“Here Am I, Send Me”

Remember your divine identity and eternal purpose

President Porter teaches that we are much older than our earthly age because we lived as spirits before birth. She emphasizes that each person was born with gifts, has a purpose, and can make a difference for good.

Although you don’t remember, you spent a long time in the spirit world learning and growing.

On the day you were born, your body was new, but you had lived as a spirit for many years.

You were born with gifts. You have a purpose. And you have the ability to make a difference for good.

• Our true identity begins before mortal life.
• We lived with Heavenly Father as spirits before coming to earth.
• Each person came to earth with God-given gifts.
• Every child of God has a divine purpose.
• Even young disciples can influence the world for good.

• When have you felt that God knew you personally and had a purpose for your life?
• What gifts or strengths has the Lord helped you recognize in yourself or in your children?
• When have you seen a child or youth make a real difference for good?
• How has remembering your divine identity helped you in a difficult moment?

Trust Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness

The talk explains that Heavenly Father’s loving plan allows us to come to earth, receive bodies, choose obedience, and return to live with Him and our families in joy and peace.

Heavenly Father loves His children so much that He wants each of us to receive all the blessings He enjoys.

Before we came to earth, He shared with us His plan of happiness.

As part of His plan, we would need to come to earth, gain a body, and choose to live His loving commandments.

Then we could return to live with Him and our families in joy and peace.

• Heavenly Father’s plan is motivated by love.
• The purpose of mortality includes receiving a body and exercising agency.
• Keeping God’s commandments is part of returning to Him.
• The plan includes the hope of eternal family joy and peace.
• Understanding the plan gives meaning to life and discipleship.

• How has the doctrine of Heavenly Father’s plan brought you comfort or direction?
• When has thinking about eternal families changed the way you faced a trial?
• What experiences have strengthened your gratitude for mortal life and agency?
• How have the Lord’s commandments shown themselves to be loving in your life?

Look to Jesus Christ as the One sent to save us

President Porter teaches that Jesus Christ willingly accepted the Father’s call, came to earth, taught the way to live, suffered for our sins and challenges, died, and was resurrected. Through Him, we can overcome all that is hard and unfair.

Do you know who Heavenly Father chose to help us? Yes, Jesus!

Jesus Christ had so much love for Heavenly Father and for us, He said, "Here am I, send me."

Heavenly Father sent Jesus to earth.

In Gethsemane, Jesus Christ suffered the pain of all our sins and challenges.

He died on the cross and then, in the greatest miracle of all, He was resurrected!

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, won the battle over everything that is hard and unfair in our lives.

• Jesus Christ was chosen and willing to fulfill the Father’s plan.
• His willingness was rooted in love for the Father and for us.
• He taught us how to love God and others.
• His Atonement covers both sins and life’s challenges.
• His Resurrection is the great Easter victory.
• Because of Him, hope is stronger than suffering, injustice, and death.

• When have you felt the Savior help you through something hard or unfair?
• How has Easter or the doctrine of the Resurrection become more meaningful to you?
• What personal experience has taught you that Jesus Christ truly understands you?
• When has the Savior’s example of willing obedience inspired you to act?

Stay close to Jesus Christ and let Him shape your life

The talk invites disciples to learn about Jesus Christ, keep the commandments to love God and others, and trust Him to help them grow, find comfort, and become who they are meant to be.

Jesus Christ knows you, He understands you, and He loves you.

Jesus has done everything to help you. Stay close to Him.

Learn all you can about Him.

As you try to keep the most important commandments to love God and love others, He will help you grow into the magnificent person you are meant to be!

He will help you be happier, learn faster, feel comfort, make friends, and have more opportunities.

• The Savior’s relationship with us is personal.
• He knows, understands, and loves each of us.
• Discipleship includes learning of Christ and staying near Him.
• Love of God and love of others are central commandments.
• Christ helps us grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, and in daily life.

• What habits have helped you stay close to Jesus Christ?
• When have you felt the Savior’s love in a very personal way?
• How has loving God and loving others changed your home or relationships?
• What is an example of the Lord helping you grow into more than you could become alone?

Answer the Lord’s call with willing prayer and action

President Porter invites listeners to begin each day with purpose by praying, “Here am I, send me,” and then listening for promptings. The Lord may send us to comfort, help, learn, teach, and stand for truth.

Wake up each day with purpose and confidence, knowing that Jesus will walk with you.

Follow His example and say in prayer to Heavenly Father, "Here am I, send me."

Then listen for thoughts and ideas.

What will He send you to do?

Through His Spirit, He may send you to comfort someone who is lonely, help your family, learn important lessons at school, or teach someone to pray.

He can help you stand for truth so you can bring His light to others.

• Discipleship begins with willingness.
• Prayer can be an offering of availability to God.
• The Lord guides through thoughts, ideas, and the Spirit.
• He sends us in ordinary settings like home, school, and church.
• Standing for truth is part of being sent by the Lord.
• Jesus walks with us as we act.

• When have you prayed for guidance and then received a clear prompting?
• What is a time the Lord sent you to help someone in a simple way?
• How have you seen courage to stand for truth come after prayer?
• What daily practice helps you notice spiritual impressions?

Offer what you have and trust God to magnify it

Using the story of the boy with five loaves and two fishes, President Porter teaches that we do not need to solve everything ourselves. When we offer what we have, Heavenly Father can provide miracles and make small and simple things great.

Somewhere in this large group there was a young boy who had five loaves of bread and two small fishes.

He knew that this food could not feed very many people, but he decided to give Jesus what he had.

Just as the young boy did not have to figure out how a small amount of bread and fish could feed so many people, you do not need to worry about fixing all the problems around you.

Heavenly Father can provide miracles when you simply offer what you have.

When you say, "Here am I, send me," Heavenly Father can take something small and simple and make it great!

• The Lord values willing offerings, even when they seem small.
• We are not responsible to solve every problem by ourselves.
• Faith means giving what we have to the Savior.
• God performs miracles through simple acts of consecration.
• Small and simple efforts can bless many people.

• When have you offered something small and seen the Lord magnify it?
• What experience taught you that you did not need to have all the answers before serving?
• How has the Lord used your limited time, talents, or resources to bless others?
• When have you seen a child’s simple act produce an unexpectedly great result?

Notice how children and disciples bless others through simple service

President Porter shares examples from around the world of children reading scripture with family, sharing food, serving sick children, speaking of faith, and bearing testimony. These examples show that discipleship is real, practical, and powerful.

I have seen children all over the world who are offering what they have to bring God’s love to their families, church, friends, and communities.

In the Caribbean, a mother told me that the Spirit lifted her heavy heart when her young son asked her to read the Book of Mormon with him.

In Ghana, Primary children told me they share their lunch at school with others who don’t have any.

In Cambodia, I saw sick children in a local hospital light up when they were given activity kits made by Primary children who cared about them.

Chloe and Eli taught adults what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

At that moment, every person looked up, smiled, and raised their hands. All thoughts were on our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a sacred moment of joy!

• Children can be true disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Simple acts of service invite the Spirit and lift burdens.
• Sharing, kindness, and testimony are forms of discipleship.
• Faith can be expressed confidently in public and private settings.
• Testimony centered on Jesus Christ brings joy and unity.

• What example from a child or youth has taught you about real discipleship?
• When has a simple act of kindness in your ward or family brought the Spirit?
• Have you seen someone’s testimony redirect a room toward the Savior?
• What personal story could you share about serving with something simple, like time, food, words, or attention?

Seek blessings now and later by bringing people to Christ

The talk teaches that striving to bring ourselves and others closer to Jesus Christ brings blessings in the present and prepares us for eternal joy in the future.

When you strive to bring yourself and others closer to Jesus, you will receive blessings now and later.

Today you can make choices that will help you change and grow now and prepare you for blessings of love and joy forever.

And then move forward, walking with Him to bring yourself and others to Christ.

[You] are cov’nant children with a gift to give.

• Discipleship blesses both the present and the future.
• Choices made today shape spiritual growth now.
• Those same choices prepare us for eternal blessings.
• We are covenant children with something meaningful to offer.
• Helping others come to Christ is part of our own journey to Him.

• What blessings have come into your life now because of efforts to follow Christ?
• How have small daily choices led to long-term spiritual growth for you?
• When have you felt joy from helping someone else come closer to the Savior?
• What does it mean to you personally to be a covenant child with a gift to give?

Bear witness of the Father’s plan and the Savior’s Atonement

President Porter closes with testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and that through the Father’s plan and the Savior’s Atonement, families can live joyfully forever in Their presence.

I bear my witness that God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you.

Because of Heavenly Father’s plan and Jesus Christ’s Atonement, all of us can receive the blessing of living joyfully forever with our families in Their presence.

• The message of the talk is grounded in testimony.
• Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each person.
• The plan of salvation and the Atonement work together for our salvation.
• Eternal family joy is possible through Jesus Christ.
• A talk on this message can appropriately center on personal testimony.

• How have you gained your own witness of Heavenly Father’s love?
• What experience has strengthened your testimony of Jesus Christ’s Atonement?
• When has the hope of eternal family life brought peace to your heart?
• What simple testimony could you share that points others to the Savior?