August 13, 2023 YOUTH DOCTRINAL CLASS “How Can Jesus Christ Help Me Change?” for Aaronic Priesthood Quorums & Young Women – Come Follow Me – Lessons (Romans 1-6), Activities and Goals

Teach the Doctrine

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change!” President Russell M. Nelson has said (“Decisions for Eternity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 108). Similarly, the Apostle Paul explained that when we are baptized, we “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Because of Jesus Christ, every day—not just the day we are baptized—can bring “newness of life” or a chance to walk farther from sin and closer to God. To live the gospel of Jesus Christ means to repent and grow closer to God—constantly, sometimes gradually—knowing that our efforts will lead us to a fulness of joy.

Ponder how the Savior is changing you and the people you teach. How can you more completely receive the Savior’s power to change you? Think about this as you read Romans 1–6 and as you prepare to teach. You might also review President Russell M. Nelson’s message “We Can Do Better and Be Better” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 67–69) or Sister Becky Craven’s message “Keep the Change” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 58–60).

For some of us, the “newness of life” that Christ offers (Romans 6:4) is hard to discern because it happens gradually, while for others, this change happens more quickly. You might invite class or quorum members to share what “walk in newness of life” means to them. What are some words and phrases from Romans 6 that describe our lives with and without the Savior’s influence? (If the youth need help, they could look in verses 6, 11, 22–23.) What other words and phrases can we think of? How does the Savior offer to help us change? Activities like the following can lead to a deeper discussion on this topic.

• To help the class or quorum think about changes the Savior could help them make, invite them to read the definition under “Repent, Repentance” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). They could also discuss President Russell M. Nelson’s definition of repentance in the first seven paragraphs of his message “We Can Do Better and Be Better.” What important truths do we learn about repentance from these definitions? You might also give the class or quorum time to ponder President Nelson’s list of things Jesus asks us to change (in the fifth paragraph of his message). Encourage them to write down something specific they feel prompted to change. Bear your testimony about the Savior’s power to help us repent and change.

Sister Becky Craven said that friends from her past sometimes say, “You haven’t changed at all!” You might share Sister Craven’s comments about this (see “Keep the Change,” 59–60). Ask class or quorum members to imagine that in five or ten years, they run into a friend from their past. What changes might be obvious to our friends? In what ways do we hope we will have changed? How can faith in Jesus Christ help us to change? (see Mosiah 5:2–5, 7; Alma 5:11–13; Ether 12:27, or the “continuous pattern for change” Sister Craven described in the four paragraphs of her message beginning with “When I was younger”). You might ask the youth to share any experiences when Jesus Christ helped them change.

• Sometimes we may think that we are expected to make changes or improvements in our lives all on our own. How is this different from true repentance? To help your class or quorum discuss this question, you could review together the statements in “Supporting Resources.” What can we do now to seek the Savior’s help and power so that our changes will be permanent and joyful? This could be a good opportunity for the youth to consider their personal development goals. How can we include the Savior in our goals?