5 Quotes Plus Discussion-Promoting Questions

See also Teaching Helps

Sister Wright’s delightful, Christ-centered talk covers the Sermon on the Mount, our convictions, preparing for the Second Coming, and our changed hearts.

You can find her 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 Amy A. Wright, 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 (mount)

Possible engagement tool: Invite your class to open their scriptures to Matthew 5 and be ready to discuss it when you’re done with this quote.

The Sermon on the Mount is decisively the most noteworthy discourse ever delivered, pioneering in its teachings. No other sermon can help us better understand the character of Jesus Christ, His divine attributes, and our ultimate purpose to become like Him.

Possible discussion-promoting questions if you don’t do the activity: What impresses you from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5? What did Jesus teach? What do you want to work on more? Sister Wright asks why the Sermon on the Mount is so important? How do you feel about it?

Possible Activity: Ensure everyone has a list of verses from Matthew chapter 5—either a copy of the scriptures or a list you make. Matthew 5 is long, but I’ve picked out a few verses that should make for good discussion.

For printable copies of this activity – click here.

During the next 3 minutes of silence or music, ask your class to skim through these verses and pick the one that really stands out to them today. (If anyone says, “All of them,” just nod and say, “Sure, but let’s pick one so we can have a discussion.”

Discussion: Which verses stood out to you today and why?

If you want quality discussion, ask 1-2 people ahead of class to pick one verse and answer that question. Have them go first. Make sure they only take 1-2 minutes each.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

*****

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

*****

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

*****

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

*****

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

*****

43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

For printable copies of this lesson – click here.

Quote #2 (believe)

This quote is a perfect opportunity for people to express their testimonies and convictions about Jesus Christ.

Possible intro: Sister Wright has some advice for us.

First, believe in Jesus Christ.

After the bread of life sermon, “many of [the Lord’s] disciples” found it hard to accept His teachings and doctrine, and they “went back, and walked no more with him.” Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked a heart-wrenching question: “Will ye also go away?”

Peter responded:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

“… We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Highly recommended activity! —Allow people in your class to bear Testimony of Jesus. It’s especially effective if you ask 1-2 people to share their 1-2 minute testimony of Christ ahead of time.

Activity Intro: Peter strongly believed in Jesus Christ’s divinity even when Christ was unpopular or rejected. How do you feel about the Savior? Please share your witness of Him if you feel prompted to do so.

Quote #3 (prepare)

Possible intro: Say something like, “Ordinances and Covenants make up a large share of our spiritual life. Please consider how they affect your life as we read this next quote.”

King Benjamin’s people experienced a mighty change of heart and by covenant dedicated their lives to doing God’s will. Because of the covenant they made with God and Jesus Christ, they were “called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters.” As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a covenantal responsibility to build His kingdom and prepare for His return.

Possible discussion questions: What covenants do we make today? How have the covenants you’ve made helped you feel closer to Jesus Christ”? Reflecting on the phrase “mighty change of heart,” can you share a personal experience where you felt that change of heart? How can we build the kingdom of God? In what ways do you prepare for His return?

Quote #4 (nature)

Possible Intro: Have a recent convert or someone with an excellent memory talk about the changes in their life after baptism and how their attitudes towards societal norms changed after they became members.

As Jesus Christ becomes the focus of our lives, what we desire, and how we desire it, is forever altered. Conversion changes everything! It changes our nature “that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” It changes how we spend our time, our resources; what we read, watch, listen to, and share. It even changes how we respond in a distinguished, academic, career-on-the line interview.

Possible discussion question: Does it matter how we spend our time? Has anyone stopped watching a show or movie because it made them uncomfortable? What other things do you avoid because of your dedication to following Jesus Christ? Have you ever been converted to a gospel teaching you initially struggled with?

Quote #5 (testify)

We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives. If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission, and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living. Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life.

Possible discussion questions: Could we discuss Christ and acknowledge Him more in our families’ and associates’ everyday lives? What are some natural and comfortable ways to do that? (I like to mention him in group prayers.)

Summary

Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about Sister Wright’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.