Counsel Together
Led by a member of the class or quorum presidency; approximately 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). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.
(1) Live the gospel.
What recent experiences have strengthened our testimonies?
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION. Alma 32:28 ColorQuote Youth can learn these words from the Prophet Alma to know how to strengthen their testimony. “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and …” READ MORE
(2) Care for those in need.
Who needs our help and prayers? What do we feel impressed to do to help?
YOUTH GOAL PLANNER. GIVE SERVICE OUTSIDE YOUR FAMILY. Youth can use this in council meetings with the bishop to plan projects or individually to find opportunities on the JustServe website or app. The ideas can be written here. The reactions of the person served can be recorded. Goals for future service opportunities can be listed. It’s great for brainstorming and planning. READ MORE
(3) Invite all to receive the gospel.
How can we be a light to family members or friends who don’t share our beliefs?
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. SPREAD A LITTLE SUNSHINE! sunny-action planner. Youth write on each sun-ray how they plan to spread a little sunshine. Then, when the service is complete they can tear the action strip off and write their experiences on the back. READ MORE
(4) Unite families for eternity.
How can we show more love and support for our families and make a positive difference in our homes?
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. FOLLOWING THE PROPHET STRENGTHENS MY FAMILY strong family match game. Children and youth can enjoy matching up these prophet’s messages to discover WAYS: 1) Family Life Can Be Sweet As We Live the Gospel, 2) Sandwich In Some Family Time To Be Together, 3) Your Family Is One In a “Melon” So Treat Them Right, and 4) Family Service Is a Piece of Cake. READ MORE
Teach the Doctrine
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Fruit cannot grow on a branch that is separated from its tree. In the same way, we cannot grow spiritually if we are separated from God (see John 15:4–6). Yet there are so many forces that seek to separate us from Him—sometimes our own pride or poor choices but often just the conditions of mortal life. When Jesus met with His disciples for the last time in mortality, He knew that He would soon be separated from them. So He taught them about the importance of keeping a close connection with Him and His Father—of being as united to them as a branch is to a tree. He called this “abiding” in Him. And He taught His disciples how to do this. Most important of all, through His atoning sacrifice, He made that connection possible.
Ponder your connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as you study John 14–17. Think also about the people you teach and their desires to be closer to God. What will you do to help them? You might ponder Doctrine and Covenants 88:62–68 as you prepare to teach.
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL blessings bookmark representing the Vine and Fruit. Youth can know that God knows us from our actions: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). The Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland’s words are featured here (and more): “For the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all.” Here, youth can write their goals to become close to Him. READ MORE
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION. HOLY GHOST The Comforter Can Guide & Teach Me JOHN 14:26 rebus. Youth can guess the picture prompts to help them memorize, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. FACING THE SUN/SON OF GOD sunflower stories. Youth can know with this activity that the sunflowers turn their faces toward the sun to grow. They follow the sun all day rotating to always face the sun. We too can learn to turn our face toward the Son of God as He provides light and warmth through His wisdom and Godly attributes we too can obtain. As we follow His example our testimonies can grow and we can become more like Him – thus “FOLLOWING THE SON.” READ MORE
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. “SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER” tent card. Youth can read the sweet words of this song and the words of Alma to know that God wants to guide them. Warn them not to wait until the end of the day or until they are in need; pray often. Sing with the youth this song to memorize the verses. Write on the back things they want to pray about. READ MORE
Learn Together
Consider how you might inspire the youth to discuss the Savior’s teachings about vines and branches in John 15:1–12. Maybe you could use a drawing, a picture, or an actual branch to help them visualize what Jesus taught. You could ask them to talk about times when they have felt close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ—or times when they have felt distant from Them. What do these verses teach about how we can stay close to Them? Activities like the following can help further this conversation.
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It might be valuable to spend some time exploring the question “What distances us from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?” You could write the question on the board and ask for answers. Perhaps you could then talk about what we do to build a relationship with a friend or family member. How is this similar to—and different from—the way we build a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? How does Jesus Christ help us draw close to Him and His Father? Encourage class or quorum members to read the scriptures in “Supporting Resources” to help them answer this question. The youth might benefit from studying these verses in pairs and sharing what they learn.
No one is closer to God the Father than His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. What do we learn from the Savior about drawing closer to God? Class and quorum members could ponder this question as they read Luke 22:41–43; John 6:38; 17:3, 20–23; 3 Nephi 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 50:43. How can we become one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
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In his message “Our Personal Savior,” Elder Michael John U. Teh (SEE VIDEO BELOW) recalled a time when he realized, “What I know about the Savior greatly outweighed how much I really know Him” (Liahona, May 2021, 99). You might ask your class or quorum to discuss the differences between knowing about Jesus Christ and actually knowing Him. They could talk about what they are doing to know about Him and what they are doing to truly know Him. They could then search portions of Elder Teh’s message to find counsel he gave about coming to truly know the Savior. How have our lives been blessed by seeking to know Him?
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In the video “He Knows Me,” two youth from Ghana described their efforts to draw closer to God. Maybe class or quorum members could watch the video and, as they do, make a list of ideas it gives them about how to improve their relationship with their Father in Heaven. Invite them to share something from their lists. If possible, they might enjoy making their own short videos describing how they draw closer to God.
“Embrace the personal nature of the Lord’s Atonement …”
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. “COUNSEL WITH THE LORD IN ALL THY DOINGS” tent card. Youth can list on one side HOW TO PRAY and WHAT TO PRAY FOR. Then on the back, there’s a reminder “Don’t forget to pray!” For the next 30 days, record each time you say your morning and nightly prayers by filling in a box. READ MORE
MEMORIZATION. REVELATION ColorQuote. Youth can know that serious conversations with God are not to be taken lightly; they are the life force of our testimony and well-being, guiding us to know our purpose in life. Memorize the quote “Communication with Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter, it’s a sacred privilege.” – Elder Richard G. Scott READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. PRAYER BLOSSOMS board game. Youth can really learn how prayer helps our relationship with Heavenly Father blossom-and-grow. There are many thorns in the roses of life and we can get past them as we learn to depend on God to guide and protect us and to help us when we are in need. With a bee marker we START at the beginning and move around the board landing on a rose to tell how God blesses, a thorn we tell what to pray about, and a leaf to get instructions. READ MORE
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION. TRUST IN GOD Proverbs 3:5-6 bite-size memorize poster. Youth can share ways they have been guided as they trusted in Heavenly Father. Memorize “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” READ MORE
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.
