What the Lord says to one person can often apply to others. This is true about many of the words the Lord spoke to Emma Smith that are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 25 (see verse 16). The Lord invited her to seek things that would help her receive “a crown of righteousness” (verse 15). This lesson can help students seek the Lord’s blessings and lay aside the things of the world.
Possible Learning Activities
Something better
Think of how you can help students visualize the importance of prioritizing what matters most in our lives. One way you could do this is to bring a container to class, such as a box. Also bring a variety of objects that may represent students’ interests, like a soccer ball, a school notebook, a small musical instrument, a set of scriptures, and so on. Be sure to bring more objects than can reasonably fit into the container. Explain to students that the container represents our lives. Invite students to select things they want to be sure to include in their lives. Once the container is filled, ask students if there is anything they want to swap out for something that is not in the container. After this activity, you might ask students to reflect on priorities in their lives. The following is one way you might do this.
Write down in your journal what you feel are the most important priorities in your life. As you study this lesson, prayerfully consider whether your Heavenly Father would like you to make any adjustments to your priorities.
In Doctrine and Covenants 25, the Lord spoke to Emma Smith and provided her with counsel about her priorities.
What do you think it means to “seek for the things of a better”?
What truths can we learn from this verse?
The things of God
Help students identify the truth that the Lord invites us to lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of God. You might ask students to consider marking the words in Doctrine and Covenants 25:10 that help teach this truth.
Help students understand the Lord’s counsel by inviting them to look for similar phrases in the following scriptures. You could ask students to choose a phrase they like and to explain what it helps them understand. Consider showing students how they can cross-reference or link these verses to each other.
What words or phrases in these scripture verses help you understand the Lord’s invitation?
Students may need help thinking of specific things that might be considered the “things of this world” (Doctrine and Covenants 25:10). Consider inviting students to make a list on the board of worldly things that can prevent us from doing the things of God. You might then invite students to ponder how well they are doing at laying aside these things. Help students recognize that some things may deserve less of our time, while others do not deserve our time and attention at all.
What examples from the Savior’s life show that He focused on the things of God rather than things of the world?
If students need help thinking of examples, you might invite them to search the following references: Luke 2:42–49; John 2:13–16; John 6:38.
How could the Savior help a teenager who is trying to lay aside the things of this world?
Elder Richard G. Scott [1928–2015] of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following experience a teenager had:
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Elder Richard G. Scott
In the Russia Rostov-na-Donu Mission the youth were invited to each index 2,000 names and then qualify at least one name from their own families for temple ordinances. Those who accomplished this goal were invited to go on a long journey to the new Kyiv Ukraine Temple. One young man shared his experience: “I was spending a lot of time playing computer games. When I started indexing, I didn’t have time to play games. At first I thought, ‘Oh no! How can that be!’ When this project was over, I even lost interest in gaming. … Genealogical work is something that we can do here on earth, and it will remain in heaven.” (Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 94)
What stands out to you about this young man’s experience?
To help students reflect on any personal experiences they might have had with laying aside the things of the world, consider giving them time to answer the following question in their journals.
How have you been blessed as you have chosen to seek for the things of God in your life?
What did you find that might help you to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better”? (verse 10).
To help students seek and receive personal revelation on how they can better prioritize the things of God, consider inviting them to study one or more of the following topics: music, covenants, meekness, and the Lord’s commandments. Give students the choice to study as a class or to work individually or in small groups. If they choose to study as a class, invite the students to select a topic for everyone to study. If students want to work in groups, they might benefit from each studying something different and sharing what they found with the group. Another option is to invite a few students to prepare before class and then teach the class. Provide the most helpful resources.
Consider inviting students to choose a hymn and discover what it teaches about the Lord and the blessings He has in store for us. You may also want to show students other helpful music resources and the music that is available for youth in the Media Library.
Topics and Questions, “Covenant,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Consider showing students the following video that can help them understand what it means to keep our covenants and what blessings we can receive for doing so.
Encourage students to share what they learned and how it can help them seek the things of God. You could invite them to share with other students who studied the same topic, and maybe also with those who studied something different. Invite students to act on any promptings they received.
If students need help thinking of ways to act on what they are learning, you might point them to the invitations found in each topic of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (2022). You could invite students to write down what they will do to seek the things of God and then to put what they wrote in a place where they will see it often. Also encourage them to seek the Lord’s help and perhaps the help of family members and friends.