November: How can I find answers to my own gospel questions?

All Printouts and Videos found HERE

1. Introduction

• Alexa/Siri/Cortana/Google Activity
• Ask the class what questions they could search on the internet and find instant answers to. Give them the opportunity to ask those questions using an voice activated device such as Alexa, Siri, Cortana, or Google.
• Elder W. Mark Bassett of the Seventy said, "In this modern age, we have come to expect that knowledge can and should be obtained immediately." But can all knowledge be obtained this way?
• What are some questions people might ask about life or the gospel?
• Ex: Is there life after death? Does God answer prayers? Is the Book of Mormon true? What college should I go to?
• Can we ask the internet for these answers?
• Yes, they can probably provide insight and opinions. But most require us to seek knowledge through study and prayer.
• So... How can we find answers to our gospel questions?

2. Learn Together:

• Elder Bassett continued his talk by using Nephi's example to show us how we can find answers.
• Read 1 Nephi 2:16: 19-20
• Traits that Nephi exemplified
• (1) sincere desire, (2) humility, (3) prayer, (4) trust in the prophet, (5) faith, (6) diligence, (7) obedience

3. Teach Others/Liken the Scriptures

• Pass out the Examples in the Scriptures worksheet
• Have the class read the scriptures listed on their worksheet for Joseph Smith, Alma, Laman and Lemuel, or Brother of Jared. 
• Give them time to answer the questions and be prepared to share their findings with the class.
• How did Joseph Smith, Alma, and the Brother of Jared's experiences differ from Laman and Lemuel's?

4. Making it Personal

• Is there a difference between questioning and asking questions?
• This link has great info: https://www.lds.org/youth/article/when-you-have-questions?lang=eng
• Share Video Clip from President Uchtdorf's 2009 CES Fireside (found in the link at the top of the post)
• Why are there times when the Lord doesn't answer our questions completely or immediately?
• "Be obedient, remember the times when you have felt the Spirit in the past, and ask in faith. Your answers will come, and you will feel the love and peace of the Savior. It may not come as quickly or in the format you desire, but the answer will come. Do not give up! Never give up!" - Elder James B. Martino
• "Elder Neil L. Anderson... has said that as we 'remain steady and patient' through our lives, 'at times, the Lord's answer will be, 'You don't know everything, but you know enough' - enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right" - "You Know Enough" from Nov 2008 Ensign.

5. Conclusion

• "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" story from John Hilton III (found in the link at the top of the post)
• Share with the youth the page on LDS.org that is dedicated to helping us find answers to gospel questions: https://www.lds.org/topics/answering-gospel-questions?lang=eng
• Finish with testimony and 1 Nephi 15:11 - "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said? - If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things [will] be made known unto you."