How Does Jesus Christ Lead His Church?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities BELOW)
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 topics has the bishopric discussed in our ward youth council meetings? What can we do as a class or quorum based on those discussions?
BUILDING UP THE KINGDOM
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. LAW OF CONSECRATION checkbook. Youth can learn to live the Law of Consecration with this checkbook to write in ways to give of your TIME, TALENTS, and MEANS to build up the kingdom of God on the earth. READ MORE
(2) Care for those in need.
How can we reach out to people in Christlike ways when we see a need and don’t know what to say?
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. FAITHFUL SERVANT Service Planner. Here youth can record WHO they want to serve, WHY does one need to be served, WHAT to do, WHERE they will go to serve, and WHEN to serve. To be a faithful serv”ant” they can answer questions to create their plan. READ MORE
(3) Invite all to receive the gospel.
What have we found in the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings us joy? How can we share that joy with others?
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. COLOR MY LIFE WITH THE GOSPEL Happy Crayons Game. Youth can know that the gospel principles lived will bring happiness. This way we can show our “true” colors as we live the commandments, e.g., tithing repentance, prayer, gratitude, and Sabbath (each matching the Ten Commandments). READ MORE
(4) Unite families for eternity.
What are we doing to find names of our ancestors who need temple ordinances? What can we do to help others find the names of their ancestors?
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION “BIND IN HEAVEN” Matthew 18:18 scripture poster/card set. Youth can memorize this verse on temple covenants binding families for eternity: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” READ MORE
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
It’s one thing to know that the Church is good, that the Church teaches true principles, or that the Church can help you become a better person. It’s another thing to know that the Church today is literally the Church of Jesus Christ, established by Him and led personally and continually by Him through a living prophet. The book of Acts gives abundant evidence that the Savior is intimately involved in leading His Church. As you study chapters 1–5, look for that evidence, and ponder how you know that He continues to lead His Church today. How has this knowledge blessed you?
Do the youth you teach have a testimony that the Church they belong to is led by the Savior Himself? How would such a testimony bless them? How can you help them gain or strengthen this testimony? In addition to studying Acts 1–5, you might also read Elder Quentin L. Cook’s message “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 96–100).
Quentin L. Cook’s Words: Prophets are “commissioned agents of the Lord authorized to speak for Him.” Also, at the end of his talk see his profound words about the Holy Ghost.
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. PROPHET PONDER journal. Youth will be inspired to write the prophet’s message and to ponder and pray about his words with this page. They can first hear these messages in the April and October general conferences (reading a month later in the Church magazines). The prophet’s words are God’s words to us, a treasure to be treasured. READ MORE
QUOTE MEMORIZATION. OBEDIENCE – HOLY GHOST ColorQuote poster or notecard. “Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception – and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are.” David A. Bednar, Apostle, “Things as They Really Are” READ MORE
QUOTE ACTIVITY. ColorQuote COVENANT PATH. Youth can memorize this quote to remind them that following the prophet is a good idea as they speak to God and know the way back to Him. “When we choose to live according to the words of the prophets, we are on the covenant path that leads to perfection.” – Carol F. McConkie READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. DON’T BOTTLE-UP YOUR TESTIMONY Share it! spin-the-bottle. Youth can learn how to build a strong belief in the gospel and testify of truth. They can spin to find the topic and then share their beliefs on the topic. Also, great for Discussion Starters; Scripture Chase; and Table Talk. READ MORE
Learn Together
To begin your discussion, you could write on the board Jesus Christ led His Church through revelation to His Apostles. Class or quorum members could share something they found in their study of Acts 1–5 that supports this statement. (If necessary, you could direct them to Acts 1:1–8; 2:36–39; 4:1–13, 31–33.) What evidence do we see that Jesus Christ leads His Church in the same way today? Activities like the following can help those you teach strengthen their faith in this important truth.
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You could prepare several questions like these: How does Jesus Christ lead His Church? How can we increase our faith that Jesus Christ is leading His Church? Why do you trust the Lord’s prophets and apostles? Give each class or quorum member one of the questions, and invite them to ponder the question and think of scriptures that could help them answer it (if needed, see “Supporting Resources” for some ideas). Then give time for everyone to share and discuss what they learned.
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To help the class or quorum see how the Lord leads His Church, you might invite them to review the first section of Elder Quentin L. Cook’s message “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives.” SEE TALK (above). Perhaps each class or quorum member could share something from the message that helps them know that Jesus Christ is actively and personally leading His Church. What other insights do we find in the scriptures under “Supporting Resources”? (These are LISTED below).
THERE ARE MANY “FALSE PROPHETS” WHO SEEK ATTENTION (how to discern these)
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. SPIRIT OF TRUTH: From God/Not From God crossmatch. Youth can learn from the Spirit, The Holy Ghost how to turn righteous ideas (from God) ON and unrighteous ideas (not from God ) OFF! This is done from the bright light warm feeling or the dim light cold feeling. To do the crossmatch draw a line from each word strip/box to the lightbulb it belongs FROM GOD / NOT FROM GOD. READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. PRAISE TO THE MAN D&C 135:3 John Taylor quote bookmark about Joseph Smith. Let not the sacrifices of our first Latter-day Prophet be forgotten as youth memorize this tribute to the prophet who “has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men …” READ MORE
CONTINUED REVELATION
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. LIAHONA LEADS THE WAY inspiration dial. Youth learn that the Holy Ghost is like the Liahona a compass that led Lehi and his family to the promised land. Alma 37:44 tells them that “it is easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point you a straight course” and more. Following that inspiration, making good choices will help them keep the Holy Ghost (our own personal Liahona) guiding them. READ MORE
SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY. HEAVENLY FATHER WILL GUIDE ME – Nephi’s message poster 2 Nephi 4:15-24. “I know in whom I have trusted.” Like Nephi, I know that Heavenly Father will guide me if I trust Him. READ MORE
• It could also be helpful for the youth to learn more about how the Lord is leading your ward. You might ask the youth to share examples of how the Lord is guiding individual ward leaders, including the class or quorum president. During the week before class, you might ask some ward leaders to share—in person or electronically—experiences that show how the Lord guides them. Class or quorum members could find additional examples in President Henry B. Eyring’s message “The Lord Leads His Church” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 81–84). Why is it important to have faith that the Lord is inspiring our ward leaders?
• Some people feel that if we are good people and do good things, we do not need a church. You might ask the youth how they would respond to this. In his message “The Need for a Church” (Liahona, Nov. 2021, 24–26), President Dallin H. Oaks gave several reasons why churches, including the Lord’s restored Church, are important. The youth could search this message in pairs, in small groups, or as a class or quorum and share what they find.
“GOD WATCHES DAILY DETAILS IN HIS KINGDOM”
“He knew that the prophet of God asked his priesthood holders to bring back the lost sheep.”
“We are taught to serve rather than be served.”
BE “ACTIVE NOT PASSIVE Make a Positive Difference”
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.
