Moroni 6

Participating and Serving in the Lord’s Church

As baptized members of Christ’s Church, we have opportunities to participate and serve in many different ways. In Moroni 6, Moroni continued his instructions to help strengthen and build the Church. This lesson can help you strive to serve others and follow the Savior as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Strive to be an example of loving others. The Savior consistently showed His sincere care for each person. As you cultivate a spirit of love and respect for your students, your Christlike example can inspire them to appreciate one another. Encourage students to build each other up and look for the good in everyone.

Student preparation: Students could come prepared to share ways all Church members can strengthen one another, even without a formal calling in a ward or branch.

Possible Learning Activities

Members of Christ’s Church

Consider displaying an image of a Church congregation and discussing various reasons people choose to be members of the Savior’s Church.

For the following activity, consider drawing an outline of a person on the board so students can complete the activity as a class.

In your study journal or on a separate piece of paper, draw a line to divide the page in half. On one half, draw an outline of a person, representing a member of the Savior’s Church. Make the outline large enough that you can write inside the shape. Inside the image you drew, write two or three things that you did or would expect to do to prepare for baptism into the Church. You may want to continue adding to the list in your drawing throughout the lesson.

In Moroni 6, Moroni continued his teachings about building the Church and strengthening its members. In this chapter, we learn some of our roles and opportunities in carrying out the Lord’s work in His Church.

Read Moroni 6:1–3, looking for what Moroni taught about how a person can show they are prepared for baptism into Christ’s Church. Add what you find to the list inside your image.

• How do you think these actions and attitudes prepare a person for baptism?

Moroni taught that once we are baptized, we are “numbered among the people of the church of Christ” (Moroni 6:4). We become participants in a church organization that is intended to strengthen and build us as disciples of Jesus Christ. As you continue to study Moroni 6, think about how you can serve and strengthen others as a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Opportunities and responsibilities

Around the image you drew previously, write some of the needs, hopes, or wants of Church members.

Help students understand that recognizing these needs in themselves and others can help them learn from Moroni’s next teachings. Be sensitive and assure students that they are not required to share what they have written. Give them enough time to record multiple ideas on their drawings.

Write the following incomplete truth on the board, leaving room for students to finish the statement in several ways.

On the other half of your paper or journal page, write the following incomplete truth: As members of the Savior’s Church, we can help and strengthen one another as we …

Study Moroni 6:4–9, looking for multiple ways you could finish the statement. Write your list of different statements on your paper. It may be helpful to know that nourish means to support or encourage growth.

Students could complete the statement in several ways, including the following:

• remember other members of the Church (verse 4).

• nourish one another spiritually by the good word of God (verse 4).

• watch over and pray for each other (verse 4).

• help one another rely on the Savior and His Atonement (verse 4).

• meet together often to fast and pray together (verse 5).

• strengthen one another spiritually (verse 5).

• partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus Christ (verse 6).

• forgive others when they repent (verses 7–8).

• teach and pray according to the power of the Holy Ghost (verse 9).

Consider using some of the following questions to help students understand each responsibility and think about how to fulfill it. This may also be a good time to invite students to share additional ideas from their student preparation.

• Which of these actions seem easier for you? Which might be a challenge? Why?

• What might these actions look like in your class or quorum?

• How could acting on these truths help you with your needs?

Giving and receiving

It could be helpful to display the following statement for a student to read aloud.

President Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President, observed:

The Needs before Us

Sister Oscarson teaches us to serve those closest to us: our families, friends, ward and community members. The essence of living the gospel is service.

We are not just receivers and takers of what is offered at church; we are needed to be givers and suppliers. Young women and young men, next time you are at [a youth activity], instead of picking up your phone to see what your friends are doing, stop, look around, and ask yourself, “Who needs me today?” You may be the key to reaching out and touching the life of a peer or to giving encouragement to a friend who is quietly struggling.

Ask your Heavenly Father to show you those around you who need your help and to inspire you on how to best serve them. Remember that the Savior most often ministered to one person at a time. (Bonnie L. Oscarson, “The Needs before Us,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 26)

• What do you think is important to remember from Sister Oscarson’s counsel, and why?

• When have you seen the truths Moroni taught in action? What difference did acting on these truths make in the lives of others?

• How could following Moroni’s counsel help you become more like the Savior?

For an example of a young woman who applied Moroni’s counsel, watch “Eyes to See” from time code 4:55 to 6:55 on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

If you show the video, consider discussing ways the young woman applied Moroni’s counsel and followed the Savior’s example.

Eyes to See

Sister Craig teaches that with the help of the Holy Ghost we can learn to see others and see ourselves as the Savior does.

My next steps

Give students sufficient time to ponder and record their impressions in their study journals. As time permits, invite students to share their thoughts with the class.

Ponder for a few moments what you have learned and felt today. Then visualize walking into your next Church meeting or activity. What do you think the Savior would have you do? Consider making notes in your study journal to help you remember the guidance you have received.

You may also want to seek Heavenly Father’s help in prayer to know who needs your attention and help. Invite Him to help you know what you can do to care for other Church members as the Savior would.

Commentary and Background Information

How can I help others feel that they belong in the Church?

President Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President, taught:

My young friends, I can guarantee that there will always be someone at every Church meeting you attend who is lonely, who is going through challenges and needs a friend, or who feels like he or she doesn’t belong. You have something important to contribute to every meeting or activity, and the Lord desires for you to look around at your peers and then minister as He would. …

It is true that we attend our weekly Church meetings to participate in ordinances, learn doctrine, and be inspired, but another very important reason for attending is that, as a ward family and as disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ, we watch out for one another, encourage one another, and find ways to serve and strengthen each other. (Bonnie L. Oscarson, “The Needs before Us,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 26)

Consider watching the video “Welcome” (1:05), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, for ideas of ways to show others that they have a place in the Church.

Welcome | Comeuntochrist.org

Welcome to a community where everyone is trying to live as Jesus taught. Come and see what we believe at comeuntochrist.org

What can I do if I feel like church is not for me?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency counseled:

Some say that attending church meetings is not helping them. Some say, “I didn’t learn anything today” or “No one was friendly to me” or “I was offended.” Personal disappointments should never keep us from the doctrine of Christ, who taught us to serve, not to be served. With this in mind, another member described the focus of his Church attendance:

“Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, … to volunteer for an assignment. …

“In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Need for a Church,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 24–25)

You may want to watch the video “This Is Church” (1:10), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, for additional ideas of how to reach out to others.

This Is Church

Church begins on Sunday, but does it end there? Imagine if church extended beyond the four walls of a building to inspire us every day.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Moroni 6:7–8. “As oft as they repented and sought forgiveness”

Students may have questions about why members’ names might be “blotted out” and how the process of repentance prepares members to return to full fellowship. Consider sharing the Lord’s words to the prophet Alma in Mosiah 26:29–30. President Dallin H. Oaks also testified of the merciful and loving purposes of membership councils in section II of “The Need for a Church” (Liahona, Nov. 2021, 25).

Moroni 6:9. “After the manner of the workings of the Spirit”

After reading Moroni 6:9, consider discussing one or more of the following questions:

• What role could the Holy Ghost have in helping you meet other members’ needs? (see verse 9).

• What do you think it means that the Holy Ghost could “lead” you in serving others? What could that look like in your quorum or class?

• How do you think following the Spirit could help you do what the Savior would do?

• What obstacles might hinder how you feel the Spirit in Church meetings and activities? How could you help overcome these obstacles?

Invite willing students to share ways they could meet members’ needs.