How Can I Find Joy in Following the Savior?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)
PART 1
How Can I Find Joy in Following the Savior?
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.
SEE FOUR LESSON TOPICS (below): Live the Gospel. Care for those in need. Invite all to receive the gospel. Unite families for eternity.
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.
Download BUNDLE (above) or click individual files below
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Care for those in need. Who in our ward or community needs our help? How can we help them?
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Invite all to receive the gospel. How can we help each other prepare for missionary service?
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Unite families for eternity. How can we contribute to our ward’s efforts to do family history and temple work?
MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, SUNDAY SCHOOL, OR FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
SERVICE IN A BOTTLE: Make a list of service ideas on slips of paper and place them in a bottle with the lid on. Place heart stickers on a bottle. Tell the youth that others don’t know we love them unless we show them through our service. If we have a desire to serve others, we need to “do it.” If we keep our ideas of service bottled up in our head but never take off the lid, we will never feel the joy that can come from service. Ask youth to find ways to serve throughout the week, then give them the opportunity to share their experiences the following week. Ask them to think about their testimony of the Savior as they serve and share how that service has strengthened their testimony or feelings of self-worth.
PART 2
How Can I Find Joy in Following the Savior?
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
What brings you joy? People might say they find joy in time with friends and family, a favorite hobby, or even just a day without trials. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him” (“Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82). Many of the Psalms echo this same message: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).
Think of some of the challenges that members of your class or quorum may be facing. How will you help them understand that true joy comes from exercising faith in the Savior—even during hard times? Ponder this question as you prepare to teach. Look for related passages you can share with your class or quorum in the Psalms or in President Nelson’s message “Joy and Spiritual Survival.” SEE VIDEO (below)
Download BUNDLE (above) or click individual files below
John 15:11: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Youth can brainstorm why each brings joy
PART 3
How Can I Find Joy in Following the Savior?
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below
Learn Together
Consider inviting members of your class or quorum to review a few of the following: Psalms 1; 8; 19; 23; 27. What do we learn from these Psalms about what brings us joy? Then you could use one or more of the following activities to help those you teach better understand that true joy comes from following Jesus Christ.
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We all want to find joy, but we need to understand what brings true joy and what actually leads to sorrow. Ask the youth to share some of the things that bring them joy and why these things do. Write on the board “Men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Then invite the youth, as individuals or small groups, to review one or more of the scriptures in “Supporting Resources” and list what they find that leads to joy. You might also show the video “We Can Find Happiness” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What are some ways people try to find joy that actually lead to sorrow? How has the Savior brought us joy?
Download BUNDLE (above) or click individual files below
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We all know people who face challenges even though they are trying their best to live the gospel. How can you help those you teach understand that we can find joy even when our lives are challenging? You could ask them to review President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Joy and Spiritual Survival” or President Steven J. Lund’s message “Finding Joy in Christ” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 35–37). What examples do we find of people who found joy in Christ despite their challenges? What do we learn from these experiences? What experiences can we share?
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All of us are susceptible to feelings of anxiety and depression as we deal with the challenges of life. For some, these feelings are a lifelong battle. Your class or quorum might benefit from a discussion about these challenges and about how the Savior can help those who struggle with anxiety and depression. To begin this discussion, you might ask the youth to review Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message “Like a Broken Vessel,” especially the last four paragraphs (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 40–42), or Sister Reyna I. Aburto’s message “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 57–59). Invite class or quorum members to look for truths that are meaningful to them and share what they found. Encourage the youth to talk with a trusted parent or leader or visit mentalhealth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org if they feel they need help.
MUTUAL NIGHT ACTIVITIES
AGENCY SCRIPTURE CHASE: Have youth organize and compete in a scripture chase, dividing into two teams and racing to find situations in the scriptures that tell good and bad choices that were made. Tell how this choice affected others. If the youth know the stories, ask them to tell them.
Agency Scripture Situations:
1. Read scriptures to tell a story where someone followed Jesus Christ or chose to follow Satan.
2. Read how Alma the Younger gave commandments and instruction to his sons Shiblon and Corianton (Alma 38-39).
3. Talk about the importance of making decisions before the temptations come. This gives us more freedom to choose. We don’t have to wait and think about the temptation; we already know what to say and what to do.
4. Tell of the example of Joseph in Egypt, who was tempted by his master Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 37:36; 39), and how Joseph resisted her advances. Talk about how he reacted to her temptation–how he had decided ahead of time what he would do if he was tempted in this way–because he immediately ran from the situation. If he had hesitated, he may have accepted her request and lost his eternal blessings.
5. Talk about how we can make those critical choices in our lives.
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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Matthew 5:1–12; 1 Peter 4:12–13; 2 Nephi 2:25–27; Mosiah 2:41; 3:3–7; 4:2–3; Alma 36:16–22; 4 Nephi 1:15–16 (How to find joy)
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D. Todd Christofferson, “The Joy of the Saints,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 15–18
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“Suicide Prevention and Ministering,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org
