Stand in Holy Places Christmas Handout

Here is a handout to got with President Monson's talk "Stand in Holy Places"  A link to this talk can be found below:

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/stand-in-holy-places?lang=eng&media=audio#9-PD50029123_000_4060

Since I gave this lesson the week before Christmas, I used the Christmas handout.  The way in which I taught the lesson is quite simple, I followed the outline of the talk by President Monson:

1. Discuss how much the world has changed..
2. Discuss the direction it is going, and some of the things that are disconcerting.
3. Have someone read the quote from the Wall Street Journal an article by Jonathan Sacks, Britain’s chief rabbi that President Monson quoted (it's in the talk).
4.  Discuss the question "Do we wring our hands in despair and wonder how we’ll ever survive in such a world? No. Indeed, we have in our lives the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we know that morality is not passé, that our conscience is there to guide us, and that we are responsible for our actions."
5. Discuss how God is constant and go through the 10 commandments.
6. Discuss this quote "It may appear to you at times that those out in the world are having much more fun than you are. Some of you may feel restricted by the code of conduct to which we in the Church adhere. My brothers and sisters, I declare to you, however, that there is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments."
7. How do we "Stand in Holy Places"?  Read"   The Savior admonished us, as recorded in 3 Nephi 18, to “watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you. …

“Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;"

8. President Monson talks about how he received his testimony of prayer, ask the sisters if anyone wants to share how they received their own testimony of prayer.

9. Play President Monson's account of his account in August of 1987 during the dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. (His way of story telling far surpasses any one's ability to read it.)

10. Discuss the purpose of this story.  Why did he tell it?  What was its message?  How can we apply it to our lives?

11.  End with the positive quote in the handout, "As the winds of change swirl around us and the moral fiber of society continues to disintegrate before our very eyes, may we remember the Lord’s precious promise to those who trust in Him: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 

Here is a fun treat to hand out to remind people to listen to the prophet.  Just click on the picture below to take you to the link: