5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions

See also Teaching Helps

Elder Eyring is a sweetheart. He is just one of those personalities we will always love. Nonetheless, his talks are harder to turn into lessons. It’s just his particular speaking style; he blends and intermixes the same concepts throughout his talk. I have to go through his talk repeatedly to get five highlights that are true to the message and make sense for discussions.

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 right in with Lesson Template 1 or Template 2. You can also check out several other General Conference Talks with 5 Highlights.

All quotes by Henry B. Eyring and in blue (unless otherwise noted).

Quote #1 (place of safety)

For those of us who are concerned for ourselves and for those we love, there is hope in the promise God has made of a place of safety in the storms ahead.

Here is a word picture of that place. It has been repeatedly described by living prophets. For example, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, an inspired and loving father told his sons how to strengthen themselves to stand steady in the storms ahead of them: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, … whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)

Possible discussion questions: Where is the place of safety Elder Eyring is recommending to us? Do you feel concerned about the condition of society or the world? What are some examples of “mighty winds” and “shafts in the whirlwind” today? How is the rock of our Redeemer a sure foundation?

Quote #2 (the challenge)

Invite your group to be more fully engaged by asking them to listen for what part of this quote stands out most today?

The misery and endless woe of which he spoke are the terrible effects of sins should we not fully repent of them. The growing storms are the temptations and the increasing attacks of Satan. It has never been more important than it is now to understand how to build on that sure foundation. For me, there is no better place to look than in the last sermon of King Benjamin, also recorded in the Book of Mormon.

King Benjamin’s prophetic words are applicable to us in our day. He knew from his own experience the terrors of war. He had defended his people in combat, relying on the power of God. He saw clearly the terrible powers of Lucifer to tempt, to try to overcome, and to discourage God’s children.

He invited his people and us to build on the only sure rock of safety, who is the Savior. He made clear that we are free to choose between right and wrong and that we cannot avoid the consequences of our choices.

I love the way Elder Eyring puts that: “the terrible effects of sins should we not fully repent of them.”

Possible questions: What stands out for you today from this quote? What does Elder Eyring mean by “not fully repent” of a sin? Is it possible to only partially repent of sin? What kinds of attacks and temptations does Satan knock us over with today? Satan’s greatest tools are discouragement, negative self-talk, and despair – what happens to us when we are discouraged or pessimistic? (accept all reasonable answers! we don’t get as much done; we don’t reach out as much; we miss out on inspiration, motivation, etc.)

Quote #3 (changed nature)

Our natures must be changed to become as a child to gain the strength we must have to stand steady and at peace in times of peril.

Here is King Benjamin’s stirring description of how that change comes: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)

Oh boy, what a list!

Possible activity: have your class members go through the “saint” list and discuss which ones stand out for them today and why.

• submissive: accommodating, dutiful, compliant, yielding
• meek: gentle, serene, unassuming, long-suffering
• humble: modest, respectful, unpretentious
• patient: capable, willing to endure, calm, forgiving
• full of love: devotion, yearning, fondness, tenderness
• ready to submit to all things: agree, defer, surrender

Possible questions: King Benjamin uses a child instead of an adult as an example of becoming a saint; why? Elder Eyring says this verse from Mosiah 3 is the key to surviving the peril of the last days; what do you feel is an essential attribute for you to have more of? Who is the meekest and most lowly of all who have ever lived? (Jesus Christ) Does meekness mean weakness or inferiority? Why is there so much strength in becoming like a child?

Quote #4 (help)

Invite your class to be more engaged by listening to the following list from Elder Eyring and see what stands out.

We receive that change as we make and renew covenants with God. That brings the power of Christ’s Atonement to allow a transformation in our hearts. We can feel it every time we partake of the sacrament, perform a temple ordinance for a departed ancestor, testify as a witness of the Savior, or care for someone in need as Christ’s disciple.

Possible questions: Which is your favorite ordinance/covenant and why?

Elder Eyring lists several ways to help ourselves down that path of becoming a child.

Possible activity: Have members help you list what Elder Eyring suggests on the board.

• Make and renew covenants
• partake of the sacrament
• go to the temple
• bear witness of the Savior
• give service

More possible questions: Which one has helped you?? Do our hearts and will need help with transformation?

Quote #5 (closing)

You can use this as closing or ask a simple question if you have time.

When the storms in life come, you can be steady because you are standing on the rock of your faith in Jesus Christ. That faith will lead you to daily repentance and consistent covenant keeping. Then you will always remember Him. And through the storms of hatred and wickedness, you will feel steady and hopeful.

More than that, you will find yourself reaching out to lift others to safety on the rock with you. Faith in Jesus Christ always leads to greater hope and to feelings of charity toward others, which is the true love of Christ.

Possible questions: What is Elder Eyring’s message to you personally today?

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

This talk addresses the increasing chaos around us. It is an invitation to spread our wings a bit and become even better. Remember God called you to lead this lesson for a reason. Have faith in what you feel drawn to teach. Thank you for taking the time to prepare yourself! You are blessing the Kingdom of God with your outstanding efforts.

If you would like some tips on how to feel more confident while teaching – try “9 Tips for More Class Participation.” Please put the five quotes in any order that makes sense to you.