YOUTH CAN TEACH
DISCOVER AND BUILD UPON DIVINE QUALITIES (Youth Goal Planner)
HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT MY GOD-GIVEN TALENTS?
YOUTH CAN TEACH with this YOUTH GOAL PLANNER, scriptures, and quotes from Church leaders about God’s purpose for them here on earth. Then help them know they are children of Heavenly Father who loves them and wants them to reach their potential. In Moses 1:39 “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
ACTIVITY (Developing Talents):
When God tells you that you are His work and His glory (Moses 1:39), how does that make you feel? Loved? Treasured? Heavenly Father has great confidence in us, His children.
In reading this next scripture (below), know that God is on our side and wants us to be the best that we can be. We are free to ask God, and He will tell us our weaknesses.
Ether 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
If we trust in Him, we can become humble and teachable. This way, we can be open to change and find a way to move the mountains in our lives (Jacob 4:6).
Have a SCRIPTURE CHASE (see below*) looking for attributes of our Heavenly Father. This will help us understand how we can have complete trust in Him and begin to develop God-like traits.
DISCUSSION IDEAS
Discover and Build upon Divine Qualities
We believe we are children of divine heavenly Parents, endowed with divine potential to grow and become like Them. We came to earth to learn and cultivate divine qualities.
Part 1
• Keep the Commandments. We can change our nature to be God-like as we make a conscious effort to keep God’s commandments. When we make mistakes, we can repent and trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ to cleanse our minds and hearts. He is our perfect example. His payment for our sins is only in effect IF we trust and follow Him. As we do, we become more like our Savior and our Heavenly Parents.
• Learn to Follow Jesus Christ’s Example. As we study the scriptures, we learn about the character of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His love for us. As we follow Him and the guidance of inspired leaders, we can learn to be more Christlike.
• Receive a Patriarchal Blessing, where God can guide us to understand our gifts, talents, and more.
DOWNLOAD Patriarchal Blessing message memo and preparation checklist (HERE or below).
– Faith. Exercising faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement leads to action, including repentance, obedience, and service. Moroni 7:33 “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.”
– Hope. Hope provides an anchor for the soul, allowing us to persevere through trials with confidence that God will fulfill His promises to us. 2 Nephi 31:20 “Ye must press forward, having a perfect brightness of hope.”
MORE WAYS TO FOLLOW JESUS
“We need to stand tall and be firmly fixed in perpetuating Christlike virtues.” Talk, “Let Virtue Garnish Your Thoughts” by Bishop H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop
– Virtue. Embracing high moral standards and maintaining clean thoughts and actions are crucial for receiving guidance from the Holy Ghost.
– Knowledge. Seeking spiritual and intellectual knowledge through scripture study, prayer, and listening to inspired leaders helps us understand gospel principles and apply them in our lives.
– Patience. The ability to endure challenges and difficulties with calmness and hope, trusting in God’s timing. This is essential for spiritual resilience.
– Humility. Submitting to the will of God, acknowledging our need for His help, and trusting in His power are vital for our spiritual growth.
– Diligence. Consistent and earnest effort in doing God’s work, including serving others and fulfilling responsibilities, brings us joy and satisfaction.
– Obedience. Willingly keeping God’s commandments and following the counsel of inspired leaders brings increased faith, knowledge, and protection.
• The Family can be a place of wholesome activities where children and parents learn patience, faith, repentance, forgiveness, and other ways to follow Jesus. God-like traits can be learned through righteous examples, lessons taught, one-on-one or group activities, scripture study, fasting, service, and prayer.
3 Nephi 18:21 “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.”
“There is no more beautiful sight in all this world than to see a family praying together. There is real meaning behind the oft-quoted ‘The family that prays together stays together.’” —President Thomas S. Monson
Visit our blog posts by clicking on the posters, or go to our YOUTH CAN TEACH menu (HERE) to find “Family Fun Service” and “Forever Family” activities to make learning fun.
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MUTUAL NIGHT, SUNDAY SCHOOL, SEMINARY, FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
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 the things He gives us to help us.
2. Have the youth 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 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.
VIEWS OF A PATRIARCH’S WIFE:
Have the wife of a patriarch come and relate her special insights and experiences regarding patriarchal blessings. She can also tell how she supports her husband in his calling as the patriarch. Tell the steps involved in obtaining a patriarchal blessing, what to do with your patriarchal blessing, and how to read and understand it so it will help you throughout your life (see Without Fear video below).
• ARTICLE: What a Patriarchal Blessing Can Do for You
• VIDEO: Without Fear – An Italian missionary suffering from diabetes recounts how he didn’t serve his mission until he received his patriarchal blessing.
INSIGHTS OF LIVING A PATRIARCHAL BLESSING:
Have different mothers and older women in the ward who have received their patriarchal blessing share how it has helped them. Discuss how each blessing is different and very personal. If parts of a blessing are shared, approve what is shared with leaders ahead of time.
Quote. “Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.” —Thomas S. Monson “Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light,” October 1986 General Conference
MUTUAL NIGHT ACTIVITIES (ON WORTH)
INDIVIDUAL WORTH TESTIMONIES: Ask youth to share how the gospel of Jesus Christ has given them feelings of individual worth.
VALUE-ABLE NOTE: Write a note to each youth expressing your love and admiration.
P.M.A. SELF-TALK:
1. Talk about having a positive mental attitude about themselves.
2. Have a motivational speaker come to share positive ideas.
3. Have the youth gather and write their names at the top of a piece of paper. Pass the papers around, having each youth and leader write a positive thing about the youth. Ask them not to compare notes while they write. Then have each of them look at their paper and add to their list the positive traits they have. Then challenge them to do daily self-talk. Describe it and demonstrate. Examples: Say, “I am a daughter/son of God.” Say this slowly and with emotion. Say, “I am a good listener,” “I am gentle,” “I am attractive,” “I am a good dancer,” etc. Encourage them to look at themselves in the mirror each day and say, “I love you.”
- He is the Father of our spirits: This emphasizes a literal parent-child relationship with God.
- Hebrews 12:9: “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”
- Acts 17:29: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”
- He has a perfected body of flesh and bones: Latter-day Saint scriptures describe God the Father as a glorified being with a physical body.
- Doctrine and Covenants 130:22: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son 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.”
- Moses 7:35: “And the Lord said unto Moses: Behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
- He is omnipotent and omniscient: He possesses all power and knows all things.
- 1 Nephi 9:6: “But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men.”
- Mosiah 4:9: “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.”
- He is Infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable: God’s nature is constant and everlasting.
- Mormon 9:9: “For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?”
- Doctrine and Covenants 20:17: “Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.”
- He is Just, Merciful, and Full of Love: He desires the best for his children and acts with perfect love and justice.
- 1 John 4:16: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
- Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
- His work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man: God’s ultimate goal is for his children to return and live with him again, inheriting all that he has.
- Moses 1:39: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
- He is no respecter of persons: He loves all his children equally, regardless of background or circumstance.
- Acts 10:34–35: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
PROMISE. As we study these and other scriptures, we can gain a deeper understanding of Heavenly Father’s nature and character, and how to develop a relationship with Him. This will strengthen our testimony to withstand the temptations of our day and DEVELOP DIVINE QUALITIES (as suggested in the YOUTH GOAL PLANNER above), and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
TALK, DEVOTIONAL, & VIDEO. Elder Ulisses Soares compares temptation to a magnet by noting how the invisible force weakens with distance. Temptation loses power as we seek Christ in every thought. Based on his October 2020 general conference talk. Show video (below) “Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought.”
Also read Elder Ulisses Soares “Strengthening Our Testimony” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults (HERE).
