Session 2: Developing desire and seeking divine assistance
10:00 – 10:05 Follow Up: Share experiences of engaging in the Gospel conversations assignment. The teacher should lead and then invite others to join in.
10:05-10:10 Introduction:
The focus of this workshop is the covenant we make with the Lord to share the Gospel. We use Elder Oaks’ talk from October 2001 General Conference to establish the importance of a desire to share the Gospel. We then look at the power of making a covenant with the Lord to share the Gospel. The skill for this lesson is answering questions.
Inspired Framework |
Key Elements |
Actions |
|
Develop the Desire |
|
Strengthen testimony Ask the Lord for gift of love |
|
Seek divine assistance |
|
Establish a goal (set a date) Covenant with the Lord to speak Listen to the Spirit |
10:10-10:20 Develop the Desire to Share the Gospel
Discuss the following quote from Elder Oaks’ October 2001 Conference Talk.
As with so many other things, sharing the gospel begins with desire. If we
are to become more effective instruments in the hands of the Lord in sharing
His gospel, we must sincerely desire to do so.
First, we must have a firm testimony of the truth and importance of the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, we must have a love for God and for all of His children.
Read the above quote, and then ask the class: “What is the relationship between testimony and love, and a desire to share the Gospel?”
List on the Board:
Keep track of class comments on the board. After a few minutes of discussion, ask: “How do we strengthen our testimonies and increase our love of God and those around us?”
The key idea here is that both a testimony and love are gifts of the Spirit. We need to ask the Lord for those gifts, and do our part to obtain them (prayer, scriptures, service, etc.). (Moroni 9:25 is a useful scripture to connect love to the gifts of the Spirit.
10:20-10:35 The Lord’s Way: Seeking the Lord’s help through Covenants
Lead a discussion covering the following topics.
Ask the class: “ How does the Lord do His work?” This will generate some ideas that are likely to focus on the Spirit, and on the fact that the Lord works through us.
After a few minutes, ask the class (if it has not already been raised by a class member), “What role do covenants play in doing the Lord’s work the Lord’s way?”
The scriptures teach us that the Lord works through those who make and keep covenants with Him. In the waters of baptism we make covenants with the Lord to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, to keep His commandments, and, as Alma taught in the Book of Mormon, to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places…” (See Mosiah 18:9).
It is important for class members to understand that we have made covenants with the Lord to share the Gospel. Acting on those covenants, giving them force and power in our lives, is critical to doing the Lord’s work the Lord’s way. (It will be useful for the class and the instructor to review Elder Oaks’ talk.)
Ask the class: “What promises do we make to the Lord, and what does He promise us in our covenant to be a witness for Him?”
After a few comments, it may useful to ask other questions: “What ideas do you have that might help us be more effective in keeping this covenant?”
“One way to make this covenant specific and immediate is to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer and promise Him that we will speak, if He will put people He has prepared in our path.”
“ Elder Ballard has counseled us to set a date by which time we will have someone for the missionaries to teach. What do you think of combining this firm goal, with our covenant with the Lord to speak?”
At the conclusion of this section of the lesson, class members should understand the importance of covenants in doing the Lord’s work, and the power of making that covenant specific, by going to the Lord and promising Him that we will be willing to share the Gospel, if He will put people in our path. Moreover, by setting a specific date as a goal, in combination with our covenant to speak, we focus our energy and attention.
10:35-10:45 Missionary Skills: Answering Questions
Divide the class into pairs. As before, one member of the pair will play the role of the contact, the other the role of the member. The roles will switch at each turn. Have the contact initiate play by asking a question about the Church. The member should try to answer the question as clearly and succinctly as possible. Remind the class at the start, that short, accurate, answers that invite further discussion or that give members a chance to bear testimony are best. Those playing the contact should try to ask questions that they think investigators would be likely to ask. Tell the class that last session we talked about “Opening the Door” in our conversations. Today we want to learn how to answer questions that people may have both before and after they walk through the door. Here are examples of such questions:
Why does your church put so much emphasis on genealogy?
What is the difference between your Church and all the others?
What can’t you drink coffee?
I don’t think we need another book. We have the bible. Why does your church have other scriptures?
What do you use the temple in Belmont for?
10:45-10:50 Testimony
Bear your testimony of the power of making a covenant with the Lord to speak to those you meet about the Church. Share personal experiences.
Class Assignment:
Have a conversation about the Church with someone who is not a member of the Church; answer Gospel questions
Establish a date; covenant with the Lord