Aug 10-16, Come Follow Me, Youth Lesson helps, Sunday School

Hello and Welcome!

Here is the Free Print for this week's lesson; you can print it in the lesson plan below. You are also welcome to read through my lesson plan for ideas of your own.

Here is the purchasable lesson. Just click the image to go to Etsy and purchase the lesson.

Here is this week's gift tag; it is already included in the lesson bundle, but you can purchase it separately by clicking on the image below.

This one is not included in the lesson bundle

Job 21–24

“When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

In Job 21–24, you’ll read a debate between Job and his friends. At the heart of this debate was a question many people have asked: Why do righteous people sometimes suffer?

Although we don’t have all the answers, in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we have some truths that can help us make sense of adversity and suffering. Below are latter-day scriptures that contain some of these truths. What do these scriptures teach you about Heavenly Father and His plan?

• 2 Nephi 2:11–13

• Mosiah 23:21–23; 24:10–16

• Ether 12:27

• Doctrine and Covenants 58:3–5

• Abraham 3:22–26

You could also read President Spencer W. Kimball’s teachings about adversity in “Tragedy or Destiny?” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2011]), 11–21).

Based on what you have studied, how might you answer a question like “Why does God allow righteous people to suffer?”

It is human nature to want to understand suffering. I believe that in my heaviest trials, I learn who God truly is. Because I ask questions similar to Job. Is this a punishment? Is this a lesson that needs to be taught? Is God sending the pain or just allowing it? Is he a loving Heavenly Father or a God of lightning bolts and condemnation?

This same pattern is very visible in this story

• Satan says suffering proves people don't really love God.

• Job's wife says give up.

• The friends say suffering is punishment.

• Elihu says suffering is mostly instruction.

• Job says, "I don't understand."

• God says, "Trust My wisdom."

I may not get an explanation for my trials, but the Lord offers something better than an explanation....His presence, His covenants, and His promise that He knows me personally.

As Joseph Smith learned in Liberty Jail, and as Job learned, heaven's silence is not heaven's absence. God may not immediately reveal the reason why we are suffering, but He continually invites us to trust Him. I notice I become more humble and my attitude shifts from demanding an explanation to learning God's love and trusting Him....I believe this is the central message of Job.

This is my favorite scripture that this lesson referenced. It is a Free Print.

Print Here

Late edition:

But I couldn't resist.

Hold up a sealed bag of chips.

I like to pass out small bags to everyone in my class.

"Imagine this bag is our mortal life."

"From inside the bag, this is all we know. We have families, friends, joys, challenges, and opportunities to learn and follow Jesus Christ. Sometimes life is wonderful. Sometimes it's hard. But while we're here, we trust Heavenly Father and His plan."

Hold up the unopened bag.

"Have you ever wondered what's on the other side? We can't see it yet."

Open the bag.

"Once we die, our perspective changes. The walls come down, and the bag is open.

We can see everything that the "Father Hath". And because we remained faithful, we can inherit it."

(Doctrine and Covenants 84:38).

Nothing will be so hard that we won't be so grateful that we stayed true to our covenants.

Job spent most of his story inside the bag. He couldn't see why God was allowing suffering. By the end, Job didn't receive every answer, but he saw God more clearly. So in some ways the inside of the bag received more light(:

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The rest of the lesson is sold in the lesson bundle located at the top of the page.

Start out with your board like this:

Ask the youth if they feel like they go through similar steps when they face a hard trial. Which one do they resonate the most with?

You are going to pass out cards like this:

There are 6 cards; if you have more than 6 students, have them work in teams.

Tell them to stay focused so you have time for the game at the end.

They read their scripture and find out where it goes on the path. Which one does it best fit with?

I may look like this:

Notice the fire is at the end of that path now. You can put it there when the scripture is read about it, Job 23:10.

The fire didn't destroy the gold.

It revealed its true value, making it more pure.

Gold doesn't refine itself.

A refiner carefully:

• chooses the fire,

• watches the temperature,

• removes the impurities,

• and knows exactly when the gold is ready.

The fire has a purpose because the Refiner is in control.

That reminds me of Isaiah 48:10:

"Behold, I have refined thee... I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

And of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who often taught that God is interested not just in our comfort but in our eternal growth.

Then you will hand out papers with gold nuggets for the youth to write on.

They can save that or crumble them up and put them in the fire (flames included). More details are on the instruction sheet in the lesson bundle.

The fire will be used for a game that you can play if you still have time.