November 27

How Can I Share the Gospel?

Jonah; Micah

Counsel Together

Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; 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. How have we come closer to the Savior? How are we trying to be more like Him?

• Care for those in need. Who has been on our minds lately? How can we help these individuals?

• Invite all to receive the gospel. How can we answer our friends’ questions about the Church?

• Unite families for eternity. What are some ways we can better connect with extended family members, such as grandparents and cousins?

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

• Testify of the principles taught.

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

Teach the Doctrine

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

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

There may be members of your class or quorum who regularly find ways to share the gospel. Maybe you do this too! For many people, however, sharing the gospel is difficult and even scary. Fortunately, all of us can become better at sharing our faith in Jesus Christ. You may not physically hear the voice of the Lord commanding you to do something like “go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it,” as Jonah did (Jonah 1:2). But the quiet voice of the Holy Ghost can prompt you to “go to” specific family members and friends who have been prepared to hear your testimony. Be open to what you can learn from Jonah’s experience as you study this week, and prepare yourself to share what you learn with those you teach. You might also read Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s message “Sharing the Message of the Restoration and the Resurrection” as you prepare to teach (Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 110–13).

The Holy Ghost can prompt us to share the gospel with those who have been prepared to hear our testimonies.

Learn Together

To help those you teach share impressions from their study of Jonah this week, you could display a picture of Jonah (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Invite them to discuss what they learned about sharing the gospel from Jonah’s experiences. You might invite them to specifically review Jonah 1 and 3 and ask: What do we learn about sharing the gospel with those who may not seem ready to change? What do we learn about God’s willingness to forgive those who repent? To inspire members of your class or quorum to share the gospel, use one or more of the following activities or create one of your own.

• To get ideas about how to share the Savior’s gospel with others, your class or quorum could review the following accounts in the scriptures: John 4:3–26; Acts 16:25–33; Alma 19:14–18, 28–31. You could then discuss together questions like these: How were people in these accounts prepared to hear the gospel message? What do you notice about how the message was shared? Why do you think Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to share the gospel? You could then discuss as a class or quorum what these accounts teach us about how we can share the gospel today.

• Reading inspiring examples of others sharing the gospel can encourage the youth you teach to do the same. Elder D. Todd Christofferson shared some examples in his message “Sharing the Message of the Restoration and the Resurrection.” In this message, Elder Christofferson taught that three things are needed to make our invitations to receive the gospel compelling: our love, our example, and our use of the Book of Mormon. Discuss the examples of sharing the gospel in this message, and invite those you teach to share other examples, including their personal experiences. How do these experiences demonstrate the three things taught by Elder Christofferson?

• How can you help those you teach understand that sharing the gospel can be natural and doesn’t have to be intimidating? You might show the videos under “Supporting Resources” and ask the youth to think about how they could share the gospel with someone they know. What can we do to invite them to come and see? What opportunities do they have to come and help? How can we help them feel a desire to come and stay? How can we make sharing the gospel a part of our everyday lives?

Act in Faith

Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Supporting Resources

• Carlos A. Godoy, “I Believe in Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 86–88

• “Sharing the Gospel,” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and See,’” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and Help,’” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and Stay’” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org; you can find other resources under “Sharing the Gospel,” Gospel Library

  Sharing the Gospel

  Inviting Others to "Come and See"

  Inviting Others to "Come and Help"

  Inviting Others to "Come and Stay"

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

“People are more likely to make meaningful changes in their lives when those changes come from their own exercise of agency. When you extend invitations to act, be sure to respect the agency of those you teach” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 35).