HOW DO I KNOW GOD KNOWS ME AND LOVES ME?
YOUTH CAN TEACH with this YOUTH GOAL PLANNER to learn that as we STUDY the scriptures and LISTEN to the prophets and Church leaders, we will learn that God loves us, is mindful of us, and will help us “move mountains” (Jacob 4:6).
President M. Russell Ballard said, “There is one important identity we all share now and forever … that you are and have always been a son or daughter of God (this truth is life-changing). Devotional BYU 2020 (speeches.byu.edu)
ACTIVITY:
. . . PLANNER CHALLENGE . . .
Learn from These That Heavenly Father Loves Us and Is Mindful of Us
• Psalm 8:4-6 God is mindful of us and crowns us with glory & honor
• Jeremiah 1:5 God knew us before we were born
• John 13:34 God has always loved us
• Doctrine & Covenants 18:10 Our worth is great
• Abraham 3:22-23 God knows us and has a work for us to do
• Joseph Smith—History 1:1-20 God knew Joseph Smith before he was born and chose him to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ in it’s fulness to the earth again.
. . . MORE LESSON IDEAS & ACTIVITIES . . .
. . . PLANNER CHALLENGE . . .
Learn From These That Heavenly Father Loves Us and Is Mindful of Us
“When we experience heartache, sorrow, loneliness and suffering, we know who understands us — that it’s the Savior,” Sister Susan H. Porter, speaking to missionaries Dec 2024
“We know this mortal life is a test. But because our Heavenly Father loves us with a perfect love, He shows us where to find the answers. He has given us the map that allows us to navigate the uncertain terrain and unexpected trials that each of us encounters.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct Conference 2013
DISCUSSION IDEAS:
How do we know we are children of Heavenly Father (a child of God)?
– In Acts 17:29 “We are the offspring of God” tells us that we come from a real God; we are not made of gold, or silver, or stone, but we are like Him.
– In D&C 130:22 we learn about the Godhead (3 personages; separate beings with same purpose*) as follows “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son [Jesus Christ] also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”
– *In Moses 1:39 we learn purpose of God for us. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
See Scripture Scholars for “This Is My Work and My Glory” (HERE) Moses 1:4 “I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands …”
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MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, SUNDAY SCHOOL, FAMILY HOME EVENING
THOUGHT TREAT: Crown Cookies. Share cookies and tell the youth that because God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His daughters/sons, we are of royal descent. We are princesses/princes in His kingdom and have the potential to become goddesses/gods in the celestial kingdom. To Make Crown Cookies: (1) Cut out sugar cookie dough into crown shapes. (2) Bake a glaze with vanilla frosting glaze (dilute frosting until runny, then apply with a pastry brush while cookies are warm). (3) Place jelly beans on top to represent crown jewels.
GODHEAD SPOTLIGHT: Tell the youth that when they learn about Jesus Christ they learn about Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. Have a spotlight having three youth or youth leaders tell about the members of the Godhead as three separate beings with the same purpose (John 17:20-23).
MISSING PERSONAGE: Ask youth to write on slips of paper what they would miss if they did not have a certain member of the Godhead, assigning three or more to each personage. If they desire their comments read, they can place them in a container to share. Quote Mark 12:30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
THOUGHT TREAT: One Eternal Round Mints. Share Starlight or Star Brite mints, where the pink pinwheel design goes round and round, never-ending. Give the following note with mints.
“Heavenly Father has always been there for us, and He will always be there for us. His plan proves that He has always “mint” for us to be happy. All we need to do to be happy is to pray and listen as we pray, keep His command-“mints,” show our gratitude, study His word in the scriptures, and listen to His prophets.”
PATRIARCHAL BLESSING DISCUSSION AND SACRED YEARLY LETTER:
1. Talk about patriarchal blessings and about earthly fathers—what they want for their children and what they do for their children. Discuss what Heavenly Father does and wants for His children, and things He gives us to help us.
2. Have young women write a letter of appreciation to their Heavenly Father and put it in a sealed envelope. Tell them to nourish these feelings so they will grow. Have them put the letter in their journal for one year.
3. After the year is up, have them then write another letter to Heavenly Father, expressing appreciation and love, then compare by re-reading the letter from the previous year.
4. Then have them repeat steps 2–3 and compare the feelings from one year to the next, watching their love increase.
SEND A LETTER HOME:
Give each youth a helium balloon and ask them to take it home. When they are alone, they can write a note to Heavenly Father on the balloon with a marker, sharing thoughts of gratitude for His plan of salvation, listing personal goals. Then they can sign it and let it soar towards heaven, or let the air go out slowly (shrinking down), and then keep the balloon as a reminder of their love for Him and that their love should never shrink.
