5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions

See also Teaching Helps

Our 100-year-old prophet remains a wonderfully bright beacon in our lives. His General Conference talk stunned me, touched me deeply, and set me in motion! This lesson covers five concepts: the Second Coming, New Jerusalem, discipleship, the secret of joy and fasting, and the Atonement of Christ.

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 President Russell M. Nelson (unless otherwise noted).

Lesson Prep

• Fasting is highly underrated and not commonly observed in its fullness. It’s one of the best-kept secrets. If I were giving this lesson, I would save enough time for quote #5 and cover the part about fasting.
• 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

• Avoid videos – they shut down discussion. Save them for personal study.
• 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 a lesson takes a different turn than you planned, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.
• If the discussion gets too non-spiritual, pull it back by going to the following quote or question.

Quote #1 (hasten)

Possible engagement tool: Write ‘Hasten” on the board with its definitions.

hasten: make faster, accelerate, cause something to happen sooner than it otherwise would

Tell your class President Nelson called attention to our temples and their role in the Second Coming.

My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.

Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace? Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord!

Possible discussion questions: What stood out for you today from President Nelson’s quote? President Nelson named three reasons why we are building temples quickly – can you name one of them? (Accept all reasonable answers, validate people – because the Lord told President Nelson to, because they gather Israel on both sides of the veil, and they prepare people for the Second Coming.) What do you enjoy about the temple when you go? What would you say if you were to encourage a friend to go to the temple, who hasn’t been in a while?

Quote #2 (new jerusalem)

Possible engagement tool: President Nelson mentions New Jerusalem and what type of people will be there.

Jesus Christ will govern from both old Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem “built upon the American continent.” From these two centers, He will direct the affairs of His Church.

In that day the Lord will be known as “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Those who are with Him will be “called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Possible discussion questions: What part of this verse stood out to you and why? Where will the Old Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem be? (Jerusalem/Israel and Independence, Missouri) What kind of people will be able to live there? (accept all reasonable answers – chosen and faithful) Who appointed the location for New Jerusalem?

*****

If you need it, or people think Salt Lake City is the New Jerusalem, you can share the following verses.

In President Nelson’s General Conference footnote #7 – he referenced Doctrine and Covenants 82:2-4, which gives more details about New Jerusalem.

2 Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.

3 Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.

4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. (D&C 82:2-4)

What has to happen before the building of New Jerusalem? (The gathering of the saints in Missouri.)

Quote #3 (now)

Possible engagement tool: Write ‘NOW’ on the board. Invite your class to listen for the word ‘Now’ and how President Nelson uses it.

Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority. In a world filled with dizzying distractions, how can we do this?

Regular worship in the temple will help us. …Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.

Possible discussion questions: How will you prepare for the Second Coming? When President Nelson says to make discipleship our highest priority – what does that mean to you? In what ways does the temple help us in our discipleship? What do you notice happening to you when you go to the temple?

Quote #4 (atonement)

I urge you to devote time each week—for the rest of your life—to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ took upon Himself your sins, your pains, your heartaches, and your infirmities. You do not have to bear them alone! He will forgive you as you repent. He will bless you with what you need. He will heal your wounded soul. As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”

Possible quick discussion: What stood out for you from this quote – what comes to mind?

Possible activity: Have a quick study of Christ’s atonement, using scriptures President Nelson provided in the footnotes of his General Conference talk. Assign three different people a reference. It’s best if they have them ahead of time. After each scripture reference, ask each person, respectively, “What did you get out of that (those) verse(s)?” Accept comments from other people.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. (Alma 7:11-12)

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3)

Quote #5 (devout)

Possible engagement tool: Write the following two definitions on the board and invite your class to think about these word definitions as President Nelson uses these words.

devout: fervent, passionate, sincere

rededicate: commit, offer, consecrate

It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ. Then you will experience fully the blessings of His Atonement. You will also be more effective in helping to gather Israel.

My dear brothers and sisters, in a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah. So today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ. I call upon you to help gather scattered Israel and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord. I call upon you to talk of Christ, testify of Christ, have faith in Christ, and rejoice in Christ!

Come unto Christ and “offer your whole [soul]” to Him. This is the secret to a life of joy!

Possible discussion questions: What does becoming a devout disciple of Jesus Christ look like to you? How can we rededicate our lives to Christ more fully? Could we speak of Christ more often to our families and friends? How would you offer your whole soul to Him?

Deepen the Understanding

In President Nelson’s General Conference footnotes for this quote – he referenced Omni 1:26, which points to fasting and prayer.

And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved. (Omini 1:26)

Fasting Leads to More Revelation

Fasting magnifies prayer. Fasting prepares us to receive revelation and feel the Spirit.

President Ezra Taft Benson explained the process when he taught leaders getting a new calling: “I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to…permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.”

The sons of Mosiah were especially good at getting revelation.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. (Alma 17:3)

Fasting, along with prayer, invites the Spirit and revelation. Such experiences bring joy, well-being, and comfort. Fasting regularly with faith and intent means having heightened experiences regularly.

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.