Lesson Prepration Guide for "For the Sake of Your Posterity"

In this talk, Elder Carlos A. Godoy shares a personal experience of helping a former member of the Church return to activity. He uses this experience to discuss the importance of faithfulness and the potential impact of our decisions on future generations. Elder Godoy addresses both inactive members and those who may not be fully faithful to their covenants, emphasizing the eternal consequences and blessings that are at stake.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Start by sharing a personal story or experience about a time when a decision you made had a significant impact on your family or future generations.
Ask the class to think about the legacy they want to leave for their posterity. What are the key principles or values they want to pass on?
Begin with a brief discussion about the concept of "posterity" in the Church. What does it mean to them and why is it important?

Topics

Recognizing Divine Intervention

Elder Godoy shared a personal experience where he met Omar, an inactive member of the Church, in a taxi. He saw this encounter as divine intervention, a call for Omar to return to the Church.

At that moment I realized I did not take the wrong taxi. It was not a coincidence! I told him who I was and that I was in his taxi because the Lord was calling him back to His fold.

How have you seen the Lord's hand in your life or the lives of others?
How can we recognize divine intervention in our daily lives?
In what ways can we help others return to the Church when given the opportunity?
How can we prepare ourselves to be instruments in the Lord's hands?
How can we maintain a perspective of seeing divine intervention in our lives?

Impact of Inactivity on Posterity

Elder Godoy emphasized the long-term impact of inactivity on future generations. He warned that the decision to leave the Church could deprive descendants of gospel blessings and protections.

Their children and grandchildren have been precluded from the protection and the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. Even more heartbreaking, they have lost the promises of an eternal family which were there one day.

What are some of the blessings and protections that come from being active in the Church?
How can our decisions today impact our posterity?
What are some ways we can help inactive members return to the Church?
How does the gospel help us build a legacy of faith for our posterity?
What can we do to ensure our posterity have the blessings of the gospel in their lives?

The Consequences of Lukewarm Membership

Elder Godoy warned against lukewarm membership, noting that it could have a negative impact on individuals and their posterity. He encouraged members to be more valiant in their testimony of Jesus.

Those with thoughts like these do not realize the negative impact this “lukewarm” type of membership will have on their lives and on the lives of their posterity. The parents may remain active, but the risk of losing their children is high—in this life and in eternity.

What does it mean to be a "lukewarm" member of the Church?
How can lukewarm membership affect our personal spiritual growth and our families?
What can we do to be more "valiant" in our testimonies?
How can we encourage others to be more committed to the gospel?
What are some ways we can strengthen our commitment to the Church and its teachings?

The Importance of Thinking About the Future

Elder Godoy stressed the importance of thinking about the future when making decisions, particularly those decisions that will impact our spiritual lives and the lives of our posterity.

President Dallin H. Oaks taught us: "The restored gospel of Jesus Christ encourages us to think about the future. … It teaches great ideas about the future to guide our actions today."

How can thinking about the future influence our decisions today?
What are some decisions we make today that will impact our future and the future of our families?
How does the gospel guide our actions and decisions for the future?
How can we apply President Oaks's teaching in our daily lives?
What are some ways we can teach our children to think about the future and make wise decisions?

Invitation to Return to the Covenant Path

Elder Godoy extended an invitation to those who have stepped off the covenant path to return, assuring them of blessings for themselves and their future generations.

From the bottom of my heart, I invite you to think about it, to look ahead and evaluate "where this will lead," and, if necessary, to be valiant enough to reshape your path for the sake of your posterity.

What does it mean to return to the covenant path?
How can we help others return to the covenant path?
What blessings are promised to those who return to the covenant path?
What does it mean to be "valiant" in reshaping our path?
How can we apply Elder Godoy's invitation in our own lives?

Additional Discussion Questions

What stood out to you most from Elder Godoy's talk?
How can we apply the principles from Elder Godoy's talk in our lives?
What can we learn from Omar's story about the importance of the gospel in our lives?
How can we ensure that we are not 'lukewarm' in our testimonies?
What are some ways we can strengthen our testimonies and commitment to the gospel?
Why is it important to consider the impact of our decisions on our posterity?
How can we help our children and grandchildren understand the importance of staying active in the Church?
What can we do to help those who have stepped off the covenant path return?
How can we be more valiant in our testimonies of Jesus Christ?
What are some ways we can think about and plan for the future in our daily lives?