What I learned from Church 10/27/13

This was the lesson that I shared in Priest quorum 

How can I serve others?

 

• Write the title of last week’s lesson on the board, and let each young man quickly write something he learned or applied from the lesson.

• Invite the young men to share experiences they have had recently serving others (if possible, have them share a quorum or individual service project that they completed as a part of their Duty to God plans). How were they affected through this service? How were others affected?

• Ask the young men to share experiences they know of people who have been physically rescued in a time of difficulty. How do people usually feel about the person who helped them? Watch the video “Rescuing Those in Need,” and invite the young men to discuss what they learn from President Monson about serving others as the Savior did.

Learn together

• Divide the following scriptures among the young men:Matthew 25:31–46; John 13:34–35; Mosiah 2:17; James 1:27; and Mosiah 18:8–10. Ask them to look for and write down what they learn about serving others from these verses (see Duty to God, 26). After they have shared what they found in the verses, invite them to share personal experiences of how they have been blessed through the service of others.

• Invite quorum members to read the following scripture passages and contrast Nephi’s attitude with that of Laman and Lemuel as they responded to assignments: 1 Nephi 2:16–18; 3:1–7, 28–31; 4:1–2; 17:7–19, 50–51; 18:1–4(consider asking them to write their answers on the board). Ask them to think about what their attitude was the last time they were given an opportunity to serve others. Invite the young men to write, in the space provided on page 50 of the Duty to God book, several phrases from their study that represent the attitude we should have when fulfilling priesthood assignments.

• Show one or both of the videos suggested in this outline, and ask the young men to look for blessings that come from serving others, including members of their quorum. Have quorum members search their Duty to God books and identify ways they can serve others as Aaronic Priesthood holders (see page 23 [deacons], 47 [teachers], or 71 [priests]). Ask the young men to ponder ways they can strengthen their quorum through service.

• Show a picture of Henry B. Eyring as a young man. Read about President Eyring’s experiences as a priest visiting members with his bishop. What do the young men learn about serving others from President Eyring’s experiences? What experiences can they share from their own lives?

• Invite quorum members to turn to the “Serve Others” section of their Duty to God book (pages 26–27 [deacons], 50–51 [teachers], or 74–75 [priests]). Invite each quorum member to write a personal plan to give service. For example, their plan could be to follow Elder M. Russell Ballard’s counsel to pray each day for opportunities to serve others (see “Be Anxiously Engaged,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2012, 29–31). Then invite the quorum president to lead a discussion on what the quorum could do to serve others, and ask the young men to write this plan in their books. 

Duty to God plans
Invite to act

Jesus Christ set the perfect example of how to love and serve others. As priesthood holders, we have a duty to serve others. We can serve others as the Savior did in many ways, including administering priesthood ordinances, sharing the gospel with others, and performing simple, everyday acts of kindness.

Think about experiences you have had serving others. What were the results of your service? What experiences could you share that would help the young men feel the importance of service?

When have you seen the young men serving others? What experiences can the young men share with each other? Why is it important to learn how to give Christlike service?

As you study the scriptures and other resources about service, look for things that will inspire the young men to give Christlike service.

Matthew 25:31–46; Mosiah 2:17 (When we serve others, we are serving God)

John 13:34–35 (We should love others as the Savior loves us)

James 1:27 (Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows)

1 Nephi 2:16–18; 3:1–7, 28–31; 4:1–2; 17:7–19, 50–51; 18:1–4(Attitudes of Nephi and Laman and Lemuel in response to assignments)

Mosiah 18:8–10 (We should be willing to comfort those in need of comfort)

Fulfilling My Duty to God (2010), 26, 50, 74

Henry B. Eyring, “Bind Up Their Wounds,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2013

“Service,” For the Strength of Youth (2011), 32–33

Video: “Rescuing Those in Need,” “Dayton’s Legs,”“If We Forget Ourselves”

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ spent His time serving and helping those around Him. True disciples of Christ do likewise. The Savior said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). As you teach the young men, look for opportunities to invite them to share how they have served others and what inspired them to give service.

A member of the quorum presidency (or an assistant to the bishop in the priests quorum) conducts the quorum meeting. He leads the young men in counseling together about quorum business, teaches them their priesthood duties (from the scriptures and the Duty to God book), encourages them to share their experiences fulfilling their duty to God, and invites an adviser or other quorum member to teach a gospel lesson. He could prepare by filling out a quorum meeting agenda during a presidency meeting.

See an example of a quorum presidency meeting.

Video: “Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Presidency Meeting”

See other learning and teaching ideas.

Choose from these ideas or think of your own to review last week’s lesson and introduce this week’s lesson:

See other learning and teaching ideas.

The purpose of this lesson is to help each young man understand how to fulfill his priesthood duty to serve others. As part of this lesson, quorum members should make plans in their Duty to God books to fulfill this duty. Before quorum meeting, invite the young men to bring their Duty to God books with them to church. In future quorum meetings, invite them to share experiences they are having as they fulfill their plans.

After the young men have completed one or more of the activities above, do the following:

Allow time at the end of the quorum meeting for the young men to make plans in their Duty to God books or in the online version of Duty to God. These plans are personal, but quorum members can help each other generate ideas for their plans.

See other learning and teaching ideas.

The young man who is conducting concludes the meeting. He could:

• Share his plan to serve someone and invite the young men to fulfill their plans.
• Explain that quorum members will be invited to share experiences they are having serving others in the upcoming weeks.