5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions
See also Teaching Helps
Elder Eyring’s talk makes a beautiful discussion about finding personal peace.
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 Henry B. Eyring (unless otherwise noted).
Important Tip: There is more material here than any teacher could possibly use. Please don’t be tempted to march people through all of it. When teaching – less is more. People don’t absorb large volumes of material in a public setting. And they need to talk! I highly suggest you prioritize the quotes in any order you see fit. And then cover your 2-3 most important quotes first. You’ll know which quotes best fit your group.
Lesson Prep
- I would probably do 1,3,4, 2, and 5 if I were teaching.
Files
- PDF download at the end of this post.
Quote #1 (heart)
This is a nice introduction to the whole talk!
Today I will speak on what I have learned about the miracle of finding personal peace, whatever our circumstances. The Savior knows that all of Heavenly Father’s children yearn for peace, and He said that He could give it to us. You remember the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the book of John: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Possible discussion questions: Why is peace a miracle in our world today? When our hearts are troubled and afraid, how can we get peace?
Quote #2 (verses)
Elder Eyring quotes John 14:15-27 to open his talk. If you decide to use this quote, I would break it into four or more parts. Instruct your readers to either all stand where they sit or have them come to the front – (stand in a row) and each read their part without a pause in between them. Have them sit down once they are done.
Listen to the account in John of the culmination of Christ’s ministry. Fierce forces of evil were bearing down on Him and would soon come upon His disciples.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
“Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
“He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Possible discussion questions: What stands out for you from this scripture quote? How would you summarize the Savior’s main message? Does it sometimes take the power of love to keep the commandments? What does it mean in John 14:23, “and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
3) John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:3)
Lesson Organization Notes
The following quote is divided into five sections (A, B, C, D, and E). You can choose between traditional whole-group discussions, as you did for Quotes #1 and #2, or small-group discussions.
Well-structured small-group discussions are an excellent way to effectively cover a lot of material in a short amount of time. If you have 12 or more people, please consider them. Even introverts enjoy small-group experiences when well-structured (more tips at the end of quote #3).
Quote #3 (five keys)
Elder Eyring gave us five keys to peace in our lives.
Instructions: If using whole-group discussion, read quotes A, B, C, D, and E together (have a different person read each quote). Answer the questions after each quote is read.
Possible engagement tool: For each of these simple quotes, invite people to share how they would explain this principle to a friend who isn’t a member. (Both whole-group or small-group discussions)
If using small groups, divide the class into several groups of 3-5 people now. Let each group direct their own discussion. Tell them they can pick any or all of the five quotes together and discuss them as a group. Don’t worry about which ones they pick – what your class needs to talk about most will rise to the top. (More detailed instructions at the end of quote #3)
No matter which discussion style you choose, ensure everyone has a copy of the five quotes (and questions if using small groups). [Printable PDF download at the end of this article.]
Quote A
First, the gift of peace is given after we have the faith to keep His commandments. For those who are covenant members of the Lord’s Church, obedience is what we have already promised to do.
Question A: How would you explain this principle to a friend? What stands out for you from this quote? What does the word obedience mean to you? Can you give an example from your own life of being “obedient” and how it blessed you?
Quote B
Second, the Holy Ghost will come and abide with us. The Lord says that as we continue to be faithful, the Holy Ghost will dwell in us. That is the promise in the sacramental prayer that the Spirit will be our companion and that we will feel, in our hearts and minds, His comfort.
Question B: How do you feel about the promises given to us during the Sacrament? How would you explain the gift of the Holy Ghost to a friend? What stands out for you from this quote?
Quote C
Third, the Savior promises that as we keep our covenants, we can feel the love of the Father and the Son for each other and for us. We can feel Their closeness in our mortal lives, just as we will when we are blessed to be with Them forever.
Question C: In what ways do you feel your Savior’s love? Has an ordinance or covenant ever helped you feel God’s closeness? Which one? How would you explain God’s love to a friend? What stands out for you from this quote?
Quote D
Fourth, keeping the Lord’s commandments requires more than obedience. We are to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and soul.
Those who do not love Him do not keep His commandments. And so they will not have the gift of peace in this life and in the world to come.
Question D: How do you feel about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ? What does loving them feel like for you? How would you explain loving Heavenly Father and Jesus to a friend? What stands out for you from this quote?
Quote E
Fifth, it is clear that the Lord loved us enough to pay the price of our sins so that we can—through our faith in Him and our repentance, through the effects of His Atonement—have the gift of the peace that “passeth all understanding,” in this life and with Him eternally.
Question E: How do you feel about Christ’s atonement for us? In what ways is that a personal gift to you? How would you explain Christ’s atonement to a friend? What stands out for you from this quote?
Whole-group
Follow the outline above. Because there is so much material, I usually give everyone their own copy to read. You only need to include the actual quotes, not the questions. It helps to pass out quote assignments earlier in the week or before Sacrament meeting. This allows people to absorb them before reading them aloud and upgrades the quality of the discussion!
Small-group
[See a PDF download at the end of this article.]
Do not read quotes A, B, C, D, or E as a class together. Let the individual groups handle that part. Have people split into smaller groups (3-5)? Instruct them to skim the quotes independently, share their favorite parts, and discuss the questions together as a group. The questions and quotes can be addressed in any order and do not all have to be covered.
It takes about 5-10 minutes. You will likely have to stop the conversations, and that’s okay!
Essential preparation for introvert-friendly small groups: Give each person their own copy of the quotes and questions to look at. Also, walk around and listen to each group for a bit (30 secs to a minute) without directing their conversation. Validate and nod. Only jump in if they are highly challenged and no one is talking.
At the close of the discussion time, have each group elect a spokesperson to summarize their group’s ideas. Allow others to add comments as you go along. Expect about 15-20 minutes total for Quote #3.
Quote #4 (rescue)
Sadly, we all have felt the pain when children raised by inspired parents—sometimes one parent alone—choose, after a lifetime of faith and peace, to take the path of sorrow.
Even when that sadness occurs, my optimism rests in another gift from the Lord. It is this: that He raises up many peacemakers among His trusted disciples. They have felt the peace and the love of God. They have the Holy Ghost in their hearts, and the Lord can guide them to reach out to the wandering sheep.
I have seen it over my lifetime and across the world. You have seen it as well. At times, when you are being led to the rescue, it may seem accidental.
Possible discussion questions: By a show of hands, how many of us have family members, both immediate and extended, that have departed the faith? Have you ever been surprised to hear a friend you thought would never lose faith – leave the Church? Does the Lord use other people to answer our prayers and sometimes rescue us? Has that ever happened to you? Who doesn’t mind sharing? Have you ever gotten a prompting and followed through – and then discovered you were an answer to someone’s prayers? How does that feel?
This resource is just for you – the reader – but you may take comfort in Joseph Smith’s words about children who fall away.
Quote #5 (peace)
President Russell M. Nelson is the living prophet of God in all the earth. He has said, “I give you my assurance that regardless of the world’s condition and your personal circumstances, you can face the future with optimism and joy.”
I pray that you may find peace, help many others to find it, and pass it along. There will be a wonderful thousand years of peace when the Lord comes again.
Possible discussion questions: Why is it important to have joy and optimism? How can we help others to have it? Are there messengers out there that spread fear and doom? How does their message compare to the prophet’s message?
President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) indicated that the Saints need never be deceived, for the Lord has established an unmistakable channel of instruction: “When there is to be anything different The same priesthood keys and powers that the Prophet Joseph Smith held continue on the earth today. The President of the Church from that which the Lord has told us already, he will give it to his prophet not to some Tom, Dick, or Harry that is thumbing his way across the country as we have had people tell the story; and not through someone, as another story relates, who swooned and came up and gave a revelation. I have said, ‘Do you suppose that when the Lord has his prophet on the earth, that he is going to take some round-about means of revealing things to his children? That is what he has a prophet for, and when he has something to give to this Church, he will give it to the President, and the President will see that the presidents of stakes and missions get it, along with the General Authorities; and they in turn will see that the people are advised of any new change.” (The Place of the Living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator -July 1964)
Summary
Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about Elder Eyring’s talk. Thank your class for their excellent contributions and insights.
Final Comment
We love dear, old Elder Eyring. His concepts are simple and steady. Thank you for taking the time to prepare this lesson and look for resources. If you would like some tips on how to feel more confident while teaching – try “9 Tips for More Class Participation.” Put the quotes in any order that makes sense to you.
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