5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions

See also Teaching Helps

President Nelson’s main topics are: how to get confidence, charity in relationships, the power of virtue, temple worship, and the Second Coming.

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 Russell M. Nelson (unless otherwise noted).

Lesson Prep

• You can arrange the quotes in any order that makes sense to you. I suggest starting with the most important ones and working your way down. Don’t worry about covering all the quotes.
• If you want the discussion to be more meaningful, hand out reading assignments ahead of time and ask the reader to answer one question about them (pick one of the questions below and give it to them, along with the assigned quote). The sooner you do this, the better, but if possible, at least show it to them before the Sacrament meeting. You can also text or email it.
• Ask various people to read and participate – especially those who aren’t asked as much.

Lesson Delivery

• Ensure every class member has the conference talk and scriptures in front of them or on their phone. Always invite the class to read along—hearing and seeing the words together increases comprehension and engagement.
• Avoid videos – they shut down discussion. Save them for personal study.
• If the discussion gets too non-spiritual, pull it back by going to the next quote or question.
• Make sure you assign others to read the quotes. You’re talking enough already, and letting others read allows more people to participate.
• Encourage discussion by accepting all reasonable answers. Validate people for participating, and be thankful they spoke up. Engage with the answer in a conversational way whenever it feels natural. Never say, “That’s not the right answer,” or “We haven’t got to that part of the lesson yet.”
• Remember, spiritual discussion is golden. We want people to talk about the gospel together.
• If the discussion takes a different turn than your planned lesson, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.

Quote #1 (confidence)

When I’m alright with God, I can handle anything life throws me.

Possible engagement tool: Say something like, “President Nelson is guiding us to a more complete and robust relationship with God.”

Note: Depending on which questions you want to develop, you can use quotes A, B, or both.

Quote A

We all will experience illness, disappointment, temptation, and loss. These challenges can knock our self-confidence. However, disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence. When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.

Possible discussion question: Do life’s challenges and disappointments ever erode our self-confidence? What unique perspective do your covenants offer as you navigate hardships? How do they shift your outlook on both the struggles and the bigger picture?

—AND—

When I speak of having confidence before God, I’m referring to having confidence in approaching God right now. I’m referring to praying with confidence that Heavenly Father hears us, that He understands our needs better than we do. I’m referring to having confidence that He loves us more than we can comprehend, that He sends angels to be with us and with those we love…

…Charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God. Brothers and sisters, we can do this. Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God right now. Let’s consider both charity and virtue.

Possible discussion questions: What are the two keys President Nelson gives us to have more confidence with God? (Accept all reasonable answers and variations – charity and virtue) How does the gospel define charity? How would you define virtue?

“Virtue” is self-mastery. It is the celestial version of one’s thoughts, intentions, and heart. Virtue is an active, deliberate effort to align oneself with God’s will, characterized by integrity, holiness, and consistently pursuing goodness.

Quick thought

It’s very interesting to me that President Nelson associated charity and virtue with confidence.

“…Charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God. Brothers and sisters, we can do this. Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God right now. Let’s consider both charity and virtue.”

I’m now self-noticing that when I’m in my peak charity and virtue place—those irritating people and the empty-headed things they do — don’t invade my heart or thought space. It’s so much easier to let it go and float above it.

I’m specifically thinking about stuff with a couple of people at Church. Our ward is primarily made up of good and friendly people, but there are a few in every crowd. Sometimes, there’s more drama and emotionally-based dynamics than I care for.

I have a choice – dwell in it or above it. Charity and virtue lift me above it.

That must be how Christ does it—put up with so much ridiculous stuff from us and still bestow great love to us—something to ponder.

Quote #2 (charity)

The prophet spent a lot of time on charity in relationships. Choose between these two quotes or read them both if you have time.

First, charity. Two years ago, I called upon us as covenant followers of Jesus Christ to be peacemakers. I repeat what I said then: anger never persuades, hostility builds no one, contention never leads to inspired solutions. True charity towards all men is the hallmark of peacemakers. It is imperative that we have charity in our discourse, both public and private. I thank those of you who took my previous counsel to heart, but we can still do better. The present hostility in public dialogue and on social media is alarming. Hateful words are deadly weapons. Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion.

Highly recommended activity! Have your class each pull out a single sentence statement from this quote that is especially meaningful to them. Let people volunteer the phrases they chose and why.

• Anger never persuades
• hostility builds no one
• contention never leads to inspired solutions
• charity is the hallmark of peacemakers
• charity in discourse at home and in public (communication, conversation, talking)
• hateful words are deadly weapons
• contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion

—AND—

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead the way as peacemakers. As charity becomes part of our nature, we will lose the impulse to demean others. We will stop judging others. We’ll have charity for those from all walks of life. Charity towards all men is essential to our progress. Charity is the foundation of a godly character. Let us plead with our Heavenly Father to fill our hearts with greater charity, especially for those who are difficult to love, for charity is a gift from our Heavenly Father. For true followers of Jesus Christ, the Savior is the Prince of Peace. We are to be His instruments for peace.

This quote talks about transformations within—what inward dynamics occur if we are peacemakers?

Possible discussion questions: What DON’T we do if we have charity? (accept all reasonable answers – impulses to demean others, judge others) Why is the prophet calling out specific behaviors as examples? Is it possible for someone to think they have charity when they don’t? How can we have more charity? (Pray for it – it is a gift)

Quote #3 (virtue)

Possible engagement tool: Make sure people know what virtue is if not discussed already: “Virtue” is self-mastery. It is the celestial version of one’s thoughts, intentions, and heart. Virtue is an active, deliberate effort to align oneself with God’s will, characterized by integrity, holiness, and consistently pursuing goodness.

Now, let us speak of virtue. The Lord tells us to garnish our thoughts unceasingly with virtue. Imagine the boost you will receive to any positive thought when you enhance it with virtue. Virtue makes everything better and happier. On the other hand, imagine what will happen when you add virtue to an impure thought, a cruel thought, or a depressing thought. Virtue will drive away those thoughts. Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts. Brothers and sisters, as the world grows more wicked, we need to grow increasingly pure. Our thoughts, words, and actions need to be unfailingly virtuous and filled with the pure love of Jesus Christ towards all men. The great opportunity before us is to become the people God needs us to be.

Possible discussion questions: President Nelson sees the increasingly wicked world as an opportunity – what is that opportunity? How can we have more virtue? (Accept all reasonable answers – by making an effort to align with God’s will, which might include scripture study, prayer, and temple worship) How does charity help us have virtue? What can we do to be free from anxious, troublesome thoughts? (Accept all reasonable answers – acquire more charity, which we pray for)

Quote #4 (temple)

Charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God. Brothers and sisters, we can do this. Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God right now…

Regular worship in the house of the Lord increases our capacity for both virtue and charity. Thus, time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord. Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Possible discussion question: Which temple is your favorite and why? How do you feel when you’re in the temple? How does the temple help prepare us for the Second Coming?

Quote #5 (second coming)

We do not know the day or the hour of His coming, but I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that great and dreadful day. As we diligently seek to have charity and virtue fill our lives, our confidence in approaching God will increase. I invite you to take intentional steps to grow in your confidence before the Lord…

I testify that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Israel, leads this, His church. He is preparing to come again. May we likewise prepare to receive Him.

Possible discussion questions: What intentional steps can we take to grow our confidence in approaching God? What happens to those who are not prepared for the Second Coming? What can we do to be more prepared for the Second Coming? What personal message did President Nelson’s talk have for you, and who would like to share?

Summary

Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about President Nelson’s talk. Thank your class for their excellent contributions and insights.

Final Comment

Please teach the quotes in any order that makes sense to you.

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.