A Lesson Plan and Handout from the talk "Faith, Fortitude, Fulfillment: A Message to LDS Single Parents" by David S. Baxter

A Handout and lesson plan from the talk

"Faith, Fortitude, Fulfillment:

A Message to LDS Single Parents"

 by David S. Baxter

from the 2012 April LDS General Conference

Saturday Afternoon Session

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/faith-fortitude-fulfillment-a-message-to-single-parents?lang=eng

Lesson plan:

1. First start out by asking everyone what are some of the main messages of our church.  Write them down on the board. Hopefully someone will mention that families can be together forever.  Mention the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”   Circle it on the board.  Then ask, what if our family is broken?   Does this message still apply?  For some, this message may be difficult.

Read quote #1

Although you may at times have asked, why me? it is through the hardships of life that we grow toward godhood as our character is shaped in the crucible of affliction, as the events of life take place while God respects the agency of man. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell commented, we cannot do all the sums or make it all add up because “we do not have all the numbers.”

2. Mention that about 1/3 of our LDS households have single parents.  Explain a little how Elder Baxter was raised by a single mother and how he witnessed the hardships she experienced.  How can single parent families participate in a family centered church?  What kind of feelings might they be dealing with?  How can the message of families can be together forever help in their homes? 

3.  Have someone read this quote #2 from the February 2012 visiting teaching message:

Barbara Thompson, now second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, was in the Salt Lake Tabernacle when President Hinckley first read the proclamation. “That was a great occasion,” she remembers. “I felt the significance of the message. I also found myself thinking, ‘This is a great guide for parents. It is also a big responsibility for parents.’ I thought for a moment that it really didn’t pertain too much to me since I wasn’t married and didn’t have any children. But almost as quickly I thought, ‘But it does pertain to me. I am a member of a family. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a niece, and a granddaughter. I do have responsibilities—and blessings—because I am a member of a family. Even if I were the only living member of my family, I am still a member of God’s family, and I have a responsibility to help strengthen other families.’”

Fortunately, we are not left alone in our efforts. “The greatest help,” says Sister Thompson, “we will have in strengthening families is to know and follow the doctrines of Christ and rely on Him to help us.”^{2   http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/02/guardians-of-the-hearth?lang=eng}

Discuss how we are all part of a family, whatever our circumstances.

4. Why are we addressing this as a ward, instead of a special class just for single parents?  Why do we all need to hear this message?  Have someone read quote #3:

Whatever your circumstances or the reasons for them, how wonderful you are. Day to day you face the struggles of life, doing the work that was always meant for two but doing it largely alone. You have to be father as well as mother. You run your household, watch over your family, sometimes struggle to make ends meet, and miraculously you even find the wherewithal to serve in the Church in significant ways. You nurture your children. You cry and pray with them and for them. You want the very best for them but fret every night that your best may never be good enough.

Discuss how we can be of help to these struggling families.

5.  Have someone read quote # 4.

My message is for the single parents in the Church, the majority of whom are single mothers—you valiant women who, through the varying circumstances of life, find yourselves raising children and running a home on your own. Perhaps you have been widowed or divorced. You may be coping with the challenges of single parenthood as a result of having taken a wrong turn outside of marriage, but you are now living within the framework of the gospel, having turned your life around. Bless you for avoiding the type of companionship that would come at the expense of virtue and discipleship. That would be far too high a price to pay.

Point out the highlighted area.  What would be the reason for this statement?  Could it be to help those in this circumstance to forgive themselves?  How about those who might be judging the past actions of someone who may have made some bad choices?  As President Uchtdorf has told us "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you!"

6.  Have someone read quote #5:

This is not exactly what you hoped or planned, prayed for or expected, when you started out years ago. Your journey through life has had bumps, detours, twists, and turns, mostly as the result of life in a fallen world that is meant to be a place of proving and testing.

Meanwhile, you are striving to raise your children in righteousness and truth, knowing that while you cannot change the past, you can shape the future. Along the way you will obtain compensatory blessings, even if they are not immediately apparent.

With God’s help, you need not fear for the future. Your children will grow up and call you blessed, and every single one of their many achievements will stand as a tribute to you.

Please never feel that you are in some kind of second-tier subcategory of Church membership, somehow less entitled to the Lord’s blessings than others. In the kingdom of God there are no second-class citizens.

Discuss the highlighted area.  Do we view these circumstances as being "second-tier"?

7.  Have someone read quote #6:

We hope that when you attend meetings and see seemingly complete and happy families or hear someone speak of family ideals, you will feel glad to be part of a church that does focus on families and teaches of their central role in Heavenly Father’s plan for the happiness of His children; that in the midst of world calamity and moral decay, we have the doctrine, authority, ordinances, and covenants that do hold out the best hope for the world, including for the future happiness of your children and the families they will create.

What can we do to promote the message of family in a positive light with all the pressures of the world?  Discuss.

8. Have someone read quote #7 (if time):

In the general Relief Society meeting of September 2006, President Gordon B. Hinckley related an experience shared by a divorced single mother of seven children then ranging in ages from 7 to 16. She had gone across the street to deliver something to a neighbor. She said:

“As I turned around to walk back home, I could see my house lighted up. I could hear echoes of my children as I had walked out of the door a few minutes earlier. They were saying: ‘Mom, what are we going to have for dinner?’ ‘Can you take me to the library?’ ‘I have to get some poster paper tonight.’ Tired and weary, I looked at that house and saw the light on in each of the rooms. I thought of all of those children who were home waiting for me to come and meet their needs. My burdens felt heavier than I could bear.

“I remember looking through tears toward the sky, and I said, ‘Dear Father, I just can’t do it tonight. I’m too tired. I can’t face it. I can’t go home and take care of all those children alone. Could I just come to You and stay with You for just one night? …’

“I didn’t really hear the words of reply, but I heard them in my mind. The answer was: ‘No, little one, you can’t come to me now. … But I can come to you.’”²

9.  Have someone read quote #8 (or maybe read it to them):

Although you often feel alone, in truth you are never totally on your own. As you move forward in patience and in faith, Providence will move with you; heaven will bestow its needful blessings.

Your perspective and view of life will change when, rather than being cast down, you look up.

Many of you have already discovered the great, transforming truth that when you live to lift the burdens of others, your own burdens become lighter. Although circumstances may not have changed, your attitude has. You are able to face your own trials with greater acceptance, a more understanding heart, and deeper gratitude for what you have, rather than pining for what you yet lack.

You have discovered that when we extend lines of hopeful credit to those whose life accounts seem empty, our own coffers of consolation are enriched and made full; our cup truly “runneth over” (Psalm 23:5).

Through righteous living, you and your children may one day enjoy the blessings of being part of a complete, eternal family.

Reread the highlighted areas.  What is the remedy that Elder Baxter suggests to solve our loneliness or depression?  Do we know of people who have been a good example of this?  Discuss.

10.  Read quote #9:

“Ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.” –Henry B. Eyring

Discuss how remembering our blessings helps us to cope with our trials.

11. Discuss how we can all benefit from today's message.   Pass out handout and read quote #10:

Single parents, I testify that as you do your very best in the most difficult of human challenges, heaven will smile upon you. Truly you are not alone. Let the redemptive, loving power of Jesus Christ brighten your life now and fill you with the hope of eternal promise. Take courage. Have faith and hope. Consider the present with fortitude and look to the future with confidence. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Here is a handout:

When I taught this lesson I saved this handout as a jpg and had it printed as a photo instead of printing it out on my computer.  I printed out enough for the Relief Society and encouraged the sisters to take extra for those who might benefit from the message.  I also printed out a large version to use for my lesson.

A Handout on "What is Visiting Teaching?"

I was asked to give a motivational comment on Visiting Teaching this month.  In the past I have listen to some "motivational" talks on how to be a visiting teacher, and walked away unmotivated.  For my approach I thought that I would just start with the basics.  What does the church think that a visiting teacher is?  I decided to use the church's exact words to share with the sisters what is required of us to be a visiting teacher. Then I thought it would be nice for the sisters to have a printout that they could read for themselves.  I know that we all have different demands on our time, so I hope that we can go through the list of ideas and find ways to visit teach that works for us, and works for our sisters.

My message was simple:

Be the Best Visiting Teacher You Can Be! 

Here is my handout:

Here are the links to the LDS website where I got my quotes from:

http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/relief-society?lang=eng#95

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/04/love-watch-over-and-strengthen?lang=eng

The Divine Gift of Repentance Lesson Plan and Handout

The Divine Gift of Repentance Lesson Plan and Handout

Based on the talk given at the October 2011 LDS General Conference
by D. Todd Christofferson

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-divine-gift-of-repentance?lang=eng

D. Todd Christofferson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Lesson Plan:

1. Discuss Nehor.  Read together Alma (Alma 1:4)..  Talk about the things he taught.   Read Alma 1:16 & 17.  Discuss how the people would "spin" the truth.  How is that like our day?

2. Explain that the beliefs of Nehor were carried on throughout the Book of Mormon and referred to as "The Order of the Nehors."  Have someone read  quote 1 from the conference talk:

"About 15 years later, Korihor came among the Nephites preaching and amplifying the doctrine of Nehor. The Book of Mormon records that “he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies … concerning the coming of Christ” (Alma 30:6). Korihor’s preaching was to the effect “that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime” (Alma 30:17). These false prophets and their followers “did not believe in the repentance of their sins” (Alma 15:15)."

3.  Discuss: Why did Mormon include this?  How is it like our times?  How does the world view sin?

4. Throughout history the words "Repent" have been view in a negative way.   Why do you think it is has the "spin" of being negative? Why don't people want to repent?

5. Have someone read quote 2:

"On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. By using the teachings of Nehor and Korihor, we can rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it “throws cold water on the party.” But in reality the prophetic call should be received with joy. Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain. Suffering for sin does not by itself change anything for the better. Only repentance leads to the sunlit uplands of a better life. And, of course, only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation. Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration."

How can we take the negative "spin" of repentance and speak about it with a smile on our face?

6.  Read (D&C 20:30–31)..  Discuss what this tells us about justification and the sanctification of Christ.

7.  Elder Christofferson gives us five aspects of this fundamental gospel principle that he hopes will be helpful.

FIRST: the invitation to repent is an expression of love. Have someone read quote 3:

"If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves. A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring (see D&C 121:43–44)."

SECOND:  repentance means striving to change.  Have someone read quote 4:

"Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving. Divine forgiveness and healing flow quite naturally to such a soul, for indeed “virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; [and] mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own” (D&C 88:40)."

THIRD: repentance means not only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience. Discuss how we can do this.

FOURTH: repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain. Have someone read quote 5:

"Confessing and forsaking are powerful concepts. They are much more than a casual “I admit it; I’m sorry.” Confession is a deep, sometimes agonizing acknowledgment of error and offense to God and man. Sorrow and regret and bitter tears often accompany one’s confession, especially when his or her actions have been the cause of pain to someone or, worse, have led another into sin. It is this deep distress, this view of things as they really are, that leads one, as Alma, to cry out, “O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death” (Alma 36:18)."

What kind of pain did the Lord suffer?

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup” (D&C 19:16–18).

Is this what we want for ourselves and our friends?

FIFTH: whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness. Discuss briefly the story of the Donner party. Have someone read quote 6:

"

“Among them was fifteen-year-old John Breen. On the night of April 24 he walked into Johnson’s Ranch. Years later John wrote:

“‘It was long after dark when we got to Johnson’s Ranch, so the first time I saw it was early in the morning. The weather was fine, the ground was covered with green grass, the birds were singing from the tops of the trees, and the journey was over. I could scarcely believe that I was alive.

“‘The scene that I saw that morning seems to be photographed on my mind. Most of the incidents are gone from memory, but I can always see the camp near Johnson’s Ranch.’”

Said President Packer: “At first I was very puzzled by his statement that ‘most of the incidents are gone from memory.’ How could long months of incredible suffering and sorrow ever be gone from his mind? How could that brutal dark winter be replaced with one brilliant morning?

“On further reflection I decided it was not puzzling at all. I have seen something similar happen to people I have known. I have seen some who have spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness. When morning came, they learned this:

“‘Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more’ [D&C 58:42]."

Discuss the JOY  of repentance.  Share experiences.

Handout:

"Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done" Lesson Plan and Handout based on the conference talk by Robert D. Hales.

"Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done" Lesson Plan and Handout

An October 2011 General Conference Talk

by Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng&media=audio

1.  Ask everyone what they think "Waiting up the Lord means.  Write the responses on the board.

2, Ask for scripture examples of people who had to wait upon the Lord? Write responses on the board.

3. Who has suffered the most and had to "wait upon the Lord" more than anyone? Have someone read the quote:

"His preparation began in the premortal life as He waited upon His Father, saying, “Thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”¹ Beginning in that moment and continuing today, He exercises His agency to accept and carry out our Heavenly Father’s plan. The scriptures teach us that through His youth, He went “about [His] Father’s business”² and “waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come.”³ At the age of 30, He suffered sore temptation yet chose to resist, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”⁴ In Gethsemane, He trusted His Father, declaring, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done,”⁵ and then He exercised His agency to suffer for our sins. Through the humiliation of a public trial and the agony of crucifixion, He waited upon His Father, willing to be “wounded for our transgressions … [and] bruised for our iniquities.”⁶ Even as He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”⁷ He waited upon His Father—exercising His agency to forgive His enemies,⁸ see that His mother was watched over,⁹ and endure to the end until His life and mortal mission were finished.^10"

Discuss  quote.

4. Read quote:

What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it “with great diligence, and … patience.”¹⁷

It means praying as the Savior did—to God, our Heavenly Father—saying: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.”¹⁸ It is a prayer we offer with our whole souls in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Waiting upon the Lord means pondering in our hearts and “receiv[ing] the Holy Ghost” so that we can know “all things what [we] should do.”¹⁹

As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that “tribulation worketh patience”²⁰ and we learn to “continue in patience until [we] are perfected.”²¹

Waiting upon the Lord means to “stand fast”²² and “press forward” in faith, “having a perfect brightness of hope.”²³

It means “relying alone upon the merits of Christ”²⁴ and “with [His] grace assisting [us, saying]: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.”²⁵

As we wait upon the Lord, we are “immovable in keeping the commandments,”²⁶ knowing that we will “one day rest from all [our] afflictions.”²⁷

And we “cast not away … [our] confidence”²⁸ that “all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.”²⁹

Point out and write on the board all the highlighted areas that define "waiting upon the Lord."

5. Ask "Why would the Lord ask his servants to wait upon them?"  "What is the purpose of waiting?"

Point out that he states "until we are perfected."  What does that mean? 

6. Is waiting upon the Lord an easy thing to do?  Listen to responses.

7. Sometimes we don't receive an answer to our prayer right away.  Why not?

Have someone read:

"In my life I have learned that sometimes I do not receive an answer to a prayer because the Lord knows I am not ready. When He does answer, it is often “here a little and there a little”³³ because that is all that I can bear or all I am willing to do.

Too often we pray to have patience, but we want it right now! As a young man, President David O. McKay prayed for a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. Many years later, while he was serving his mission in Scotland, that witness finally came. Later he wrote, “It was an assurance to me that sincere prayer is answered ‘sometime, somewhere.’”³⁴

Point out high lighted areas

8. Have someone read:

"We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter. This may be true for some promises in our patriarchal blessings and for some blessings for family members. Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary."

Discuss.

9. Have someone read:

"Waiting upon the Lord gives us a priceless opportunity to discover that there are many who wait upon us. Our children wait upon us to show patience, love, and understanding toward them. Our parents wait upon us to show gratitude and compassion. Our brothers and sisters wait upon us to be tolerant, merciful, and forgiving. Our spouses wait upon us to love them as the Savior has loved each one of us."

Discuss.

10. Have people give examples from their life on how they have "waited upon the Lord."  What did they gain from this?

11.  End with quote:

"Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming “saint[s] through [His] atonement, … submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.”

12. Bare testimony.

Here is a handout to use.  I chose snowflakes because each of us is different, just like each snowflake is different.  We will all experience different trials.

A friend of mine used the printout for her Christmas gift.  She gave me one and I thought that it was so cute that I wanted to share it with you.  She took a $.50 snowflake ornament that she bought at JoAnn's.  She added some shredded paper, a few Hershey's kisses then put it in a cellophane bag with a printout of the snowflake.  Now she has a cute little gift to give to her friends when they stop by.

A

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:

You Matter to Him Handout

You Matter to Him

by

 Dieter F. Uchtdorf

To read the talk click on the link below:

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng

Here is a handout that follows the talk:

The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World Handout

This Handout is a quote from the talk "The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World" by President Thomas S. Monson in the April 2011 Conference.
http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world?lang=eng