5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions
See also Teaching Helps
Elder Uchtdorf is good for our souls. His talks always point to greater well-being and closer to Christ.
You can find his full talk here. Unless you opt to spend a lot of time on a particular quote, try to pick around 2 questions per quote. Choose the questions that resonate the most with you and make a meaningful discussion for your group of personalities. These highlights and questions fit with Lesson Template 1 or Template 2. You can also check out several other General Conference Talks with 5 Highlights.
All blue quotes by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (unless otherwise noted).
Lesson Prep
At least a week ahead of time, I would assign 2 to 3 people to read a quote from the lesson and be ready to share their thoughts on that quote in class. Try to ask people who don’t speak up all the time. The discussion quality often increases when you give people time to think about the quotes and/or questions.
Please do not worry about covering every quote! Quality discussion makes a lasting impact; sometimes, your group needs to discuss one topic more than another.
Printable Files
Under Construction
- Teacher’s master copy
- 5 Quotes handout
Quote #1 (dawn)
Elder Uchtdorf is thankfully candid and shares a real-life perspective.
Life is not an endless sequence of emotional highs. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” And if God Himself weeps, as the scriptures affirm He does, then of course you and I will weep as well. Feeling sad is not a sign of failure. In this life, at least, joy and sorrow are inseparable companions. Like all of you, I have felt my share of disappointment, sorrow, sadness, and remorse.
However, I have also experienced for myself the glorious dawn that fills the soul with joy so profound that it can scarcely be kept in. I have discovered for myself that this peaceful confidence comes from following the Savior and walking in His Way.
Possible discussion questions: Is it okay to have trials, afflictions, and sad days? Who else do we know from the scriptures or early Church history who had trials, afflictions, and sad days? Let’s name some of them. Do trials and setbacks mean we’ve done something wrong or don’t have God’s favor? (no) Do we sometimes expect that life is supposed to go better than it does? Have you ever had a significant, tender mercy happen during a sore trial? What helps you to keep your faith and hope even during one of life’s darker storms?
Optional 2nd Quote:
Question: Why must there be opposition?
With apologies to Elder Neal A. Maxwell for daring to modify and enlarge something he once said, I too suggest that “one’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.” It simply will not work “to glide naively through life,” saying as we sip another glass of lemonade, “Lord, give me all thy choicest virtues, but be certain not to give me grief, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor opposition. Please do not let anyone dislike me or betray me, and above all, do not ever let me feel forsaken by Thee or those I love. In fact, Lord, be careful to keep me from all the experiences that made Thee divine. And then, when the rough sledding by everyone else is over, please let me come and dwell with Thee, where I can boast about how similar our strengths and our characters are as I float along on my cloud of comfortable Christianity.”
My beloved brothers and sisters, Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. (President Holland, Waiting on the Lord – Oct 2020)
Answer: No growth or strength comes without opposition.
Quote #2 (joy)
Possible engagement tool: Tell your class that after Elder Uchtdorf acknowledged some of the happiness and joys the world gives, like flying in an airplane, he says the following.
God has something more to give. A higher and more profound joy—a joy that transcends anything this world offers. It is a joy that endures heartbreak, penetrates sorrow, and diminishes loneliness.
Worldly happiness, by contrast, does not last. It cannot. It is the nature of all earthly things to grow old, decay, wear out, or become stale. But godly joy is eternal, because God is eternal. Jesus Christ came to lift us out of the temporal and replace corruption with incorruption. Only He has that power, and only His joy is perpetual.
Possible discussion questions: Why does Elder Uchtdorf describe God’s joy as higher and more profound than joy from other places? How have the Spirit and Christ’s teachings helped you endure heartbreak, sorrow, and loneliness? What kinds of worldly happiness come and go? What types of worldly or cultural statuses often bring more complications than joy? Why do we pursue worldly happiness? (Accept all reasonable answers – because it strongly appeals to our different appetites and lust but is a temporary fix.)
Quote #3 (looking)
Look for It
Jesus taught, “Seek, and ye shall find.”
I believe this simple phrase is not only a spiritual promise; it is a statement of fact.
If we seek reasons to be angry, to doubt, to be bitter or alone, we will find them too.
However, if we seek joy—if we look for reasons to rejoice and to happily follow the Savior, we will find them.
We rarely find something we are not looking for.
Are you looking for joy?
Seek, and ye shall find.
Possible discussion questions: What happens when we are addicted to negative gossip and news? (Accept all reasonable answers – we will find plenty, which will bind our minds and decrease our confidence in ourselves.) Has anyone intentionally adopted a positive philosophy or mindset? How did that go? What happens when we focus on the positive and the good whenever possible? Is it possible to develop a positive sentiment and eliminate an overriding negative sentiment? What outlook does the Spirit have?
Quote #4 (another’s burdens)
Elder Uchtdorf often champions ministering and serving others. This quote is a perfect example of that focus.
Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Can it be that in our search for joy, the best way to find it is to bring joy to others?
Brothers and sisters, you know and I know this is true! Joy is like a barrel of flour or a jar of oil that will never run out. True joy multiplies when it is shared. It doesn’t require something grand or complicated. We can do simple things.
- Like praying for someone with all our heart.
- Giving a sincere compliment.
- Helping someone feel welcome, respected, valued, and loved.
- Sharing a favorite scripture and what it means to us.
- Or even just by listening.
“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God,” and God will repay your kindness generously. The joy you give to others will return to you in “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.”
Possible discussion questions: What small things has someone done that made a big difference in your day? How do you feel when you are in the service of someone else? What are some memories of learning to serve when you were younger? How can we incorporate joy into our ministering assignments? What are some of your favorite ways to be ministered to?
Quote #5 (invitation)
This invite comes straight from Elder Uchtdorf. Listen for what stands out to you today—which part touches your heart.
During the coming days, weeks, and months, may I invite you to:
- Spend time in a sincere, full-hearted effort to draw near to God.
- Seek diligently for everyday moments of hope, peace, and joy.
- Bring joy to others around you.
My dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, as you search the word of God for a deeper understanding of God’s eternal plan, accept these invitations, and strive to walk in His Way, you will experience “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” even in the midst of sorrows. You will feel a greater measure of God’s unsurpassable love swelling within your heart. The dawn of celestial light will penetrate the shadows of your trials, and you will begin to taste the unspeakable glories and wonders of the unseen, perfect, heavenly sphere. You will feel your spirit lifting away from the gravity of this world.
Possible discussion questions: What stands out for you from Elder Uchtdorf’s promise to those who seek joy and God? In what ways do you spend time to draw near to God? (Accept all reasonable answers and acknowledge/validate attempts to participate.) How do you bring hope, peace, and joy into your life—what works for you? What is one of your favorite ways to brighten someone else’s day?
Summary
Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about Elder Uchtdorf’s talk. Thank your class for their excellent contributions and insights.
Final Comment
Teach with confidence, and if you would like some tips on how to feel more confident while teaching – try “9 Tips for More Class Participation.” May the Spirit bless and guide your efforts.
PDFs for Download – click the blue word links to view online.
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What a great website you have! It can really help our brothers and sisters have a guidelines on their lesson plan.
What a gift you give us with your lesson outlines. Thanks for sharing and caring.
Hi when will the teachers master copy and the quote handout for Elder Uchtdorf’s talk be available?
Wondering when or if you plan on doing Elder Bednar’s conference talk?