Lesson 11 Teacher Material

Choosing an Eternal Companion

The Lord wants to help us in our efforts to find an eternal companion. In this lesson, students will explain how they can exercise faith in Jesus Christ as they make efforts to build relationships with members of the opposite sex and get married. Students will also be invited to select Christlike attributes they can strive to develop that will help them prepare for an eternal marriage or be better suited to an eternal marriage.

Suggestions for Teaching

The Lord expects us to act with faith in Him as we seek an eternal companion.

Divide the class into small groups, and designate a leader for each group. Provide each student with part 1 of the following scenario and the questions that follow. Instruct students to read the scenario aloud together and discuss the questions. (If possible, you might want to send part 1 of the scenario to students sometime before class so they can come having read and thought about it.)

Note: Consider ways you can adapt the scenario to make it more relevant to students’ circumstances, questions, or culture.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Small-group discussions can help students learn more deeply. Small groups allow more students to actively participate in discussions. Having the opportunity to share in small groups can also instill confidence in more reserved students. Consider designating a group leader, providing clear instructions of what students are expected to do, setting a time limit, inviting each member to participate, and encouraging students to be prepared to share what they have learned.

Scenario, Part 1

The Eternal Family Teacher Material—Lesson 11

Luis has been home from his mission for almost two years. Because he worries about providing for a future family, he has decided to work part time as he puts himself through school. His time is limited, but he enjoys his weekly institute class and makes it a priority. Luis typically checks social media and plays games on the bus or before classes. He hasn’t met many girls since he has been home. He tells his family that he feels like it would be better to wait to seriously pursue marriage until after he is done with school. He thinks that if he is meant to get married sooner, it will happen.

Emma attends the same institute class as Luis but has never met him. She usually sits with her friends and rarely talks to anyone else. She is frustrated with meeting men and dating in general. She worries that if she begins another relationship, it will end, like all the others in her past. She is emotionally tired and doesn’t feel she has enough energy to get into another relationship. She finished school a year ago and has a full-time job. She worries she might never meet her true love or be sealed in the temple and wonders if she should date someone outside of the Church.

After reading the scenario together, discuss the following questions:

• What do you think of Luis’s and Emma’s worries?

• Considering what we learned from section 1 of the preparation material, what advice might be helpful for Luis? What advice might be helpful for Emma?

• If you haven’t already talked about the following passages in your group discussion, read them together and discuss how they might relate to Luis and Emma: Proverbs 3:5–6; 2 Nephi 22:2; Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28. How have you exercised or how could you exercise faith in the Lord in your efforts to find an eternal companion?

© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Scenario, Part 1

After students have had sufficient time to discuss the scenario and questions, invite a few of them to share what they learned or felt during their discussions. As students share you might help them identify truths similar to the following: Faith in Jesus Christ will help us have courage and patience in our efforts to find an eternal companion. God expects us to use our agency to further His plan. Consider writing on the board the truths students identify.

Developing Christlike qualities and seeking revelation will help us prepare to marry.

Provide each student with part 2 of the scenario. Instruct them to read it and discuss in their groups the questions that follow.

Scenario, Part 2

The Eternal Family Teacher Material—Lesson 11

After an institute lesson on eternal marriage, Luis and Emma both feel impressed to make some changes and trust in the Lord more. When Luis arrives for institute class the next week, he sits next to Emma and introduces himself. Over time they become good friends. They plan lots of activities that allow them to spend time together and learn about each other. In time, they develop strong feelings for each other.

Emma has some concerns, though. She has a list of qualities she wants in a husband. Luis has many of these qualities, but not all of them.

Luis also begins to feel nervous. He loves Emma, but having watched his own parents’ marriage dissolve, he fears making a mistake in choosing whom to marry. He carefully considers everything he has learned about Emma from their many conversations and experiences together. He feels that their goals align and wants to ask Emma to marry him, but there are still so many unknown factors. Luis prays for a sign that Emma is the right choice. So far, nothing has happened.

• Reflect on what you learned from section 2 of the preparation material. What could help Emma in her approach to what she is looking for in a potential spouse? What problems can we face if our expectations of a potential spouse are too low or too high?

• What might be helpful for Luis to understand about his fears? What might be helpful for him to understand about receiving revelation? (You may want to review section 3 of the preparation material.)

• What activities or experiences can help two people develop a friendship and learn more about each other’s qualities, personality, and values? What are one or two qualities of the Savior that you hope to develop in preparation for marriage or as you continue in your marriage?

© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Scenario, Part 2

After sufficient time, invite a few students to share what they learned or felt during their discussions.

Review any of the material in sections 2 and 3 of the preparation material that students may benefit from. You might specifically identify the following truths: We marry potential, not perfection. If you hope an eternal companion possesses certain spiritual qualities, seek to develop them yourself. If we seek the Lord’s guidance in our decisions, He will speak peace to our minds and we will feel when our choices are right.

If there are married students in your class, you might invite one or two of them to share their experiences with any of these truths. If you are married, consider sharing your own experience as well. Testify of the Lord’s desire to help students in their journey to find an eternal companion.

You might ask students if they have any questions related to today’s lesson. If they do, spend some time discussing their questions as a class. Then give students a few minutes at the end of class to record any impressions they may have felt about their own situations. Invite them to determine how they can continue to exercise their faith in the Lord in their dating efforts or what they might need to do to exercise more faith in Him.

For Next Time

Invite students to prepare for the next class by studying the preparation material and asking a happily married couple how they nurture their marriage and keep their relationship strong.