November: How can I become spiritually self-reliant?

I absolutely love this lesson because there are so many different ways to teach based on the demographic of your class. See the optional ideas in each sections. All printouts can be found here, or you can click on the individual links below.

1. Introduction

(Display Topic Poster)

• What is spiritual self-reliance?
• Ask the students to think about what the following scripture has to do with being spiritually self-reliance.
• Read Matthew 25:1-10
• What does it have to do with being spiritually self-reliant?
• What could the lamp and oil represent?
• Lamp - Testimony, Oil - Conversion

2. Likening the Scriptures

(Handout Parable of the Ten Virgins Questions)

Note: Questions & Variation of Parable taken from David A. Bednar's talk, "Converted Unto the Lord"

• Let the class members read through the questions. (Option: You could give each class member a question or you could have them work in groups.)
• Read the scripture again, but using this variation from David A. Bednar:

"Then shall being spiritually self-reliant be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps of testimony, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their vessels of testimony, and took no oil of conversion with them.

But the wise took oil of conversion in their vessels with their lamps of testimony.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps of testimony.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil of conversion; for our lamps of testimony have gone out.

But the wise answered saying, Not so: lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut."

• Review questions. Here are some additional insights into some of the questions:
• 1. President Thomas S. Monson: "In order for us to be strong and to withstand all the forces pulling us in the wrong direction or all the voices encouraging us to take the wrong path, we must have our own testimony. Whether you are 12 or 112 - or anywhere in between - you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true."
• 4. We must study, learn, grow and pass through trials to make our lamps of testimony burn brighter.
• 5. David A. Bednar: "These inspired women were no describing a business transaction; rather, they were emphasizing our individual responsibility to keep our lamp of testimony burning and to obtain an amply supply of the oil of conversion. This precious oil is acquired one drop at a time - "line upon line [and] precept upon precept", patiently and persistently. No shortcut is available; no last minute flurry of preparation is possible." 

• What is the different between testimony and conversion?
• I created these fact sheets that contain quotes from Dieter F. Uchtdorf and David A. Bednar. I let the students talk compare testimonies and conversion, while using the fact sheet to provide additional insight based how the discussion was going. 
• (Options: You could shrink the fact sheets down and make a little handout for each class member to review. Then talk about the difference. Or you could split the class into two groups. Give one group testimony and the other conversion. There are a lot of possibilities with this one.)

3. Making it Personal

• How do we build our lamp of testimony? (Use this lamp puzzle. Answers from Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
• Desire to Believe: The Book of Mormon encourages us: "If [you] will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith,...even if [you] can no more than desire to believe" (Alma 32:27)... God promises us divine help even if we have only a desire to believe, but it has to be a true and not a pretended desire.
• Search the scriptures: Have questions; study them out; search in the scriptures for answers. Again, the Book of Mormon has good advice for us: "If [you] give place, that a seed may be planted in your hear: through diligent study of the word of God, the good seed "will begin to swell within your breasts" if you will not resist with unbelief. This good seed will "enlarge [your] soul" and  "enlighten [your] understanding." (Alma 32:28)
• Do the will of God: It is not enough to enter into a scholarly debate if we want to know for ourselves that the kingdom of God has been restored upon the earth. Casual study is also not enough. We have to get in on the action ourselves, and that means learning and then doing God's will.
• Ponder, fast, and pray: To receive knowledge from the Holy Ghost, we must ask Heavenly Father for it. We must trust that God loves us and that He will help us to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

(Option: You could put the pieces randomly on the bottom of the chairs. Who doesn't love that? You could cut up the descriptions above from President Uchtdorf and pass them out to be read. I took the scary route again, and used these descriptions to add insight to the class's answers.)

• Once our lamp of testimony is built, what drops of conversion can we add to become steadfast and immoveable? (Use these drops of oil cutouts. Answers from David A. Bednar)
• Read Helaman 15:7-8
• I have a small class, so I told them that I have 5 drops of oil that they needed to find in the scripture. The drops already had the words printed on them.

(Option: You could could your class blank drops to write in the answers as they read the scripture individually or in groups. Or you can use the drops with the answers already on them. You could even cut a slit in the lamp, add a backing, and actually put the drops of oil in the lamp.)

4. Conclusion

• What does it mean to be spiritually self-reliant?
• Description from Come Follow Me manual
• How do you become spiritually self-reliant?
• Why must our lamp of testimony be built before we can add drops of conversion?
• David A. Bednar: "Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established.... A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received - with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons."
• Why can't we add a whole bunch of drop of oil at one time?
• David A. Bednar: " For many of us conversion is an ongoing process and not a onetime even that results from a powerful or dramatic experience. line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. Conversion unto the Lord requires both persistence and patience."

I ended my lesson  by sharing this quote from David A. Bednar, "Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion."

5. Handout/Treat

• I printed these to staple to the top of a ziploc bag. I make a small "drop of oil" and a small "lamp of testimony" sugar cookie to go in each bag.