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AFY Teaching Counselor training

3/26/17

The Purpose of a Counselor


1. To be an example and a friend (1 Timothy 4:12)

2. To teach the youth about Jesus Christ and His gospel (D&C 16: 3-6)
3. To provide leadership (1 Cor. 14:8)

4. To help the youth feel and recognize the spirit (D&C 50:13-26)

A COUNSELOR IS A "TEACHER"
The second role of a counselor is to help youth come unto Christ through teaching.

WHAT | By diligently preparing and applying effective teaching skills, counselors present the gospel of
Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit. Counselors teach true doctrine as found in the standard works
and the words of the living prophets. The most effective teaching is through facilitation. They guide the
discussion and ensure each group member has opportunities to share thoughts, feelings, and testimony.

HOW | Instructions on teaching are found in Teaching in the Saviors Way. Chapter 10 of Preach My
Gospel, and Come Follow Me.

We strongly encourage and expect each counselor to read the following


in preparation for AFY:

THE BOOK OF MORMON ENSIGN


Please prayerfully study daily Current Conference edition; found online

PREACH MY GOSPEL Come Follow Me


Chapter 10 is a great section on how to Find curriculum online
teach
FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH
TEACHING IN THE SAVIORS WAY PAMPHLET
Find curriculum online Also found online or ask your bishopric

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Teaching opportunities
General Teaching Information
Formal and informal teaching opportunities
Getting to know you form
Getting to Know You Form
A master copy of the Getting to Know You form can be found at the back of the manual. You might
wish to hang the forms with the door tags so the youth can fill them out when they first arrive (before they
meet you). Have them turn in the form when they attend Meet Your Counselor. Use this as an
opportunity to get to know your youth a little better.

Getting to Know You


Please fill this out and return it to your counselor when you meet them, so that they can get to know you better.

Form will be in the counselor manual

Meet your Counselor (one hour long at AFY)


Introductions and Youth Expectations

Meet your counselor

It is vital that you spend the first full 20 minutes of the allotted time in building relationships with the
youth in your group. Keep the mood light and help the youth feel comfortable around each other. This is
crucial because the next 40 minutes will be spent in an informal teaching setting. Thus, you should seek to
know their names quickly so you can comfortably involve them in explaining and teaching the temporal
and spiritual expectations. Dont forget to tell them who you are and most importantly, why you are at
AFY. This is a good time to set ground rules for your group.

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INTRODUCTIONS | 10 MINUTES | DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
1. Read the Getting to Know You forms.

2. Pass around a bag of Skittles or Starbursts. Have each Youth select a specified number of candies. Tell
them that each color corresponds to a question (see sample questions below).
Have them answer each question depending on the color they drew. If they drew two of the same colors,
then have them answer the question again, but with a different answer.

a. Favorite scar (e.g. Purple)


b. Most recent movie you sawthis could also turn into a teaching moment (e.g. Yellow)
c. What is your lifelong goal (e.g. Red)
d. What you would do with a million dollars (e.g. Green)
e. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go (e.g. Orange)

3. Use the Card of Four Questions. Pass out index cards to your youth and give them four questions to
answer. Some sample questions include:
a. Name?
b. Why did you come to AFY?
c. What is your biggest dream?
d. What gospel question have you always wanted an answer to? (Dont answer the question;
challenge them to find an answer throughout the week.)

YOUTH EXPECTATIONS | 7 MINUTES


After getting to know the youth, casually ask them one of the following questions to understand some of
their expectations for the week:

1. Why did you come to AFY?


2. What do you expect and personally want to gain at AFY?

Then assess their expectations of you as a counselor by asking one of the following questions:

1. What do you expect of me this weekend?


2. What can I do to help you have a great time at AFY?

You are encouraged to write down some of your Youths answers and review them daily to see if you are
living up to their expectations and if they are living up to the expectations you have for them.
Explain to your youth that you are here to ensure that their experience is good and let them know that
they can approach you with questions and concerns.
After finding out what the Youth expect from you, outline what you expect from them. The following
temporal and spiritual expectations must be discussed with your Youth.

COUNSELOR TEMPORAL EXPECTATIONS | 10 MINUTES


Obedience: We expect all Youth to know and follow AFY rules and policies. It is the responsibility of the
counselor to ensure this happens. Please review the following with your youth:
a. Lanyards must be worn at all times. Lanyards are necessary to enter all activities. If a Youth in
your group needs a new lanyard, take the Youth and the old lanyard to the Site Office to receive a
new lanyard. You need to be with your Youth to help verify his/her enrollment at AFY.
b. Take a moment to review the emergency escape plan with the Youth.
c. The Big Five:
(1) Immoral behavior of any kind, which includes breaking the Law of Chastity and
viewing pornography in any form.

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(2) Theft of any kind.
(3) Breaking the Word of Wisdom, including the possession of illegal substances.
(4) Possession of weapons or firearms of any kind.
(5) Doing anything harmful to themselves or others, physically or spiritually.
d. Explain head count to your youth. Participation at each activity is required. Once registered,
they are expected to participate every day. Saturday morning head count will be taken to ensure
all Youth are in attendance. If someone is missing, you will inform your leader and they will call
their parents to account for them.

Participation: Youth are expected to attend all events and be appropriately prepared for activities.
a. Youth are to attend all gospel discussions, classes, and activities. They should be with their
group for all evening activities. They should follow the daily schedule and take their notebook,
scriptures, and pencil/pen with them throughout the day.
b. Set goals that will promote unity and participation. Example: You can involve the youth by
assigning specific duties.

Respect: The youth are expected to always be respectful of:


a. Themselves. This includes following dress and appearance standards, behaving with
appropriate conduct, and avoiding harming themselves physically or spiritually. Youth should
maintain gospel standards and follow the Dress and Honor Code exactly. They are expected to
always wear clothes that comply with For the Strength of Youth Standards. They should always
be clean in their language and set a good example.
b. Others. This includes courtesy and respect for the facilities and personnel, AFY counselors and
staff, and other Youth. Any attempts to harm or injure another person physically or spiritually
are not permitted.

COUNSELOR SPIRITUAL EXPECTATIONS | 13 MINUTES


This discussion is a key time for you to set the expectations for the youth. After going over the Big 5 and
other rules and guidelines, each counselor will lead this discussion on the importance of modesty in
thought, language, and dress and appearance.

The discussion should not be a lecture. The role of the counselor is to lead and facilitate a group
discussion on the topics given. The quotes, scriptures, questions, and other material given to you are
merely for your reference. You may choose to use them or other appropriate material to teach the
principles. Because this section is designed for your personal study and topical reference, this section
contains more material than can be fully addressed in the time allotted. Therefore, you should study this
section and write down your own thoughts and ideas that would be best for the group of youth you will
be teaching. Teach the principles in this curriculum (Living on the Lords Side of the Line through
Modesty in Thought, Language, and Dress and Appearance), but remember to assess and address the
needs of the youth first and foremost.

QUESTIONS TO PROMPT DISCUSSION ON MODESTY:

In what ways can you live on the Lords side of the line?
Where can we find the Lords standards? The worlds standards?
What promises and blessings do we receive from living the Lords standards?

MAIN POINTS

If the youth do not mention anything relating to modesty in thought, language, and dress and
appearance, be sure to direct the discussion to include those three important principles. You may follow
the order we have presented them in your manual. However, adjust the discussion to the circumstances.

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Following is the suggested order of the discussion:

MODESTY IN THOUGHT
Points of Emphasis
W e can look u n to Ch rist in all of ou r th ou gh ts. By fillin g ou r m in d s w ith good things, we push
out unclean or negative thoughts and prepare our minds for the gifts of the spirit and to resist
any temptation from entering into our minds.
O u r th ou gh ts in flu en ce ou r action s.
Scriptures
A lm a 37:36: Let th y thoughts be directed unto the Lord. (emphasis added)
A lm a 18:32: Th e Lord kn ow s all the thoughts and intents of the heart. (emphasis added)
D&C 6:16: God alon e kn ow s th y thoughts. (emphasis added)
Ph ilip p ian s 4:8: if th ere be an y virtu e,think on these things. (emphasis added)
Questions
H ow can you con trol you r th ou gh ts?
W h at is th e relation sh ip betw een th ou gh ts, w ord s, an d d eed s?
W h at are th e blessin gs th at com e from alw ays h avin g good th ou gh ts?

MODEST IN LANGUAGE

Points of Emphasis
Good Lan gu age: U se lan gu age th at u p lifts, encourages, and compliments others. Speak kindly
and positively about others.
Bad Lan gu age: Fou l lan gu age h arm s you r sp irit an d d egrad es you . If you h ave d evelop ed th e
habit of swearing, you can break it.
Ch oose frien d s w h o u se good lan gu age an d be an example of good language. How you speak
says much about who you are.
Scriptures
Ep h esian s 4:29: Let n o corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is
good. (emphasis added)
D&C 88:121: cease from all you r light speeches. (emphasis added)
For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God, pp. 22-23
Questions
W h y is it im p ortan t to ch oose frien d s w h o u se good lan gu age?
W h at can you d o to overcom e cru d e or u n clean lan gu age?
W h at are th e blessin gs th at com e from u sin g positive and clean language?

MODEST IN DRESS AND APPEARANCE

Points of Emphasis
You r bod y is God s sacred creation .
N ever low er you r d ress stan d ard s for any occasion.
Start to live m od estly in d ress an d ap p earan ce today.

Scriptures
1 Corin th ian s 3:1617: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
For th e Stren gth of You th :: Fu lfillin g O u r Du ty to God , 14-16
Questions
H ow is ou r relation sh ip w ith ou r Fath er in Heaven reflected by the way we dress?
W h y is th ere a tem p tation to low er d ress stan d ard s in som e situ ation s?
H ow can w e h elp each oth er th is w eek begin an d con tin u e to d ress m od estly?
W h at are th e blessin gs th at com e from d ressin g an d groom in g ap p rop riately?

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QUOTES:
There is a division line well defined that separates the Lords territory from Lucifers. If we live on the
Lords side of the line, Lucifer cannot come there to influence us. But if we cross the line into his territory
we are in his power. By keeping his commandments of the Lord, we are safe on His side of the line, but if
we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that
is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lords side of the
line (George Albert Smith, Our M.I.A., Improvement Era, May 1935, 278).
Control your thoughts because they become the words you use. Control your words because they
become the actions you perform. Control your actions because they become the habits you acquire.
Control your habits because they become the character you reflect. Control your character because your
character becomes your destiny. Control your destiny by becoming what your Heavenly Father and
Savior Jesus Christ want you to be (Elder Robert E. Wells, The Message: In Control, New Era,
September, 1987, 4).

We can overcome any temptation and remain steadfast on the Lords side.My dear young friends, will
you commit this very hour to be true to who you are? To plant your feet in tar on the Lords side of the
line? I invite you to begin bytaking inventory. No enticement is worth losing your exaltation. One
by one, will you begin to throw out thoughts and behaviors that pull you toward enemy territory? Ill
take the challenge. Will you?. Lets begin today (Sheri Dew, BYU Devotional, March 2, 2000).
CLOSING

End the discussion with questions and comments.

Tell the youth you understand that rules can seem burdensome, but encourage them to commit to
keeping them.
Bear your testimony of the gospel and how following the Lords commandments has blessed your life.
End with the theme scripture and help the youth be excited about the fun times that lay ahead.

Meet your company (30 minutes at AFY)


This is a chance to get to meet the group you will be with for AFY. Play the pretzel, shoe, birthday game or
any mix and mingle game you know of.

Challenge Course go over in another training

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Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - Gospel Discussion training

PURPOSE:
Create an opportunity to have real conversations with your group about the day and make connections
with gospel principles and the spirit. Invite the spirit to be a guide and a teacher in the conversation.

PREPARE YOURSELF
SPIRTUALLY:
Be prayerful as you begin each day
Review the days activities in
advance
Observe and identify potential
principle-based discussion points that
are relevant to the events of the day

ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR:


Validate each member
Share Experiences and Learn
Keep conversation faith promoting
Talk less and encourage member Together
participation
Commit/engage the group in
SET THE STAGE WITH THE the conversation
FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: Encourage youth to share
Have an Honest, Real, Heartfelt and
Respectful Conversation together; experiences and thoughts
This means: and validate effort to share
o Let each other speak one at Use Questions to facilitate
a time
o Speak the Truth. Be Honest
o We equally respect what
everyone has to say
Its Ok to have silence and just
think. We will not feel awkward about
silence. When there is silence, we are
all thinking .. not sleeping. We
agree to NOT check out.
Its good to be lighthearted. We will
have some laughs. However, lets not
be light-minded. Not everything is a
joke.

LIVE WHAT YOU LEARN:


At the close of each discussion, set a short-term goal as a group or individually that can be acted upon
to begin the next discussion.

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Sunday - Invitation to reverence (5 min at AFY)
If conducting, assign someone to lead a hymn, someone to play the piano (if available), and two
youth to give the prayers. Specifically tell the youth what time testimony meeting will be over so
that they can plan accordingly. Make sure you leave time for a closing prayer.
The invitation to reverence should not take long. One of the counselors will discuss this before
beginning with the testimony meeting. This is a good times to establish a tone of reverence.
You may want to share your brief testimony. Testify that true reverence invites the revelation they
may be seeking this evening.
Encourage them to pray personally to be able to feel and identify the Spirit that night.
Explain what a testimony is, emphasizing the dos over the do nots. (See New Era Dos and Do-
nots.) Encourage the youth to share their testimonies at the meeting.
A few other thoughts and quotes:
Inspiration will come more easily in peaceful settings. Such words are quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter
abound in the scriptures: Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10; italics added) . Elijah felt a
great wind, an earthquake, a fire. The Lord was not in any of them; then came a still small voice.
(1 Kings 19:12).
Doctors say that our physical sense of hearing can be permanently damaged by all of this noise.
This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less
formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless. The first order issued by a commander
mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends
to conquer. Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of
revelation in both mind and spirit. . . . Leaders should teach that reverence invites revelation. (Boyd
K. Packer, Reverence Invites Revelation, Ensign, Nov. 1991, pg. 21).

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Friday night discussion Becoming a Disciple of Christ
SCRIPTURES:

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5-7 Mosiah 4-10

Galatians 5:22-26 Helaman 15:7-8

Luke 6:40 D&C 59:5

QUOTES:

The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus, a learner.

A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Christ learning to think, to feel, and to act as he
does. To be a true disciple, to fulfill that learning task, is the most demanding regimen known to man. No
other discipline compares with it in either requirements or rewards. It involves the total transformation of
a person from the state of the natural man to that of the saint, one who loves the Lord and serves with all
of his heart, might, mind, and strength. -Chauncey C. Riddle,"Becoming a Disciple", Ensign, Sept. 1974,
81

. . . True disciples of Christ see opportunity in the midst of opposition . . . true disciples primary
concern(s) must be others welfare, not personal vindication . . . true disciples avoid being unduly
judgmental of others views . . . Elder Robert D. Hales Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship
(October 5, 2008).

The following quote and Helaman Chapter 15: 7-8 should be used together.

Please notice the specific steps outlined in these two verses.

The first step is (1) belief in the teachings and prophecies of the holy prophets as recorded in the
scriptures. Such belief (2) fosters faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savoir leads to (3) repentance.
Faith in Christ and repentance bring about (4) the mighty change of heart. As many as have diligently
and faithfully followed these steps are (5) firm and steadfast in the faith. - David A. Bednar, "Steadfast
and Immovable, Always Abounding in Good Works", New Era, Jan. 2008, 26

STORY:

A follower of Christ consistently is focused upon and striving to understand the fundamental and
foundational doctrines of the restored gospel. As we become more spiritually mature and increasingly
steadfast and immovable, we are less prone to zealous and exaggerated spurts of spirituality followed by
extended periods of slackness.

In order to better understand this principle, please consider Aesops fable The Hare and the Tortoise.
After being taunted repeatedly for being slow, the Tortoise challenged the Hare to a race. As the race
began, the two started off together. However, the Hare ran rapidly towards the goal and, seeing that he
could easily win, lay down and fell asleep a short distance in front of the finish line. The Tortoise
maintained a slow but steady and consistent pace toward the finish line. When the Hare awoke from his
nap, he started running as fast as he could, only to find that the Tortoise had won the race. The Tortoise is
a classic illustration of steadiness and persistence. The Hare, on the other hand, is an example of a
spurterone who is given to short bursts of spectacular effort followed by frequent and lengthy
periods of rest.

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A spurt may appear to be impressive in the short run, but steadiness over time is far more effective, far
less dangerous, and produces far better results. Consecutive days of fasting, ultimately, may not be as
spiritually edifying as successive months of appropriate fasting and worship on the designated fast
Sunday. An attempt to pray one time for several hours likely will not produce the same spiritual results
as meaningful morning and evening prayer offered consistently over several weeks. And a single
scripture-reading marathon cannot produce the spiritual growth of steady scripture study across many
months. - David A. Bednar, "Steadfast and Immovable, Always Abounding in Good Works", New Era,
Jan. 2008, 26

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS:

How are you a disciple of Christ right now in your life?

How can you become a better disciple of Christ?

What is one thing you can change to more fully take the name of Christ upon yourself?

CHALLENGE:

Each Saturday morning as my brothers and sisters and I were growing up, our mother gave us
housecleaning chores to do. Her instructions to us had been learned from her mother: Be certain you
clean thoroughly in the corners and along the mopboards. If you are going to miss anything, let it be in
the center of the room. She knew very well if we cleaned the corners, she would never have a problem
with what was left in the center of the room. What could be seen would never be left unclean.

My advice to you is that we must create ways of living that help us with our spiritual housecleaning
ongoing and continual processes that draw us closer to the Lord our Savior so that we can be numbered
among His disciples. - Elder L. Tom Perry

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Saturday morning discussion SPIRIT/FAITH
Scriptures:

Helaman 5:30 2 Nephi 31:19

Moroni 7:13-17 Alma 32:21

D&C 11:12-14 Ether 3The story of the Brother of Jared

Quotes:

"True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. The Prophet
Joseph Smith taught that 'faith [is] the first principle in revealed religion, the foundation of all
righteousness' and that it is also 'the principle of action in all intelligent beings' (Lectures on Faith [1985],
1). Action alone is not faith in the Savior, but acting in accordance with correct principles is a central
component of faith. Thus, 'faith without works is dead' (James 2:20)." (David A. Bednar, "Ask in Faith,"
Ensign, May 2008, 95 )

"Each of us should be careful that the current flood of information does not occupy our time so
completely that we cannot focus on and hear and heed the still, small voice that is available to guide each
of us with our own challenges today." (Dallin H. Oaks, "Focus and Priorities," Ensign, May 2001, 82.)

The voice of the Spirit is described in the scripture as being neither loud nor harsh. It is not a voice
of thunder, neithervoice of a great tumultuous noise. But rather, a still voice of perfect mildness, as if
it had been a whisper, and it can pierce even to the very soul and cause [the heart] to burn (Boyd K.
Packer, Preach My Gospel, 96).

Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous?
Then it is of the Spirit of God.If it invites to do good, it is of God. If it inviteth to do evil, it is of the
devil.And if you are doing the right thing and if you are living the right way, you will know in your
heart what the Spirit is saying to you. You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the
Spiritthat which enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative and
uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds is of the Spirit of God
(Gordon B. Hinckley, Preach My Gospel, 97).

When individualsfeel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lords
love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in him
increases. These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment on
the word. This is how we come to feel the gospel is true (M. Russell Ballard, Preach My Gospel, 93).

Open Ended Questions

*How can you recognize when you feel the Spirit? How does the Spirit speak to you?

* How can you have faith when you are facing challenges?

Challenge

Act upon the promptings you feel from the Holy Ghost to bless the lives of others. Write in your journal
how you felt about it.

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Saturday night discussion Believing in the Savior
SUMMARY:

Youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the sacred opportunity and responsibility
to obtain his or her own testimonies. Having obtained a testimony, each member has a duty to nurture it
throughout life. Happiness in this life and throughout eternity depends largely on whether individuals
are valiant in the testimony of Jesus. Testimony comes through the power of the Holy Ghost through
diligent fasting, prayer, study, and faith. Testimonies grow and strengthen over time as they are shared
and through lifes experiences. Youth must learn how the Spirit feels to them and recognize these feelings
as the Spirit of the Lord.

SCRIPTURES:

Alma 32: 26 - 43 Galatians 5: 22-23

Doctrine and Covenants 8: 1-3 Doctrine and Covenants 6: 22

Moroni 10: 3-5 3 Nephi 11: 3-5

QUOTES:

Our testimony comes by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. The testimony received and carried
within us enables us to hold a steady course in times of prosperity and to overcome doubt and fear in
times of adversity. Each of us needs to know what a testimony is, how we can get it, and what our
responsibilities are once we have received a testimony.

Elder Robert D. Hales

Like almost everything else in life, testimonies grow and develop through experience and service. Real
testimony of these precious truths comes as a witness by the Holy Ghost after sincere and dedicated effort,
including teaching in the home, prayer, scripture study, service to others, and diligent obedience to
Heavenly Fathers commandments. To gain and forever hold on to a testimony of gospel truths is worth
whatever price in spiritual preparation we may be required to pay.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

President Joseph F. Smith explained how this pattern of revelation occurred in his life: As a boy I
would frequently ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a
testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line until He
made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear
had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor
did He have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still small voice of the
spirit of the living God, He gave to me the testimony I possess. And by this principle and power He will
give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth that will stay with them, and it will make them to
know the truth, as God knows it, and to do the will of the Father as Christ does it. And no amount of
marvelous manifestations will ever accomplish this (in Conference Report, Apr. 1900, 4041).

We as members of the Church tend to emphasize marvelous and dramatic spiritual manifestations so
much that we may fail to appreciate and may even overlook the customary pattern by which the Holy
Ghost accomplishes His work. The very simpleness of the way (1 Nephi 17:41) of receiving small and
incremental spiritual impressions that over time and in totality constitute a desired answer or the direction
we need may cause us to look beyond the mark (Jacob 4:14).

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I have talked with many individuals who question the strength of their personal testimony and
underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive frequent, miraculous, or strong
impressions. Perhaps as we consider the experiences of Joseph in the Sacred Grove, of Saul on the road to
Damascus, and of Alma the Younger, we come to believe something is wrong with or lacking in us if we
fall short in our lives of these well-known and spiritually striking examples. If you have had similar
thoughts or doubts, please know that you are quite normal. Just keep pressing forward obediently and
with faith in the Savior. As you do so, you cannot go amiss (D&C 80:3).

- Elder David Bednar, April, 2011

STORY:

President David O. McKay was the ninth President of the Church. In his boyhood he desired to know, as
Joseph Smith had known, of the reality of God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. One day while herding
cattle in the foothills near his home, he sought a testimony through prayer. He said:

I dismounted, threw my reins over my horses head, and there under a serviceberry bush I prayed that
God would declare to me the truth of his revelation to Joseph Smith (New Era, Jan. 1972, p. 56).

He prayed fervently and sincerely with as much faith as he could find within him. When he finished his
prayer, he waited for an answer. Nothing seemed to happen. Disappointed, he rode slowly on, saying to
himself at the time, No spiritual manifestation has come to me. If I am true to myself, I must say I am just
the same old boy that I was before I prayed (ibid.).

A direct answer to this prayer was many years in coming. While serving a mission in Scotland, Elder
McKay received a powerful spiritual manifestation. He later commented, Never before had I experienced
such an emotion. It was a manifestation for which as a doubting youth I had secretly prayed most
earnestly on hillside and in meadow. It was an assurance to me that sincere prayer is answered sometime,
somewhere. - Francis M. Gibbons, David O. McKay, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1986, p. 50).

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS:

How have you felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to you? HOW do you feel it? HOW do you recognize it?
How have your testimonies grown? What did you do to seek this testimony and how did it come?
For those who have testimonies, what can you do to help other youth gain a testimony for themselves?
For those who feel that they dont yet have a testimony, what are some things you are doing or can do to
begin to gain one?
CHALLENGE:

To strive diligently understand how the spirit bears witness to you personally.

Create a daily atmosphere that allows you to feel the spirit. (Be clean, Spend time in quiet pondering,
pray and read your scriptures daily, etc).

Live in such a way that the Spirit can bare truth to you and ensure that you learn how to feel and
recognize the spirit confirming truth in your lives.

Write your spiritual promptings in your journal (how you felt and what the spirit taught you). Refer to
this often when/if doubts ever come

SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY:

Follow your impressions when the Spirit prompts you to say something (Preach My Gospel, p 179).

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Sunday Night Discussion The Atonement of Christ
PURPOSE:

To help the youth understand the atonement of Jesus Christ; help them understand the necessity and
importance of it in his/her life.

OUTLINE:

THE ATONEMENT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR SALVATION

The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death and spiritual death. Physical
death is a separation of body and spirit. Christ overcame this through the resurrection. Spiritual death is a
separation from God. Christ overcame this death, too.

Questions

Why did Jesus come to the earth?

What do you understand about Christs mission?

Scriptures

1 Cor. 15:20-22;
2 Nephi 10:25;
Alma 34:8-12;
Alma 11:42-45;
Alma 42;
Mosiah 4:6-7;
Moroni 10:32-33;
2 Ne. 25:23;
John 11:25
BD Atonement;

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CHRIST SUFFERED AND DIED TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS

God sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome the obstacle of sin. Through the grace of Christ we
can become clean from sin. We can also live with God again. Christ made repentance possible for those
who have faith in Him.

Questions:

Why was Christ uniquely qualified to perform the Atonement?

What role does grace have in becoming clean?

How do we receive of this grace?

Scriptures:

TG: Jesus Christ

Isaiah 1:18; Luke 22:39--44; 1 Nephi 10:20--21; D&C 19:16--19; Isaiah 53:4--5; Luke 22; Matthew 26--
27

THROUGH THE ATONEMENT, CHRIST GAINED PERFECT

EMPATHY FOR ALL OF GODS CHILDREN

And he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and he will take
upon him their infirmities . . . that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people (Alma
7:11-13)

Questions:

How can you apply the atonement to your life?

Scriptures:

Matt. 11:28-30; Luke 22:42-22; Moroni 7:40-41;

Mosiah 26:29-31; Alma 7:11-13

QUOTES:

Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. He is a glorious, resurrected being. He has the
capacity to communicate love that is so powerful, so overwhelming as to surpass the capacity of the
human tongue to express adequately. He gave His life to break the bonds of death. His Atonement made
fully active the plan of happiness of His Father in Heaven. Jesus administers the balance between justice
and mercy conditioned upon our obedience to His gospel. He is the light for all mankind. He is the
fountain of all truth. He fulfills all of His promises. All who obey His commandments will earn the most
glorious blessings imaginable. Without the Atonement, Father in Heavens plan of happiness could not
have been placed fully into effect. The Atonement gives all the opportunity to overcome the
consequences of mistakes made in life. When we obey a law, we receive a blessing. When we break a law,
there is nothing left over from prior obedience to satisfy the demands of justice for that broken law. The
Saviors Atonement permits us to repent of any disobedience and thereby avoid the penalties that justice
would have imposed.

Elder Richard G. Scott

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I feel that [the Savior] will give that punishment which is the very least that our transgression will
justify. I believe that he will bring into his justice all of the infinite love and blessing and mercy and
kindness and understanding which he hasAnd on the other hand, I believe that when it comes to
making the rewards for our good conduct, he will give us the maximum that it is possible to give, having
in mind the offense which we have committed

J. Reuben Clark Jr.

I Testify to you that we will change lives, including our own, if we will teach the Atonement Through
the Book Of Mormon.

Jeffrey R. Holland

Salvation could not come to the world without the mediation of Jesus Christ

Joseph Smith

ADDITIONAL HELPS

James E. Faust, The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope, Ensign, Nov. 2001, p. 18

Gospel Principles chapters 3, 11, 12

Hymns: I Stand All Amazed, #193; God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son #187

Neal A. Maxwell: Hope Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Ensign, November 1998

Neal A. Maxwell: Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ, Ensign, November 1997

CHALLENGE:

Will you continue to work (study & prayer, obedience) to gain your own testimony that Jesus Christ is
your personal Savior?

Will you apply the atonement daily in your life by repenting and seeking to really know Jesus Christ?

Extend other invitations as prompted by the Spirit.

Have the youth record their feelings about the happenings of the evening in their journals

SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY:

Follow your impressions when the Spirit prompts you to say something (Preach My Gospel, p 179).

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