May 13–19

Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; Luke 18

“What Lack I Yet?”

As you study Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; and Luke 18, prayerfully consider what class members may have learned or felt in their own study.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

It might be helpful to occasionally discuss class members’ experiences related to this year’s increased emphasis on home-centered gospel learning. What successful experiences can they share? What obstacles or challenges are they facing? What advice can they give each other?

Teach the Doctrine

Matthew 19:3–9

Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.

• Increasingly, the world’s views on marriage diverge from eternal truth. To help your class learn about God’s views on marriage, you might invite them to read Matthew 19:3–9 and list on the board the truths they find regarding marriage. They could also list additional truths they find in the following: Genesis 1:27–28; 1 Corinthians 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 42:22; 49:15–17; 131:1–4; 132:19; and Moses 3:18, 21–24. How are these truths reinforced in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”? (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129).

• How can you help class members feel better prepared to explain or defend the Lord’s teachings on marriage? You could invite them to list on the board some questions they have heard about the Church’s teachings regarding marriage. They could then suggest answers to these questions using what they know about the plan of salvation and statements from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Matthew 19:3–9, and the teachings in “Additional Resources.” Consider inviting class members to role-play how they might explain our beliefs about marriage to someone who believes differently.

• Consider introducing the topic of marriage with the following quote from Elder Robert D. Hales: “None of us marry perfection; we marry potential” (“Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 46). Invite class members to think of a married couple whom they admire. What qualities does this couple have? What qualities would class members want in a spouse, and what qualities do they want to develop in order to be a good spouse? Also consider what statements you could use from President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Celestial Marriage” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 92–95) to help inspire class members to seek a celestial marriage.

Eternal marriage is part of God’s plan.

Matthew 20:1–16

Eternal life is available to all—no matter how early or late we accept the gospel.

• What would help members of your class apply the principles in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard? You might invite a few class members to prepare a dramatization of the parable to present to the class. After the presentation, the people portraying the laborers could share how they felt about the payment they received and why. What does this parable suggest about the kingdom of heaven? What additional insights do class members gain about this parable from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message “The Laborers in the Vineyard”? (Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 31–33).

Matthew 19:16–22; Mark 10:17–27

The Savior will guide us closer to Him as we ask for His help.

• How can you help class members identify and apply principles in the story of the rich young man? One approach could be to ask them to read Mark 10:17–27 and consider whether they have ever felt like the rich young man. What has helped them to follow the Savior’s counsel even when it’s difficult? Can anyone in the class share an experience in which he or she asked, “What lack I yet?” (Matthew 19:20) and received a personalized prompting to improve? What difference did it make in his or her life?

Luke 18:9–14

We should trust God’s mercy, not our own righteousness.

• The Savior’s parable comparing a Pharisee’s prayer with a publican’s can help you highlight the attitude that the Lord asks of those who seek to follow Him. To help class members apply this parable to our day, you could invite them to rewrite the Pharisee’s prayer in a way that uses modern details but expresses the same attitudes. They could do the same with the publican’s prayer and then share what they wrote. How do verses 15–17 and 18–24 relate to what the Savior taught in this parable?

• How can these verses inspire those you teach to remain humble, as the publican was? Perhaps the following statement regarding these verses by Elder Dale G. Renlund could help: “The message for us is clear: a repenting sinner draws closer to God than does the self-righteous person who condemns that sinner” (“Our Good Shepherd,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 31).

Encourage Learning at Home

To encourage your class to study Matthew 21–23; Mark 11–12; Luke 19–20; and John 12, consider asking them, “What would you do if you had only one week to live?” Tell them that these chapters reveal what the Savior did in the last week of His life.

Additional Resources

Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; Luke 18

Marriage is central to God’s plan.

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued this statement regarding same-sex marriage:

“We encourage all to bear in mind our Heavenly Father’s purposes in creating the earth and providing for our mortal birth and experience here as His children [see Genesis 1:27–28; 2:24]. … Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God and is central to His plan for His children and for the well-being of society. …

“… God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (“LDS Church Instructs Leaders Regarding Same-Sex Marriage,” Jan. 10, 2014, mormonnewsroom.org).

Additional insights on marriage.

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” may be helpful in discussing why the Lord’s prophets warn against anything that is contrary to marriage between a man and a woman. The following points may also be helpful:

• Family is an eternal concept. We are all part of God’s family, and His plan is that men and women be married and sealed so that they can live as families for eternity (see Genesis 2:18, 21–24; 1 Corinthians 11:11).

• As part of God’s plan, husbands and wives are commanded to multiply and replenish the earth (see Genesis 1:28) and nurture their children in righteousness.

• The ultimate purpose of God’s plan is exaltation, or eternal life, in God’s presence, where faithful husbands and wives may have eternal increase and eternal joy (see D&C 132:19–21). God’s plan is the only way to achieve exaltation (see D&C 131:1–4).

• The Lord expects us to show love and compassion to those who advocate or participate in something other than God’s plan for marriage, such as cohabitation or same-sex marriage (see mormonandgay.lds.org). True compassion includes doing our best to lovingly and patiently invite them to follow God’s plan, which is the only plan of true happiness. To embrace or endorse alternatives to God’s plan is more harmful than helpful.

Improving Our Teaching

God needs your unique talents and abilities. “You can bless God’s children by drawing on the love you have for others, the gifts God has given you, and your life experiences. As you serve faithfully and seek God’s help, He will magnify you, and you will grow in your capacity to teach the gospel in the Savior’s way” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 5).