Lesson Prepration Guide for "Trust in the Lord"

In this talk, Elder Paul B. Pieper discusses the importance of trust in the Lord and how it is the foundation of our relationship with Him. He shares personal experiences and scriptural examples to illustrate the benefits of trusting in God, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. He also provides guidance on how to build and strengthen our trust in God.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin the lesson by playing a short game of "The Crazy Trust Exercise" as described by Elder Pieper. Discuss the feelings and thoughts that arose during the game.
Start the lesson by asking the class members to share experiences where they had to put their trust in someone else. Discuss the outcomes and how trust was built or broken.
Open the lesson by sharing a personal experience where you had to trust in the Lord and how it affected your relationship with Him.

Topics

Understanding the Role of Trust in Our Relationship with God

Elder Pieper emphasized the importance of trust in building a meaningful relationship with God. He explained that God has absolute trust in us and our divine potential, and our relationship with Him grows as we choose to trust Him.

A relationship can be built only when we choose to trust in Him... That kind of deep, enduring relationship can develop only when built upon perfect, total trust.

Why is trust essential in our relationship with God?
How does God show His trust in us?
Can you share an experience where your trust in God deepened your relationship with Him?
What are some ways we can strengthen our trust in God?
How can understanding our divine potential impact our trust in God?

Overcoming Barriers to Trusting God

Elder Pieper discussed how past experiences with betrayal and broken trust can impact our willingness to trust God. He shared the story of Leonid, who struggled to trust God due to past experiences, but eventually learned to trust through studying about God's character and experiencing His love.

These negative trust experiences with imperfect mortals may even impact our willingness to trust in a perfect Heavenly Father.

What are some barriers that can prevent us from trusting God?
Can you share a personal experience where you had to overcome a barrier to trust God?
How can understanding God's character and attributes help us trust Him?
What steps can we take to rebuild trust in God after it has been broken?
How can we help others who struggle with trusting God due to past experiences?

Trusting God in Challenging Times

Elder Pieper shared his personal experience of trusting God during a challenging time in his life. He emphasized that trusting God, even when things don't seem to be working out, is crucial in our spiritual growth.

In the very moment I was struggling with my earlier decision, God was inviting me to trust Him even more. Looking back, this was a critical point in my life—it was the moment when I realized that the best way to learn to trust in God was simply by trusting Him.

Why is it important to trust God during challenging times?
Can you share an experience where you had to trust God in a difficult situation?
How can trusting God during challenging times deepen our relationship with Him?
How can we maintain trust in God when things don't seem to be working out?
What can we learn from Elder Pieper's personal experience of trusting God?

God's Pattern for Building Trust

Elder Pieper discussed how God uses challenges to stretch our trust in Him and strengthen our relationship with Him. He used the story of Nephi from the Book of Mormon to illustrate this pattern.

God uses the same pattern with us. He extends us personal invitations to strengthen and deepen our trust in Him. Each time we accept and act on an invitation, our trust in God grows. If we ignore or decline an invitation, our progress stops until we’re ready to act on a new invitation.

How does God use challenges to stretch our trust in Him?
What can we learn from Nephi's experiences of trusting God?
Can you share an experience where a challenge helped you to trust God more?
How can we recognize and respond to God's invitations to trust Him?
How does our response to God's invitations affect our spiritual progress?

Choosing to Trust God Daily

Elder Pieper emphasized that regardless of our past, we can choose to trust God today and every day going forward. He promised that as we trust God, He will always be there to catch us, and our relationship with Him will grow stronger.

The good news is that regardless of the trust we may or may not have chosen to place in God in the past, we can choose to trust God today and every day going forward.

Why is it important to make a daily choice to trust God?
How can we make a conscious choice to trust God each day?
Can you share an experience where a daily choice to trust God made a difference in your life?
What are some ways we can remind ourselves to trust God daily?
How does our daily choice to trust God affect our relationship with Him?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we help others to trust God?
What role does prayer play in building trust in God?
How can our trust in God influence our decisions and actions?
How can we maintain trust in God when we don't understand His plan for us?
How does repentance relate to our trust in God?
How can we use the scriptures to strengthen our trust in God?
What role does faith play in our trust in God?
How can we distinguish between trusting God and relying on our own understanding?
How does our trust in God affect our ability to receive personal revelation?
What role does gratitude play in building trust in God?