Do You Want to Be Happy?
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Begin the lesson by asking the class members if they want to be happy and what they think could make them truly happy.
- Start the lesson with a story or personal experience about a time when keeping a commandment brought happiness.
- Open the lesson by discussing the concept of covenants in the church and how they can lead to happiness.
Topics
Understanding the Covenant Path
The covenant path refers to a series of covenants that connect us to Christ and give us access to His eternal power. These covenants start with faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, followed by baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. The path continues with the making of more covenants throughout our lives, leading to the ordinances of the temple.
According to Elder Dale G. Renlund, “the term covenant path refers to a series of covenants whereby we come to Christ and connect to Him. Through this covenant bond, we have access to His eternal power. The path begins with faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, followed by baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.”
- What does the "covenant path" mean to you?
- How does making and keeping covenants connect us to Christ?
- What are some of the covenants we make throughout our lives?
- How do we renew these covenants?
- How does the covenant path lead to the ordinances of the temple?
Returning to the Covenant Path
Sometimes we may fail to keep our covenants, but it is never too late to return to the covenant path. We can seek Heavenly Father's guidance and receive a customized answer. Keeping the commandments makes our lives happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated.
Sometimes when we make covenants, we fail to keep them. When this happens, how can you return to the covenant path? Let me share some examples of returning to the covenant path.
- What can we do when we fail to keep our covenants?
- How can we seek guidance from Heavenly Father in such situations?
- How does keeping the commandments affect our lives?
- Can you share a personal experience of returning to the covenant path?
- How can we help others return to the covenant path?
Receiving Callings During Difficult Times
Sometimes, the Lord asks us to serve in callings during our most difficult times. These callings are often what we need the most at that time. The Lord sees our needs and provides the strength we need, with blessings ready to be poured out upon us as we faithfully serve.
We learned that when we think it is not a good time for us to receive a calling, it may be the time we need that calling the most. Whenever the Lord asks us to serve in any calling, whether it is a lighter or heavier calling, He sees our needs. He provides the strength we need and has blessings ready to be poured out upon us as we faithfully serve.
- How can receiving a calling during a difficult time be a blessing?
- How does the Lord provide strength during these times?
- Can you share a personal experience where a calling came at a difficult time, but turned out to be a blessing?
- How can we faithfully serve in our callings during difficult times?
- How can we help others to see the blessings in their callings?
The Power of Keeping Covenants
Keeping covenants with God yokes us to the Savior, giving us access to His strength and redeeming power. This power strengthens us to withstand trials, temptations, and heartaches. Keeping covenants makes life easier and gives us increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.
“Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, the Savior is beckoning us to rely upon and pull together with Him, even though our best efforts are not equal to and cannot be compared with His. As we trust in and pull our load with Him during the journey of mortality, truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light.”
- How does keeping covenants yoke us to the Savior?
- What power and blessings come from keeping our covenants?
- How does keeping covenants make life easier?
- Can you share a personal experience where keeping a covenant gave you strength or made life easier?
- How can we encourage others to keep their covenants?
Additional Discussion Questions
- How does staying on the covenant path lead to happiness?
- What are some challenges you've faced in staying on the covenant path?
- How can we help others stay on the covenant path?
- How have you seen the blessings of keeping covenants in your life?
- What steps can we take to return to the covenant path when we've strayed?
- How can we better understand the covenants we've made?
- What can we do to strengthen our commitment to our covenants?
- How does the power of Christ become accessible to us through our covenants?
- What role does repentance play in staying on the covenant path?
- How can we support family members or friends who are struggling to stay on the covenant path?
