October 2025 General Conference Lesson Helps: “Cheering Each Other On” — Sister J. Anette Dennis

Introduction

Sister Dennis helps us see that in the race of life, no one runs under the same conditions.
Every lap carries unseen weight, hidden wounds, or personal storms only the Savior fully knows.

Her invitation is simple but life-changing:
✨ Stop judging paces.
✨ Start cheering souls.
✨ Build covenant communities where everyone belongs—especially the slowest runner.

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Section 1 — “He Broke Five World Records”: Seeing Effort as Heaven Sees

“Only the Lord fully knows the actual level of difficulty with which each of us is running our race of life.”

Deep Discussion Questions

1. When have you silently compared your “lap time” to someone else’s—and what truth might the Savior speak to that comparison?
2. How would church culture shift if we measured faithfulness instead of speed?
3. Who in your circle might be breaking unseen “world records” just by showing up?
4. What keeps you from believing your current small effort might already be remarkable to Heaven?
5. How can we become more aware of the “degree of difficulty” others are running with?
6. What’s one way to practice mercy without lowering righteous standards?
7. How does Christ’s knowledge of our limitations free us from self-criticism?
8. When do you need to step off the bleachers and run beside instead of merely watching?
9. What would cheering sound like in your Relief Society room this month?
10. What habit of judging (yourself or others) are you ready to retire?

Simple Object Lessons

• Two backpacks – one light, one heavy. Let sisters feel the weight difference and discuss “degree of difficulty.”
• Finish-line ribbon – write a current challenge you’re finishing, tape to the board as a wall of courage.
• Stopwatch – show that Christ isn’t counting seconds; He’s counting hearts.
• Name card – each writes someone who needs cheering and one way to cheer them.
• Mirror – remind that sometimes the one we must cheer on is ourselves.

Personal Sharing Prompts

• A time your slow pace was sacred, not shameful.
• Someone who cheered for you when others judged.
• An unseen effort that took everything you had.
• A judgment you’re repenting of.
• A word of encouragement you’ll give this week.

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Section 2 — Building Belonging: “Covenant Communities Fueled by Love”

“Our congregations and families can be gathering places where we cheer each other on… We need each other.”

Deep Discussion Questions

1. What subtle signals in church culture make belonging easier—or harder—for you?
2. What does genuine inclusion feel like in your nervous system, not just in words?
3. How can we design Sunday experiences that say “welcome home” before “welcome to class”?
4. What does unity mean when differences remain?
5. How do we model cheering across generational, cultural, or political lines?
6. Which behaviors accidentally divide rather than unite?
7. How do you discern when someone needs quiet presence over conversation?
8. Where might charity require you to simply stay—with them—in discomfort?
9. What boundary keeps you from belonging fully, and how might Christ soften it?
10. What could “divine strength from unity” look like in your ward this month?

Simple Object Lessons

• Empty chair – label it “Reserved for Someone Who Feels Alone.”
• Puzzle pieces – each sister writes a strength that helps the whole picture fit.
• Heart chain – link paper hearts for every act of inclusion.
• Two jars – “Connection Moments” vs “Checklists.” Which fills faster?
• Welcome mat – write phrases that communicate belonging (“You’re part of us” > “You’re visiting”).

Personal Sharing Prompts

• A time you finally felt you belonged.
• A moment you felt unseen at church.
• One way you can model inclusion this week.
• A small act that made a huge difference.
• A time charity healed division.

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Section 3 — When Faith Feels Fragile

“What I really needed… was genuine love, understanding, and support, not judgment.”

Deep Discussion Questions

1. How do we respond when someone says they can’t feel God right now?
2. What’s the difference between helping and “project-ing” someone?
3. What fears keep people away from church even when they want to believe?
4. When has your empathy grown because of your own spiritual drought?
5. What words communicate compassion without clichés?
6. How can we normalize mental-health conversations at church?
7. How does Christ minister to doubters in scripture?
8. When have you assumed someone’s absence meant apathy—but it was actually pain?
9. How can Relief Society be a “rest station,” not a race checkpoint?
10. What message would the Savior whisper to someone sitting in the back row, trying not to cry?

Simple Object Lessons

• Two candles – one bright, one barely lit; both give light.
• Letter box – write anonymous notes of empathy for “someone struggling unseen.”
• Bridge drawing – label one side “doubt,” the other “love”; what planks connect them?
• Bandage – reminder that healing takes time.
• Quiet corner – designate a “safe seat” in class for anyone needing stillness.

Personal Sharing Prompts

• A season when faith felt distant.
• A word that helped you stay.
• Something you wish people knew about spiritual struggle.
• How you felt God’s love again.
• One gentle phrase you’ll use with someone in pain.

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Section 4 — “Do Unto Others”: Practicing the Savior’s Simple Gospel

“His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire.”

Deep Discussion Questions

1. What daily setting tempts you to forget the Golden Rule?
2. When is persuasion holy, and when does it cross into pressure?
3. How do your tone and body language preach your discipleship?
4. Where do you need to re-write your internal script from critique → cheer?
5. How can you speak correction wrapped in compassion?
6. What’s one conversation this week that could become holier with softer words?
7. What does the Savior’s “build and lift” pattern look like online?
8. How can we help youth learn this pattern early?
9. When has someone’s encouragement changed your course?
10. How will you measure your speech by how light others feel afterward?

Simple Object Lessons

• Mirror card – write how you want others to treat you on your worst day.
• Tone thermometer – mark where warmth drops; discuss ways to cool contention.
• Re-narrate prompt – rewrite gossip into grace.
• Golden ribbon – literal reminder of the Golden Rule.
• Paper weight – symbolic of words that “lift,” not “weigh down.”

Personal Sharing Prompts

• A time you were built instead of broken.
• A message that lifted you this week.
• One tone change you’ll practice.
• An online act of peacemaking you’ll do.
• A phrase that always comforts you.

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Section 5 — The Great Judge & the Great Cheerleader

“Only the Savior can fully judge… He will take into account your limitations, your capacity, your life experiences…”

Deep Discussion Questions

1. What difference does it make that judgment and cheering come from the same Person?
2. How might you speak to yourself if you fully trusted His compassion?
3. What hidden burdens are you carrying that the Lord already counts as strength?
4. How do we remind each other that belonging isn’t earned?
5. When have you seen Christ cheer someone on through you?
6. What do you think Heaven’s applause sounds like for your current effort?
7. How can we teach our children or youth to see progress as holiness?
8. What does “keep going” look like when you’re running out of energy?
9. How do we balance hope for change with acceptance of pace?
10. What promise in Sister Dennis’s words feels personally for you today?

Simple Object Lessons

• Small flag – write “Keep Going” for yourself or someone specific.
• Ribbon bookmark – symbol of the iron rod you’ll hold to this week.
• Name jar – add slips for people you’ll pray over as “runners” this month.
• Applause card – write what Heaven might be clapping for in you.
• Heart medal – “Finishing faithful > finishing fast.”

Personal Sharing Prompts

• A time you nearly quit but kept going.
• What Heaven’s cheer might sound like for you.
• How you’ll “stay” when you feel behind.
• A person you’ll pace for a lap this week.
• Your testimony that the Savior is both Judge and Cheerleader.

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Conclusion

Sister Dennis ends with hope for every soul who feels behind:

“Please keep going. Please stay. You do belong. The Lord needs you, and we need you.”

Invite your sisters to reflect quietly:

• Who needs to hear “Keep going” from me this week?
• What small cheer can I offer—today?
• Where do I need to believe it for myself?

Bear testimony that Zion is built in the stands as much as on the track—by women who refuse to critique the runners and instead fill the air with holy applause.

Posted By: Lia · In: Relief Society