5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions

See also Teaching Helps

Elder Shumway is a godsend! If you sometimes encounter difficult people or situations in your calling, you’ll want to listen to this talk! Elder Shumway is fully aware of our less desirable situations and makes a spiritually triumphant case for why we serve in those callings anyway. Beautifully done!

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 Steven D. Shumway, April 2025 General Conference talk (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 (say yes)

Possible engagement tool: Invite your class to listen to the following quote and see what stands out for them.

In “the majesty of this moment,” as God’s kingdom expands and temples dot the earth, there is a growing need for willing souls to engage in God’s work. Selflessly serving is the very essence of Christlike discipleship. But serving is rarely convenient.

…God “delights to honor [you for serving Him] in righteousness.” He promises, “Great shall be [your] reward and eternal shall be [your] glory.” When we say yes to serving, we are saying yes to Jesus Christ. And when we say yes to Christ, we are saying yes to the most abundant life possible.

Possible Activity: Have your class identify phrases and ideas that stood out. As you write them on the board, ask them why that phrase is important or what it means to them.

• This is a sample list.
• Growing need for people
• The church is God’s work
• Discipleship means serving
• Serving isn’t convenient
• God delights to bless us for service
• Yes to a calling is Yes to Jesus Christ
• Yes to a calling is Yes to eternal glory

Possible discussion questions: How important are callings in the Lord’s Church? (Accept all reasonable answers – they are essential to discipleship and helping God’s Kingdom move forward.) What would you say to a friend if they got a calling they didn’t care for?

For printable copies of this lesson – click here.

Quote #2 (covenant living)

Possible Intro: Elder Shumway reminds us that serving in callings fulfills our covenants.

…Serving elevates our homes and churches into holy places where we can practice covenant living.

For example, our covenant to always remember Christ is made individually, but this covenant is lived as we serve others. Callings surround us with opportunities to “bear … one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” When we serve because we love God and want to live our covenants, service that seems dutiful and draining becomes joyful and transformative.

When we serve because we love God and want to live our covenants, service that seems dutiful and draining becomes joyful and transformative.

For me, that one change of focus makes all the difference in the world. When serving with difficult people or unrewarding situations, when I intend to show love to God and fulfill covenants…I can float above a lot! Reminding myself and Heavenly Father of these things through prayer before I walk out the door really helps, too.

Possible discussion questions: How are callings related to our covenants? Can anyone share a real-life example of your calling helping you to fulfill your covenants? How can a calling you didn’t want become transformative? Have you ever used prayer when callings are difficult?

Quote #3 (transformation)

This is the BEST quote ever that explains how we grow in our callings. I feel so much better about mine after reading it.

Note: Can be divided among two readers.

Because of God’s grace, our abilities or inabilities are not the principal basis for extending or accepting a calling. God does not expect perfect performance or exceptional talent to participate in His work. If so, Queen Esther would not have saved her nation, Peter would not have led the early Church, and Joseph Smith would not be the Prophet of the Restoration.

…We will fall many times as we engage in God’s work. But in our effort, Jesus Christ catches us. He gradually lifts us to experience salvation from failure and fear and from feeling like we will never be enough. When we consecrate our meager but best effort, God magnifies it. When we sacrifice for Jesus Christ, He sanctifies us. This is the transformative power of God’s grace. As we serve, we grow in grace until we are prepared to “be lifted up by the Father, to stand before [Jesus Christ].”

When we consecrate our meager but best effort, God magnifies it. When we sacrifice for Jesus Christ, He sanctifies us.

I’m especially moved by how callings prepare us to be lifted up to stand before Christ!

Possible discussion questions: What particularly touched you from this quote by Elder Shumway? What does this quote tell you about judging and criticizing others in their callings? Why is it important to be patient with people’s abilities and callings?

Quote #4 (everyone)

I wonder if we have a blind spot, failing to extend callings to individuals who, to our mortal view, appear unlikely or unworthy. Or we may be more concerned with a culture of performance than with the doctrine of progression, neglecting to see how the Savior increases capacity in the unlikely and the unproven by giving them opportunities to serve.

Elder David A. Bednar teaches the importance of the scriptural mandate to “let every [woman and] man learn [their] duty, and to act.” Do we do this? When leaders and parents let others learn and act for themselves, they blossom and flourish. While the easier path may be to give faithful members a second calling, the more excellent way is to invite the unlikely to serve and let them learn and grow.

Possible discussion question: According to Elder Shumway, what is the “more excellent way”? Why should we spread callings and leadership experiences to as many people as possible, even those with less background or skills? Why are patience and mentoring valuable leadership qualities?

Optional – See When Leadership Positions Cycle Between the Same Few for more thoughts on this topic.

Quote #5 (christ)

This may be my favorite part of the talk. Successfully bringing Christ into the lives of others, even if it’s just a small moment or thought, it is a joyful accomplishment!

With participation in God’s work comes “the right, privilege, and responsibility to represent the Lord [Jesus Christ].” When we serve to magnify Christ and not ourselves, our service becomes joyful. When others leave our class, meeting, ministering visit, or activity remembering Christ more than they remember us, the work is energizing.

When others leave our class, meeting, ministering visit, or activity remembering Christ more than they remember us, the work is energizing.

Possible discussion questions: When do you find yourself thinking about Jesus Christ? How can we help others remember Christ? Why do you love Jesus Christ? What’s an effective way you’ve seen to help others remember Christ?

Personal Share: I’m currently a YW 1st counselor with 10 girls in my class. For Easter, I gave each girl the Church’s military Christ tag that can be worn under clothes (if they want to do it like I do). I put the Christ tag in a gift box along with a history of their given name, a favorite verse about Christ rolled up like a scroll and tied with a ribbon, and a couple of chocolates (I’m sure Jesus would approve). They loved it! It was a small gesture to help celebrate Easter.

Click on the picture if you’d like to see it at the Church Store.

Summary

Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about Elder Shumway’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.