As we strive to become like Jesus Christ, we may find ourselves discouraged by our weaknesses. Because of Jesus Christ, we can receive the Holy Ghost and spiritual gifts to help us become more like the Savior. This lesson can help students become more like Jesus Christ as they seek gifts of the Spirit.
Possible Learning Activities
Seeking to become like God
You could begin class by inviting students to think of weaknesses or imperfections that can cause frustration or hinder us from becoming like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite multiple students to write their answers on the board.
Imagine a person acknowledges he or she experiences some of the weaknesses on the board and thinks, “I cannot overcome these things. This is just the way I am.”
What do you know about Jesus Christ that would be helpful for this person to understand?
Gifts of the Spirit
One of the ways Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help us overcome our weaknesses is by granting us spiritual gifts.
What do you know or remember about spiritual gifts?
Students might answer with truths they learned from the previous lesson (“Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 1”). If you haven’t taught this lesson, you might become familiar with it so you can help students understand spiritual gifts as needed.
What do you think it means to seek after spiritual gifts?
How might seeking spiritual gifts help us in our efforts to become like God?
Brother Tad R. Callister, former Sunday School General President, explained how these spiritual gifts help us become more like God:
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Brother Tad R. Callister
Because of Christ’s Atonement, we are eligible to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and its accompanying spiritual gifts. These gifts are attributes of godliness; therefore, each time we acquire a gift of the Spirit, we become more like God. No doubt that is why the scriptures enjoin us on multiple occasions to seek these gifts.
President George Q. Cannon taught: “No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to … give gifts that will eradicate [our weaknesses]. … If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect.” (Tad R. Callister, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 87)
What do you learn from this statement about spiritual gifts?
Help students understand that Heavenly Father invites us to seek gifts of the Spirit so we can become more like Him.
What are some spiritual gifts a person could seek to overcome the weaknesses identified earlier in the lesson?
You could invite students to write spiritual gifts next to a corresponding weakness on the board. For example, if anger was written on the board, students might identify the gift of patience. If students wrote lack confidence, they could seek the gift of courage or faith.
To help students with this activity, you could invite them to review the spiritual gifts in Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–25. You could also use the statement by Brother Callister to remind students that Christlike attributes, such as those listed in Moroni 7:45 or Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–6, can also be considered spiritual gifts. Remind students that other spiritual gifts are not listed in the scriptures.
Reflect on your efforts to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
What is a weakness or imperfection you would like to overcome?
What spiritual gifts could you seek to overcome that weakness?
How do we seek spiritual gifts?
Encourage students to use the following study activities to look for ways Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help them as they seek the spiritual gifts they have listed in their journals.
Why do you think the actions you identified can help you in your efforts to seek spiritual gifts?
It may be helpful to remind students that seeking spiritual gifts is a lifelong process, and the Lord gives them according to His will and timing (see Moroni 10:17).
Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, formerly of the Seventy, shared another way we can seek spiritual gifts from God:
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Elder Mervyn B. Arnold
When we seek to obtain a spiritual gift, we can study the examples and teachings of the Savior that pertain to that particular gift and then try to incorporate those teachings into our life. (Mervyn B. Arnold, “Messages from the Doctrine and Covenants: Seek Ye the Best Gifts,” Ensign, Mar. 2005, 66)
To help students prepare to apply the counsel from the previous statement, you might invite them to think of a spiritual gift and model Elder Arnold’s teachings with the class. For example, if students select the gift of courage you could ask:
How did Jesus Christ exemplify courage throughout His life? (See Matthew 26:47–56.)
What has the Savior taught us about courage in the scriptures? (See Joshua 1:9.)
What could somebody do to practice using courage in their life?
What actions could a person take to invite the Savior’s help as they seek the gift of courage?
After this discussion, display the following instructions and invite students to study a spiritual gift on their own.
Look in your journal at the gift you wrote that you would like to seek. Complete the following steps:
Search the scriptures for an example of the Savior demonstrating that gift.
Find scripture passages that contain additional teachings about that gift.
List two or three things you can do to practice using that gift in your life.
Write something you will do to invite the Savior’s help as you continue seeking that gift. If needed, refer to Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–10, 30–33.
You might conclude by inviting students to share the gift they are seeking and what they learned from the Savior’s example. Caution them not to share weaknesses they are trying to overcome that would be too personal to talk about. Encourage students to faithfully act on impressions they have received and to continue inviting help from Heavenly Father as they seek spiritual gifts.