Lesson Prepration Guide for "Love Is Spoken Here"

In his talk "Love Is Spoken Here", Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explores the languages of gospel love. He discusses how love is communicated in different ways, and how it is manifested through warmth and reverence, service and sacrifice, and covenant belonging. Elder Gong also highlights the importance of expressing love in our interactions within the Church and our personal lives.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin by sharing a personal story about a time when you felt loved and appreciated. Discuss how that experience affected your relationship with others and your understanding of God's love.
Ask the class to share their favorite love languages and discuss how understanding and speaking these languages can enhance our relationships and our ability to serve.
Start with a discussion on the concept of "Love is spoken here." Ask class members to share what this phrase means to them.

Topics

Understanding the Gospel Language of Warmth and Reverence

Elder Gong emphasizes the importance of expressing love in our families and in our worship. He discusses how children around the world know they are loved by their parents" actions. He also talks about the reverent language we use in the Church to express our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

With warmth and reverence, our sacrament and other meetings focus on Jesus Christ. We speak reverently of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, personal and real, not only of atonement in the abstract.

How can we better express love in our families?
What are some ways we can show reverence in our worship?
How does the language we use in the Church reflect our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Why is it important to express our love for each other and for God?
Can you share a personal experience where you felt God's love through someone else's actions?

Embracing the Gospel Language of Service and Sacrifice

Elder Gong talks about the importance of service and sacrifice in expressing our love for each other and our commitment to Jesus Christ. He discusses how Church callings provide opportunities for service, and how service and sacrifice can bring us closer to Jesus Christ and each other.

As we gather again at church each week to honor and rejoice in the Sabbath day, we can express our sacramental covenant commitment to Jesus Christ and each other through our Church callings, fellowship, sociality, and service.

What are some ways we can serve others in our Church callings?
How does service and sacrifice bring us closer to Jesus Christ and each other?
Can you share a personal experience where you felt God's love through service or sacrifice?
How can we encourage others to serve and sacrifice in the Church?
Why is it important to serve and sacrifice in the Church?

Experiencing the Gospel Language of Covenant Belonging

Elder Gong discusses how covenant relationships with God and each other can heal and sanctify us. He explains that God knows us better and loves us more than we know or love ourselves, and that through covenant belonging, we can become more than we are.

Jesus Christ offers a better way—relationships founded on divine covenant, stronger than the cords of death. Covenant belonging with God and each other can heal and sanctify our most cherished relationships.

What does it mean to have a covenant relationship with God and each other?
How can covenant belonging heal and sanctify us?
Can you share a personal experience where you felt God's love through a covenant relationship?
How can we strengthen our covenant relationships with God and each other?
Why is covenant belonging important in our journey towards exaltation?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we better speak the languages of gospel love in our daily lives?
What are some ways we can show love to those who may not speak our language or share our culture?
How can we help new members of the Church understand and speak the languages of gospel love?
How can we use the languages of gospel love to draw closer to other Christians and friends?
What can we learn from the way children express and perceive love?
How can we cultivate a culture of love and respect in our Church meetings and activities?
How does our understanding of God's love influence our ability to love others?
In what ways can we express our love for God and Jesus Christ in our daily lives?
How can we use the languages of gospel love to invite others to come unto Christ?
How can we create a home environment where 'love is spoken here'?