scripture teaches about receiving personal revelation. Invite them to share experiences they have had with seeking and receiving revelation. As appropriate, share your own experiences.
We receive great blessings when we learn to hear the Lord’s voice. You could start a discussion about this by asking the youth to share reasons they might need revelation. Then ask them to search President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Hear Him.” Invite them to look for counsel that helps them understand how to hear the Lord’s voice. You could also show one or more videos from the “Hear Him” collection (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/media). Why is it so important for us to learn to hear the Lord’s voice? Encourage the youth to record what they learn in their journals or on pieces of paper to display in their homes.
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The youth you teach may have wondered how to know when the Holy Ghost is speaking to them. Consider showing the videos “How Can I Tell the Difference between the Holy Ghost and My Emotions?” and “How Can I Feel the Holy Ghost More Often?” from “Face to Face with President Eyring and Elder Holland” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn from these videos about discerning between the Spirit’s promptings and our thoughts? Class or quorum members could share how they would respond to a friend who has questions similar to those discussed in these videos.
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Lord communicates through scriptures
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Record spiritual inspirations in a journal
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Seeking & receiving revelation (see more ideas below*)
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Discerning the Spirit’s promptings
DISCUSS HOW MEDIA AFFECTS PERSONAL REVELATION
*Seeking and Receiving Revelation
MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
MEDIA MANIA: Have an evening where a member of the bishopric or presidency of the Young Women &/or Young Men present and discuss media (e.g., radio, television, satellite dish, cable, videos, Internet, and what to look for—the good and what to avoid).
Ideas for Media Mania Discussion:
1. Good: Talk about the good things good media brings to our lives (e.g. values, beautiful music, genealogy research).
2. Bad: Then talk about self-control and mixed signals, Satan’s design for the use of media. Parents can come.
3. Research: There are many articles available (e.g., “Reel Life vs. Real Life,” by Joseph Walker, in the Ensign, June 1993, pages 15-19).
TUNE-IN VALUE-ABLE LIST: Youth can record and make a list of uplifting films, television programs, computer programs, Internet sites, and songs that express the For the Strength of Youth values.
Act in Faith
Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Supporting Resources
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1 Kings 19:9–12; Helaman 5:29–31; Doctrine and Covenants 6:14–16, 21–23; 8:2–3; 11:12–14 (Ways the Lord speaks to us)
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Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9 (Revelation requires our own thought and study)
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Ronald A. Rasband, “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 93–96
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President Russell M. Nelson taught: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96).
