Come Follow Me, May 12-18, Youth LDS lesson helps, Sunday school

Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33

Heavenly Father gives me spiritual gifts to bless others.

The early Saints believed in spiritual gifts but needed some help recognizing them and understanding their purpose. As you study about gifts of the Spirit in Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, ponder the purpose “for [which] they are given” (verse 8). What do you learn about God—the giver of these gifts?

Can you think of examples you’ve seen of people using these or other spiritual gifts? How did they “benefit … the children of God”? (verse 26).

You might also see if you can identify examples of different spiritual gifts in scriptures like these: 1 Kings 3:5–15; Daniel 2:26–30; Acts 3:1–8; Helaman 5:17–19; Mormon 1:1–5; Ether 3:1–15; Doctrine and Covenants 6:10–12; Moses 7:13.

Your study of spiritual gifts might lead you to ponder what gifts God has given you. How can you use these gifts to bless His children? If you have a patriarchal blessing, it likely identifies gifts you have been given. Reading Elder John C. Pingree Jr.’s message “I Have a Work for Thee” could also open your mind to gifts you haven’t thought of (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 32–35).

I think it would be a fun game to match up the students' gifts to their names. You will need to contact the student's parents and ask them to name a gift their child has. Then write or type them on strips of paper, like this:

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So your board will start out looking something like this:

Then, have the students make their own guesses by matching them up.

Ask the students if they feel like they were born with these gifts or worked hard to develop them, or both(:

Share this quote:

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God blessed us with these gifts, but if they aren't "working," we can lose or weaken them, just like a muscle that isn't exercised.

If you’d like to learn about how to develop spiritual gifts, the analogy at the beginning of Elder Juan Pablo Villar’s message “Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles” could help (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 95). What “exercises” could help you develop your spiritual gifts?

See also Topics and Questions, “Holy Ghost,” Gospel Library.

Separate your class into three groups. Hand each of them a sheet like this, and encourage them to write on it.

Wipe your board clean while they are working. Because they will place them on the board like this:

Then pass out cards (They are in my store).

For a small class, give each of them two cards. If you must eliminate some cards, plan on using the ones you feel most benefit your class. There are 15 cards.

I summarized some of these scripture stories, especially the long ones. If you don't like them, you can look up and read the scriptures, as well as use these free scripture cards.

You might also see if you can identify examples of different spiritual gifts in scriptures like these: 1 Kings 3:5–15; Daniel 2:26–30; Acts 3:1–8; Helaman 5:17–19; Mormon 1:1–5; Ether 3:1–15; Doctrine and Covenants 6:10–12; Moses 7:13.

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I also took examples from this talk: Elder John C. Pingree Jr.’s message “I Have a Work for Thee”

Your board may look something similar to this:

The last quote may help inspire young people to seek and discover their spiritual gifts.

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I used ChatGPT to create a list of talents that are not typically displayed on a stage. I loved to see all the talents that God can use. Maybe the youth can circle the ones they feel like they have.

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This is already included in the lesson bundle, but you can purchase it separately below.

Late addition. I just wanted to share with you something we are doing in my family with my youth, and we are seriously seeing miracles. Revelation is real, and the scriptures play a big part in that.

It all started with BYU woman's conference. And a challenge from Wendy Nelson.

I created this printable and attached it to notebooks from Dollar Tree, along with a pen that slid into the side.

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Here is a picture of my son's notebook in his messy room.

We've been doing this longer than 3 days, but I will have some grace(:

I love our family scripture study now. My children and I share the miracles and revelations we have received.

I have to share my 13-year-old daughter's revelation. Her question was why we had to go to the second hour of church. She feels like it's annoying and she already knows everything (Humility, we are working on that). She opened her scriptures to Philippians and read about gathering and uplifting. She said she probably needs to see who she can help and uplift during that time. I didn't have to say a word. The spirit and the scriptures did all the teaching.

I have been deeply moved by my own personal study of scripture.

So I have decided to do it with my Sunday School class. Maybe we can have a swim party and BBQ for those who participate, or something similar. I'm still thinking about that.

I would love for you to share your experiences. We can enjoy this summer in the scriptures.

Crystal