Lesson Prepration Guide for "Motions of a Hidden Fire"

In this deeply personal and inspiring talk, President Jeffrey R. Holland shares his recent experiences with loss, illness, and revelation. He discusses the power of prayer, the importance of faith, and the eternal nature of our existence. Through his experiences, he bears testimony of the love of God and the necessity of deep commitment to our covenants.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin the lesson by discussing the importance of prayer in our lives and the different ways we can pray.
Share a personal experience where prayer has significantly impacted your life and invite others to share theirs.
Start with a discussion about the trials and tribulations that the speaker faced and how he relied on prayer and faith to overcome them.

Topics

Experiencing Personal Trials

President Holland shares his personal experiences of loss and illness, emphasizing the role of faith and prayer during these difficult times.

The most personal and painful of all these recent experiences has been the passing of my beloved wife, Pat. Another experience began 48 hours after my wife’s burial. At that time, I was rushed to the hospital in an acute medical crisis.

How can we rely on our faith during personal trials?
What can we learn from President Holland's experiences?
How can we support others who are experiencing personal trials?
How does prayer play a role during times of trial?
How can trials strengthen our faith and relationship with God?

The Power and Importance of Prayer

President Holland emphasizes the vital role of prayer in our lives, asserting that God hears and responds to every prayer we offer.

I testify that God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection.

How has prayer influenced your personal relationship with God?
How can we make our prayers more meaningful?
What experiences have you had where you felt God answered your prayers?
How can we maintain faith when our prayers are not answered in the way we hope?
What can we learn from the Savior's example of prayer?

Preparing for Eternal Life

President Holland stresses the importance of being committed, believing, and covenant-keeping disciples in preparation for eternal life.

I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples.

What does it mean to be a committed, believing, and covenant-keeping disciple?
How can we better prepare for eternal life?
What changes can we make in our lives to be more committed to our covenants?
How can we help others prepare for eternal life?
What role does repentance play in preparing for eternal life?

The Role of Community in Healing

President Holland expresses gratitude for the prayers of the Church community during his time of illness, highlighting the power of collective prayer.

I will be eternally grateful for the supplication of thousands of people who, like the importuning widow, repeatedly sought heaven’s intervention in my behalf.

How can we support others in our community through prayer?
What experiences have you had with collective prayer?
How can we strengthen our church community through prayer?
What role does the Church community play in our spiritual healing and growth?
How can we be more proactive in praying for others in our community?

The Savior's Example of Prayer

President Holland reflects on the Savior's frequent and earnest prayers, emphasizing the importance of following His example.

Ultimately, we can look to the example of the Savior, who prayed so very, very often.

How can we follow the Savior's example of prayer in our own lives?
Why is it important to study the Savior's prayers?
What can we learn from the Savior's prayers in the scriptures?
How can the Savior's example of prayer strengthen our own prayers?
What changes can we make to our prayers to more closely follow the Savior's example?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we strengthen our faith during times of personal trials?
How can we keep our prayers focused on the Savior?
How can we help others strengthen their prayers?
How does prayer help us become more Christlike?
What can we do to be more committed in our prayers?
How can we use prayer to overcome temptations?
How can we better understand God's answers to our prayers?
What role does gratitude play in our prayers?
How can we better express our gratitude to God in our prayers?
How can we use prayer to prepare for eternal life?