July 11

How Does Knowing about the Plan of Salvation Affect My Life?

Doctrine and Covenants 76

Counsel Together

Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; approximately 10–20 minutes

At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.

• Live the gospel. What topics has the bishopric discussed in our ward youth council meetings? What can we do as a class or quorum based on those discussions?

• Care for those in need. How can we reach out to people in Christlike ways when we see a need and don’t know what to say?

• Invite all to receive the gospel. What have we found in the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings us joy? How can we share that joy with others?

• Unite families for eternity. What are we doing to find names of our ancestors who need temple ordinances? What can we do to help others find the names of their ancestors?

At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:

• Testify of the principles taught.

• Remind quorum or class members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.

Teach the Doctrine

Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

Our Heavenly Father has provided a plan that enables us to receive eternal blessings and become like Him. He wants all of His children to know about that plan, so He has revealed it to prophets throughout the ages. As quorum or class members studied Doctrine and Covenants 76 this week, they learned what God revealed about His plan to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, including the Savior’s central role in the plan and the glory we can receive in the life to come. If we are faithful, we can be perfected through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live with God forever.

How has knowing about Heavenly Father’s plan influenced your perspective on life? How can you help your quorum or class understand what a blessing it is to know about the plan of salvation? To prepare to teach, you could read “Plan of Salvation” in True to the Faith ([2004], 115–17) or Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “Your Great Adventure” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 86–90).

Learning about the plan of salvation gives direction and purpose to our lives.

Learn Together

One way to begin a discussion with your quorum or class about the plan of salvation is to invite someone to write on the board the following headings, along with the verses from Doctrine and Covenants 76: Premortal Life (verses 22–27), Mortal Life (verses 40–43), and Life after Death (verses 50–53, 59–62). Give quorum or class members a few minutes to review these verses to find the Savior’s role in fulfilling Heavenly Father’s plan. Ask them to write under each heading what they find. The activities below can help them better understand how Heavenly Father’s plan blesses their lives.

• Reviewing some of the names of Heavenly Father’s plan could help quorum or class members better understand the plan. They could review the scriptures in the first bullet under “Supporting Resources” and make a list of some of the names for God’s plan. What do these names teach about the plan? For example, how does this plan bring us happiness, now and eternally? What do these scriptures teach us about the Savior’s role in the plan? You could show the video “Our Eternal Life” or “Men’s Hearts Shall Fail Them” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and invite those you teach to talk about times when they have felt grateful for Heavenly Father’s plan.

• Consider inviting those you teach to discuss how they might answer a friend who asked the following questions about the plan of salvation: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life? Invite them to use the information under “Plan of Salvation” in True to the Faith (pages 115–17) and the scriptures under “Supporting Resources” to prepare an answer to one of the questions. How have we been strengthened by knowing the answers to these questions?

• Quorum or class members learn gospel truths more deeply when they are given opportunities to teach. In advance, ask several quorum or class members to come prepared to share a short summary of what they know about an aspect of the plan of salvation. They could use the summaries found under “The Plan of Salvation” in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel ([2019], 48–53). What difference does it make to know about the plan of salvation?

Act in Faith

Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.

Supporting Resources

• 2 Nephi 11:5; Alma 12:30; 34:9; 41:2; 42:8, 13–15; Moses 6:59–62 (Names for Heavenly Father’s plan)

• Doctrine and Covenants 38:1–3; 138:53–56; Moses 4:1–4; Abraham 3:21–24 (Premortal life)

• 2 Nephi 2:19–21, 25; Alma 5:15–16; 34:32; Abraham 3:25–26 (Mortal life)

• John 14:1–2; Alma 11:42–45; Doctrine and Covenants 76:39–43, 89–93 (Life after death)

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior asked questions that caused those He taught to think deeply. He was sincerely interested in their answers. How can you use questions to help the youth think deeply about God’s plan? (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way [2016], 33–34.)