Lesson 21 Teacher Material

Hearing the Lord’s Voice in the Latter Days

“In the modern world, [Jesus Christ] and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised ‘dispensation of the fulness of times’” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). In this lesson, students will be invited to consider how Joseph Smith’s witness of Jesus Christ can strengthen their faith in Him. Students will also be invited to determine how they can increase their capacity to hear the Savior’s voice.

Suggestions for Teaching

Joseph Smith is an eyewitness of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Display the following statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley:

The Prophet Joseph Smith was a preeminent witness of the living Christ. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “What Hath God Wrought through His Servant Joseph!,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 2)

• What makes Joseph Smith a “preeminent witness of the living Christ”? (If needed, remind students that preeminent means surpassing all others.)

Write on the board the following statement: Through firsthand experience, Joseph Smith learned that …

Invite each student to select and review either Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17, Doctrine and Covenants 76:22–24, or Doctrine and Covenants 110:2–4, looking for a way to complete the statement on the board. Then invite students to share their completed statements, which could include the following truths: Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ exist; Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are separate and distinct beings; Jesus Christ has a glorified, resurrected body; Jesus Christ knows us by name; Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten of the Father; Jesus Christ is the Creator; Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father.

As students share, consider asking questions that could help them deepen their understanding of the truths they identify. For example:

• Why is this an important truth to know about Jesus Christ?

• How does this truth strengthen your testimony of the Savior?

• How can knowing this truth increase your desire to follow Him?

After time for discussion, invite one or two students to share their testimony of Joseph Smith as a witness of the Savior.

We can hear the voice of the Lord.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Foster relevant learning experiences. To help students have more meaningful learning experiences, look for ways to connect what they are learning to their circumstances, interests, and questions. Use the resources from the preparation material and students’ personal experiences to explore how gospel truths have affected or could affect their lives.

Consider sharing the following scenario or one of your own:

The missionaries told your friend that if she turns to the Lord, she can receive revelation and hear His voice. While she wants to believe this promise, she feels concerned that she will mistake her own thoughts for His voice. She asks, “How do you know when you are hearing the voice of the Lord?”

Invite a few students to share how they would respond. You could also have students share other challenges or concerns they face with hearing the Savior’s voice.

Remind students that Oliver Cowdery was taught about hearing the Savior’s voice when he had some lingering questions about the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. Invite students to review Doctrine and Covenants 6:14–15, 22–23, looking for what the Lord taught Oliver Cowdery about hearing His voice.

• What can we learn about hearing the voice of the Lord from Oliver’s experience? (Students may identify a truth like the following: We can hear the voice of the Lord through the Holy Ghost. The Savior’s voice enlightens our minds and gives us peace.)

• Why is it important for us to constantly seek to hear the Savior’s voice—especially in our day?

• How has your life been blessed by hearing the voice of the Lord?

Consider displaying the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson or watching the video “Listen to the Voice of Jesus Christ” (1:46):

When we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance. …

As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. (Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 89)

You could share a personal example of one way you hear the voice of the Lord in your life. Or you might show an example from a Church leader, found in the “Hear Him” video collection in Gospel Media (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Provide each student the following handout.

Hear Him!

Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material—Lesson 21

Imagine that you have been given the opportunity to create a brief video that expresses how you hear the Savior’s voice. Write a brief outline of what you would share in response to the prompt “How I hear Him.” The following questions might help as you create your outline:

• What experiences have helped you to understand better how the Lord speaks to you?

• What ideas might you include from the statements by President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Michelle D. Craig in section 2 of the preparation material?

• How can you share your thoughts and feelings in a way that will be easily understood by others?

From your outline, create a brief message (one to two paragraphs) you could share with the class.

If you would prefer, you could instead ponder and record what you would like to do to increase your capacity to hear the Savior’s voice.

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Hear Him!

Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material—Lesson 21

After sufficient time, invite some students to share their “Hear Him” message with the class. Encourage students to also share their “Hear Him” message outside of class. This could be through a face-to-face conversation, phone call, or text message or on social media.

As time permits, consider inviting students to be more intentional in their efforts to hear the Lord. They might take a couple of minutes to plan and schedule how they might do this.

For Next Time

Consider sending the following message, or one of your own, a few days before your next class: As you study the preparation material for lesson 22, consider what the ongoing Restoration means to you. You could watch “President Nelson—What Does the Restoration Mean for You?” (1:06).