What Are Our Responsibilities in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)
YOUTH CLASSES
September 11, 2022
TOPIC #1
Isaiah 1-12
HOW CAN I BE CLEAN AND HAPPY AGAIN AFTER I SIN?
(GO HERE) ⇒
September 25, 2022
TOPIC #2
Isaiah 40-49
WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORK OF SALVATION AND EXALTATION?
(BELOW) ⇓
PART 1
What Are Our Responsibilities in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation?
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES\
Gathering Israel by Pres. Russell M. Nelson
Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL
President Nelson said, “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel” (“Hope of Israel,” 15).
WAYS TO GATHER ISRAEL (shown in the four activities below*, and also in the Part 1 activity above) SHARE THE GOSPEL; CARE FOR THE NEEDY; HELP & MINISTER; SALVATION FOR THE DEAD
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
It’s clear from the scriptures that helping with the Lord’s work is not for adults only. Samuel was a boy when the Lord first spoke to him. Mary was likely a young woman when an angel visited her, announcing that she would be the mother of the Savior. And Joseph Smith was 14 years old when the Lord called him to restore the gospel. More recently, President Russell M. Nelson invited all young people to “enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel (“Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Certainly, when the Lord said, “Thou, Israel, art my servant” (Isaiah 41:8), this included all of His covenant people, including those in your class or quorum.
Even though we all covenant to serve God when we are baptized, not all young people see themselves as the Lord’s servants. They may not recognize the unique ways they can help with His work. Look for passages in Isaiah 41–44 and section 1.2 of the General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that could help the youth understand what it means to be the Lord’s servants.
*SHARE THE GOSPEL
*CARE FOR THE NEEDY
HELP & MINISTER
*SALVATION FOR THE DEAD
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. I WILL BE VALIANT AND TESTIFY OF JESUS! balloon maze. Youth can unscramble the missing letters and place them in the word box to learn ways to share valiant testimonies: Faithful; Courageous; Trustworthy; Prayerful; Virtuous; Honest; Repentant; Obedient
POSTER ACTIVITY. HONORABLE FAMILY FOOD STORAGE match. Youth can pretend they are an item in the cupboard pantry. What would they be and what would they do to honor their family to make it a happy home? For example, “Tommy Tomato helped his brother study …” (match #1) “and catch up on his homework” (match #2).
SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY. “THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD” paragraph 3 scripture poster/card set. Youth can learn “Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. TRACING MY ANCESTORS pedigree chart. Youth ponder the importance of baptism for the dead as they trace their ancestor’s hair and facial features on the chart to identify each charted ancestor. While doing so, they can say, “I can be baptized for … my family and others.”
PART 2
What Are Our Responsibilities in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation?
LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES
Learn Together
Isaiah 41–44 can help the youth understand what it means to be a servant of the Lord. To begin a discussion, you could write references like these on the board: Isaiah 41:8–10; 42:6–7; 43:9–12; 44:21. Each person could pick a passage, read it, and share what he or she learns about what it means to be a servant of the Lord. In what ways are we the Lord’s servants? What blessings come when we are in His service? Here are other ways to help those you teach bring people to Christ as active participants in His work.
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Do those you teach understand what “the work of salvation and exaltation” is? To help them, you might assign them to study (individually or in small groups) one of the four subsections of section 1.2 of the General Handbook. Each subsection describes an aspect of the work. Ask the youth to ponder questions like these: What are specific things a person my age could do to participate in this aspect of the work of salvation? What can our class or quorum do? Each person or group could share what they learned, along with answers to the questions.
SEE MORE LESSON IDEAS (below*)
Four Points to Ponder* with These Activities (from the talk below “I Have a Work for Thee” John C. Pingree
*Focus on others.
*Discover & develop spiritual gifts.
*Make use of adversity (knowledge gained) to strengthen others.
*Rely on God to reveal our assignments.
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.
YOUTH ACTIVITY. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (D&C 46) match game. Youth can learn why it is important to recognize and seek the true gifts of the Spirit and not be deceived. Gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, testimony, tongues.
SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY. D&C 121:7-8 BITE-SIZE MEMORIZE scripture poster. Youth can learn “Peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”
POSTER ACTIVITY. INVITE THE HOLY GHOST invitation brainstorm. Youth choose an invitation, e.g, “You’re Invited! because I read the scriptures.” Then tell why this ACTION (obeying that commandment) would invite the Spirit. Invitations are posted, then placed in an envelope. This commitment-filled envelope can actually serve as a time capsule to review again at a later date.
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Those you teach may benefit by learning more about the four aspects of the work of salvation and exaltation—living the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for those in need, inviting all to receive the gospel, and uniting families for eternity. They could choose an aspect that they are interested in and explore some of the items related to it under “Supporting Resources.” Let the youth share what they found that inspires them to become more converted to the Lord and help others do the same. They could then make plans to do something that helps accomplish this work. The class or quorum president could lead this discussion.
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To help the youth ponder how they can use their talents to bring souls to Christ, you could ask each of them to study a section of Elder John C. Pingree Jr.’s message “I Have a Work for Thee” SEE VIDEO BELOW (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 32–35). They could share how what they learned might help someone who isn’t sure that he or she can help with the Lord’s work. You could also review together the section “Discover and Develop Spiritual Gifts” SEE VIDEO BELOW in Elder Pingree’s message. How does the Lord help us discover and develop our talents?
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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Live the gospel of Jesus Christ: 2 Nephi 31:17–21; 3 Nephi 27:13–21; “Following God” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
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Care for those in need: Matthew 25:34–40; Mosiah 18:8–9; “You Are the Gift” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
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Invite all to receive the gospel: Matthew 5:14–16; 1 Peter 3:15; “Sharing Your Beliefs” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
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Unite families for eternity: Doctrine and Covenants 2; 128:18; “Because of James” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
