Lesson Prepration Guide for "Sons and Daughters of God"

In his General Conference talk, Elder Rubén V. Alliaud of the Seventy explores the profound and joyous doctrine that we are literally children of God. He shares personal experiences and scriptural accounts to emphasize our divine nature and potential. Elder Alliaud addresses common misconceptions about the Godhead and underscores the importance of understanding our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through his message, he encourages us to recognize our divine identity and live in a way that reflects our eternal possibilities.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin with a personal story or experience where you felt or recognized your divine nature as a child of God. Invite class members to share similar experiences.
Start by showing a picture of Moses or Jesus and ask the class what they know about their divine missions. Use this to segue into the topic of recognizing our own divine nature.
Pose the question: "What does it mean to you to be a child of God?" Allow a few minutes for class members to write down their thoughts before sharing with the group.
Play a short video clip of a hymn or song about being children of God and discuss the feelings or thoughts it evokes.
Share a brief excerpt from the First Vision and discuss its significance in understanding our relationship with God.

Topics

Recognize Our Divine Nature

Elder Alliaud emphasized the profound truth that we are literally children of God, not metaphorically. This belief sets us apart from other Christian denominations and carries deep implications for our identity and potential.

“God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children.”

How does knowing you are a child of God influence your daily decisions?
What experiences have helped you internalize your divine nature?
Why do you think this doctrine is so central to Latter-day Saint beliefs?
How can we help others understand their divine nature?
In what ways does recognizing our divine nature affect our relationship with God?

Understand the Nature of God

The talk highlighted the unique Latter-day Saint belief that God the Father and Jesus Christ have glorified bodies of flesh and bones. This understanding affects how we view our potential to become like Them.

“We believe that God the Father "is an exalted man" with a glorified "body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; [and] the Son also."”

How does our understanding of the Godhead differ from other Christian denominations?
What impact does this belief have on your view of life after death?
Why is it important to have a correct understanding of the nature of God?
How can we gain a stronger testimony of the true nature of God?
What scriptures or teachings have strengthened your understanding of the Godhead?

Resist Satan’s Temptations

Elder Alliaud discussed how Satan often tempts us to question our divine nature, as he did with Moses and Jesus. Recognizing and affirming our identity as children of God helps us resist these temptations.

“Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God.”

What strategies can we use to resist temptations that challenge our identity?
How did Moses and Jesus respond to Satan's temptations, and what can we learn from them?
Why is it significant that Satan tempted Jesus to question His divine nature?
How can we support each other in affirming our divine identity?
What role does prayer and scripture study play in resisting temptation?

Embrace Our Eternal Potential

The talk encouraged us to embrace our potential to become like our Heavenly Father, as emphasized by Jesus’s commandment to be perfect. This potential is realized through Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

“Jesus’s commandment to be ‘perfect, even as [our] Father which is in heaven is perfect’ is a clear reflection of His high expectations and our eternal possibilities.”

What does it mean to you to strive for perfection?
How can we balance the command to be perfect with the reality of our imperfections?
What role does the Atonement play in our journey towards perfection?
How does understanding our eternal potential influence our daily actions?
What are some practical steps we can take to progress towards our eternal potential?

Recognize the Adversary’s Tactics

Elder Alliaud pointed out that Satan often uses our moments of weakness to make us doubt our divine nature and potential. Recognizing these tactics can help us stand firm in our faith.

“It is no wonder that every time we are taught about our divine nature and destiny, the adversary of all righteousness tempts us to call them into question.”

What are some common tactics the adversary uses to make us doubt our divine nature?
How can we recognize when we are being tempted to question our identity?
What can we learn from Jesus and Moses about resisting the adversary?
How can we strengthen our resolve to withstand these temptations?
What role does the Holy Ghost play in helping us discern the adversary’s tactics?

Additional Discussion Questions

How can we help others see themselves as children of God?
What experiences have strengthened your testimony of the Godhead?
How does our understanding of the Godhead influence our worship?
What are some ways we can 'think celestial' in our daily lives?
How can we teach our children about their divine nature?
What scriptures help you remember your divine identity?
How does the knowledge of being a child of God bring you peace?
What role does the temple play in understanding our divine potential?
How can we support each other in our journey to become like God?
What can we do to better hear and follow the promptings of the Spirit?