Prophets of God
Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
Sister Spannaus invites youth to gain a personal testimony of God's living prophets today.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Begin by sharing a personal experience of following prophetic counsel and the impact it had on your life.
- Start with a brief discussion on what a prophet is and ask class members to share any personal experiences they have had with modern prophets.
- Play a short video clip of a recent message from the current prophet and ask the class to reflect on how it applies to their lives.
- Introduce the lesson by asking the class to think about what it means to have a personal testimony of the prophets and how it influences their daily choices.
- Share a story from the scriptures about a prophet and invite class members to discuss how the principles in that story apply to modern-day prophets.
Topics
Recognize Prophets Through the Holy Ghost
Sister Spannaus shared the story of the woman of Shunem who recognized Elisha as a prophet through the Holy Ghost. This story illustrates that we too can receive a personal testimony of God's prophets by opening our hearts and minds to their messages.
The woman says, “Now, I perceive.” It seems she invited Elisha to her house without knowing he was the prophet; she received her testimony through the Holy Ghost by listening carefully to what Elisha said and taught.
- How can we invite the Holy Ghost to help us recognize the words of the prophets?
- What experiences have you had that confirmed the truth of a prophet's teachings?
- Why is it important to have a personal testimony of living prophets?
- How can we act on the testimonies we receive of the prophets?
- What can we learn from the woman of Shunem about hospitality and recognizing spiritual leaders?
Prophets as Seers and Revelators
Prophets are called to be seers and revelators, which means they have the ability to see what others cannot and to prophesy future events. They receive commandments and revelations from the Lord, guiding us towards happiness and celestial glory.
Prophets are seers and revelators. That means they can see what others cannot see, and they can prophesy of future events.
- What does it mean to you that prophets are seers and revelators?
- How have prophets" revelations impacted your life or the Church?
- In what ways can we better prepare ourselves to receive prophetic guidance?
- What role do prophets play in helping us navigate future challenges?
- How can we strengthen our faith in the revelations given through prophets?
Prophets Testify of Jesus Christ
Prophets have the sacred duty to testify of Jesus Christ, His existence, ministry, and divinity. They proclaim the gospel and serve as inspired teachers and messengers of God to the world.
Prophets testify of Christ—His existence, His ministry, and His divinity.
- Why is it essential for prophets to testify of Jesus Christ?
- How can the testimonies of prophets strengthen our own testimony of Christ?
- What are some examples of prophetic testimonies of Christ that have inspired you?
- In what ways can we share the prophets" testimonies of Christ with others?
- How does understanding Christ's role enhance our appreciation for prophetic guidance?
Teaching Children Gospel Truths
Parents and family members have the responsibility to teach children the truths of the gospel. This involves having a personal testimony, promoting formal and informal teaching moments, and living according to gospel principles.
The Lord Himself taught Adam and Eve the truths of the plan of salvation. And then He said to them, “I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children.”
- What are some effective ways to teach children gospel truths?
- How can parents create an environment where gospel learning is a natural part of life?
- What challenges do families face in teaching gospel principles, and how can they overcome them?
- How does teaching children about the prophets strengthen family relationships?
- In what ways can family members support each other in gospel learning?
Obeying Prophetic Counsel
Sister Spannaus emphasized the importance of listening to and obeying the voice of the prophet. Obeying prophetic counsel is crucial for holding on to every good thing and preparing for the Second Coming of the Savior.
To listen to and obey the voice of the prophet is crucial to holding on to every good thing until the Second Coming of our Savior.
- What blessings have you experienced by obeying prophetic counsel?
- How can we better align our lives with the guidance of the prophets?
- What challenges might we face in following prophetic counsel, and how can we overcome them?
- Why is it important to act promptly on the words of the prophets?
- How does obedience to prophetic counsel help us prepare for the future?
Additional Discussion Questions
- How can we develop a stronger testimony of modern-day prophets?
- In what ways can prophets help us understand our personal challenges?
- How does the story of the woman of Shunem inspire you to support church leaders?
- What role do prophets play in uniting the Church worldwide?
- How can we discern between true prophetic counsel and other voices in the world?
- What are some ways we can share the messages of the prophets with those not of our faith?
- How does understanding the role of prophets enhance your study of the scriptures?
- What can we learn from the examples of past prophets that apply to our lives today?
- How do prophets help us understand the nature and character of God?
- In what ways can we express gratitude for the guidance of living prophets?
