My Foundation: Solve Problems

Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

Ponder:

Why does Heavenly Father allow us to face problems and challenges?

Watch:

“A Bigger Truck?” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read the script at the end of this section.)

Discuss:

What is the real problem in this story? What are some options for the two men?

Read:

Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9 and the quote by Elder Robert D. Hales.

Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

“But if it not be right you shall have no such feelings; but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.”

Elder Robert D. Hales

“The Lord expects us to help solve our own problems. . . . We are thinking, reasoning human beings. We have the ability to identify our needs, to plan, to set goals, and to solve our problems.”

“Every Good Gift,” New Era, Aug. 1983, 8,9

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Individually read the problem-solving model in the box below.

Step 2: Choose a problem you are facing and write it below.

Step 3: Take time during the week to apply each of the steps from the problem-solving model to your problem. Write your answers in the space below.

(1) Identify:

(2) Study options:

(3) Decide and act:

Read:

1 Nephi 17:51 and 1 Nephi: 18:2–3.

1 Nephi 17:51

“And now, if the Lord has such great power and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?”

1 Nephi 18:2–3

“Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.

“And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.”

Discuss:

How was Nephi able to build a ship?

Commit:

Commit to do the following actions during the week.

• Act on the steps you discussed in the activity to begin solving your problem. Remember, don’t give up. It takes time to solve problems and make changes.

• Share what you’ve learned today about solving problems with your family or friends.

A Bigger Truck?

If you are unable to watch the video, choose a group member to read the following script.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Two men formed a partnership. They built a small shed beside a busy road. They obtained a truck and drove it to a farmer’s field, where they purchased a truckload of melons for a dollar a melon. They drove the loaded truck to their shed by the road, where they sold their melons for a dollar a melon.

They drove back to the farmer’s field and bought another truckload of melons for a dollar a melon. Transporting them to the roadside, they again sold them for a dollar a melon. As they drove back toward the farmer’s field to get another load, one partner said to the other, “We’re not making much money on the business, are we?”

“No, we’re not,” his partner replied.

“Do you think we need a bigger truck?”

(“Focus and Priorities,” Ensign, May 2001, 82)