We Are His Children
Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier, of the Seventy
Elder Giraud-Carrier testifies that we should see others as children of God and minister to them without judgment or prejudice.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Begin by asking the class to share experiences where they felt judged or misjudged based on their appearance or hearsay.
- Start with a discussion about labels and how they can often mislead our perception of others.
- Share the story of Samuel and Eliab from the talk, and invite class members to discuss the lessons we can learn from this story.
Topics
Seeing Beyond Outward Appearances
The speaker discussed the importance of looking beyond outward appearances, as illustrated by the stories of Samuel and Eliab, and Ananias and Saul. He stressed that we should not pass judgment based on appearance and hearsay, but rather strive to see as the Lord sees.
“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; … for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
- Why is it important to see beyond outward appearances?
- How can we avoid jumping to conclusions based on what we see or hear?
- Can you share an experience where you learned to see someone as the Lord sees them?
- How does seeing as the Lord sees affect our ability to minister to others?
- What steps can we take to improve our ability to see others as the Lord does?
Ministering to Others with Love and Compassion
Elder Giraud-Carrier shared an experience of his wife, Isabelle, ministering to an elderly widow in their ward. Despite the woman's initial resistance, Isabelle served her with love and compassion, seeing her as a child of God.
She never saw ugliness; she never smelled stench. She only ever saw a beautiful daughter of God in need of love and tender care.
- What can we learn from Isabelle's example of ministering?
- How can seeing others as children of God influence our ability to serve them?
- Can you share an experience where you were able to minister to someone by seeing them as a child of God?
- How can we develop the kind of love and compassion that Isabelle showed?
- What challenges might we face in ministering to others, and how can we overcome them?
Avoiding Labels and Judging Others
The speaker warned against the dangers of labels and judging others, stating that these actions divide us and restrict our thinking. He emphasized that labels are offensive to our Maker and urged us to honor each other more than we honor labels.
“The adversary rejoices in labels because they divide us and restrict the way we think about ourselves and each other. How sad it is when we honor labels more than we honor each other.
- How can labels restrict the way we think about ourselves and others?
- Why is it important to honor each other more than we honor labels?
- Can you share an experience where you felt labeled or judged, and how it affected you?
- What steps can we take to avoid labeling or judging others?
- How can understanding that we are all children of God help us to avoid labeling and judging?
Recognizing Our Divine Origin and Potential
Elder Giraud-Carrier emphasized that despite our different cultures, socioeconomic circumstances, and mortal heritages, we are all children of God with the same divine origin and limitless potential through the grace of Jesus Christ.
But we are His children, all of us, without exception. We have the same divine origin and the same limitless potential through the grace of Jesus Christ.
- How does understanding our divine origin and potential influence our interactions with others?
- Why is it important to recognize the divine potential in others?
- Can you share an experience where recognizing your divine potential helped you in a difficult situation?
- How can we help others to recognize their divine potential?
- What changes might we need to make in our lives as we strive to recognize our divine origin and potential?
Covenant Belonging and Treating Each Other in a Higher, Holier Way
The speaker discussed the concept of "covenant belonging", where we see each other through the lens of our sacred covenants rather than through the distorted lens of mortality. He encouraged us to interact with others in a higher, holier way.
In so doing, we begin to eliminate our own natural prejudices and biases toward others, which in turn helps them minimize their prejudices and biases toward us, in a wonderful virtuous cycle.
- What does "covenant belonging" mean to you?
- How can seeing others through the lens of our covenants change our interactions with them?
- Can you share an experience where understanding your covenants helped you to treat others in a higher, holier way?
- What steps can we take to eliminate our prejudices and biases toward others?
- How can striving to interact with others in a higher, holier way affect our relationships and our communities?
Additional Discussion Questions
- How can we apply the principle of seeing others as the Lord sees them in our daily lives?
- What can we do to avoid passing judgement based on appearance and hearsay?
- How can understanding that we are all children of God influence our interactions with others?
- What steps can we take to avoid labeling and judging others?
- How can we help others to recognize their divine potential?
- What changes might we need to make in our lives as we strive to recognize our divine origin and potential?
- How can seeing others through the lens of our covenants change our interactions with them?
- What steps can we take to eliminate our prejudices and biases toward others?
- How can striving to interact with others in a higher, holier way affect our relationships and our communities?
- How can we better follow the prophet's invitation to treat each other in a higher, holier way?
