5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions
See also Teaching Helps
Wonderful talk! I understand why it was so popular in the polls. Elder Sabin’s General Conference talk contains stories and important but overlapping principles. This was extra hard to turn into a lesson because it is strung together tightly and repeats the same gospel concepts.
When I segmented all the possible quotes and directions one could take, I came up with twelve highlights. We only have time for five AT BEST. So, I went with the five that covered the most essential concepts in the talk and will allow for the greatest variety of discussion.
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 Gary B. Sabin (unless otherwise noted).
Lesson Prep
- Please don’t worry if you only get through a couple of quotes. Spiritual discussion is golden; it resonates and teaches more than a lecture covering all points will.
- If the discussion gets too secular, pull it back to the quotes and a spiritual tone…naturally and with tact.
- 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, “We haven’t got to that part of the lesson yet.”
- If a lesson takes a different turn, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.
Printable Files
- Teacher Copy (quotes and questions)
- 5 Quotes (just quotes)
Quote #1 (intro story)
This story is an excellent warm-up and intro to the lesson. Elder Sabin invokes our compassion and empathy towards others and ourselves.
Many years ago, I went to a summer Scout camp with our son Justin. As the activities got underway, he excitedly announced that he and his friends wanted to earn the archery merit badge. Doing so required the boys to pass a short written test and hit a target with their arrows.
My heart sank. At the time, Justin was quite frail due to cystic fibrosis, a disease he had been battling since birth. I wondered if he could pull the bow back far enough to send the arrow to the target.
As he and his friends left for the archery class, I silently prayed that he would not be humiliated by the experience. A couple of anxious hours later, I saw him coming up the path toward me with a big smile. “Dad!” he exclaimed. “I got the merit badge! I got a bull’s-eye; it was on the target next to mine, but I hit a bull’s-eye!” He had pulled the bow back with all his might and let the arrow fly, unable to control its trajectory. How grateful I am for that understanding archery instructor who never said, “Sorry, wrong target!” Rather, upon seeing Justin’s obvious limitations and earnest effort, he kindly responded, “Good job!”
That is how it will be for us if we do our very best to follow Christ and His prophets in spite of our limitations. If we come unto Him by keeping our covenants and repenting of our sins, we will joyfully hear our Savior’s commendation: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Quick/short discussion questions: What stands out from Elder Sabin’s story? Can you relate to Justin?
Quote #2 (foundation)
Therefore, my first observation is that building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential to our happiness. This is a sure foundation, “a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” Doing so prepares us for the challenges of life, come what may.
I bear you my witness of the divinity of the Savior of the world and of His redemptive love and power to heal, strengthen, and lift us when we are earnestly striving to come unto Him. Conversely, there is no way we can move with the crowd and also toward Jesus. The Savior has defeated death, disease, and sin and has provided a way for our ultimate perfection if we will follow Him with all of our hearts.
Possible discussion questions: Who is the crowd, and which way do they move? What is the foundation that Elder Sabin mentions? What does following the Savior with all your heart mean to you? What does that look like? If the Savior is your foundation, what qualities and attributes might you have? (accept all reasonable answers – compassion, etc.) Why must we be “earnestly striving” to come to the Savior? (accept all reasonable answers – the world’s gravity is too strong and will pull us down.)
Quote #3 (compassion)
Briefly sum up the movie theater story in 2-3 sentences. Elder Sabin’s family went to the movie theater after a skunk incident. They had washed everyone down and thought they got rid of the odor because their noses became desensitized to the smell. As a result, everyone in the theater moved away from them.
We have laughed as we’ve recalled that experience, but what if all of our sins had an odor? What if we could smell dishonesty, lust, envy, or pride? With our own weaknesses revealed, we would hopefully be a little more considerate and careful of others and, likewise, they with us as we make the needed changes in our lives. I actually love the smell of tobacco in church because it indicates someone is trying to change. They need our welcoming arms around them.
President Russell M. Nelson has wisely said, “One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.”
Possible discussion questions: What can we learn from Elder Sabin’s experience? (accept all reasonable answers – for me – we all sin plenty, and we need to treat each other with kindness and respect and not dwell on others’ flaws and shortcomings.) If our sins had odors, is there anyone who would not have a smell at Church? How would that affect you if everyone could smell your sins at Church? Might we be more compassionate and less judgmental? What does it mean to have compassion? Is compassion more something we feel or something we do? (Notice President Nelson uses the word “treat” when referring to compassion.)
compassion: warm-heartedness, mercy, tolerance, empathy, care
Quote #4 (gratitude)
Optional intro: Briefly summarize his daughter Jennifer’s operation story in 2-3 sentences. Elder Sabin had a 16-year-old daughter named Jennifer who needed a dangerous double lung transplant. After the operation, when they removed the ventilator, she took a deep breath and cried with emotion. She said, “It’s just so good to breathe.”
President Nelson has said: “Each new morning is a gift from God. Even the air we breathe is a loving loan from Him. He preserves us from day to day and supports us from one moment to another. Therefore, our first noble deed of the morning should be a humble prayer of gratitude.”
“…You will never be happier than you are grateful…Failure to appreciate our blessings can result in a sense of dissatisfaction, which can rob us of the joy and happiness that gratitude engenders.
The Lord declared, “And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious.” Perhaps this is because gratitude gives birth to a multitude of other virtues.
Possible activity: Give class members a piece of paper/pencil and have them quickly write down three small things they are grateful for that they haven’t thought of lately. It doesn’t matter how small it is
Possible discussion questions: Would someone like to share something they wrote down that they haven’t thought of with gratitude for a while? How does it feel to be around an ungrateful person? How does gratitude or ingratitude affect your inner thoughts and moods? What has been your personal experience with gratitude? Have you ever gotten a thank you note for something you did? How did it feel? When is a good time to express gratitude? (accept all reasonable answers – prayer, daily to family/friends, online, cards/letters, etc.)
Quote #5 (covenants)
In reality, the greatest happiness and blessing of mortality will be found in who we have become through God’s grace as we make and keep sacred covenants with Him. Our Savior will polish and refine us through the merits of His atoning sacrifice and has said of those who willingly follow Him, “They shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.”
Possible discussion questions: What covenants and ordinances help bring you grace? What does it mean to be his jewel? (accept all reasonable answers – those who have been polished and refined by sacred covenants, ordinances, and repentance) What does God’s “grace” mean to you?
Summary
Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about Elder Sabin’s talk. Thank your class for their excellent contributions and insights.
Final Comment
What a fantastic lesson for discussion. Elder Sabin gifts us with keys to happiness. We probably knew all of them – but we need reminding in this unhappy world. Thank you for preparing yourself to teach/discuss this lesson. I’m grateful for teachers like you! who reach out as they prepare. You gift your group with much-needed interaction and reflection. If you would like some tips on how to feel more confident while teaching – try “9 Tips for More Class Participation.” Please put the quotes in any order that makes sense to you.
Shawnie Cannon,
I want to express my gratitude for your insights and guidance about elder Sabin’s incredible talk. You are amazing!
Thank you so very much for your help!