If you’re teaching Young Men or Young Women this week, Doctrine and Covenants 85–87 offers a great opportunity to talk about standing strong in your faith, staying spiritually prepared, and trusting the Lord even when the world feels uncertain. These sections include prophecies about future challenges and reminders that the Lord is in control and expects us to be faithful in our responsibilities. To help you make your lesson more engaging and relatable, we’ve put together a collection of interactive questions, creative object lesson ideas, and personal sharing prompts. These teaching helps are designed to spark meaningful conversations, invite the Spirit, and help your youth see how they can live with faith and confidence in today’s world.
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The Lord wants me “to keep a history.”
Engaging Questions:
- Why do you think the Lord cares about us keeping a personal or family history?
- What’s something meaningful from your life that you’d want future generations to know?
- Have you ever read something in an ancestor’s journal or story that strengthened your faith?
- What are some simple ways to “keep a history” that fit your life right now? (writing, voice memos, photos, social media highlights, etc.)
- How does recording spiritual experiences help you remember what the Lord has done for you?
- If you could ask one question to an ancestor or future descendant, what would it be—and why?
- What role does keeping a record play in recognizing and remembering God’s hand in your life?
- How can sharing your personal story or testimony help someone else in their faith journey?
- What keeps you from recording your experiences—and how could you overcome that?
- What’s one thing you could write, record, or save this week that would help preserve your personal or family spiritual history?
Object Lessons:
1. The Blank Photo Album
Materials:
- A photo album or scrapbook with mostly blank pages
- One page filled with photos, captions, or memories
Lesson Overview:
Show the album and ask which pages tell a story. Point out that if we don’t record our stories, they’ll be forgotten. Just like an empty photo album has potential but no meaning, our lives need recorded memories to bless others and ourselves.
Discussion Points:
- What kinds of moments are worth recording?
- How can your story strengthen someone else?
2. The Faded Footprints
Materials:
- A tray of sand or flour
- Someone to walk through it
Lesson Overview:
Have someone walk through the sand. Over time or with wind, the footprints begin to fade. Explain that unrecorded memories disappear, but when we write them down (in journals, letters, or digital means), we preserve a trail of faith.
Discussion Points:
- What spiritual experience do you never want to forget?
- How does writing or recording help strengthen testimony?
3. The Candle Passed On
Materials:
- A lit candle and several unlit ones
Lesson Overview:
Use one candle to light another, then another. Explain that our recorded testimonies are like light passed on to future generations. Keeping a record allows your testimony to continue burning, even when you’re not there.
Discussion Points:
- What story or lesson would you want to pass on to future family members?
- How do journals or personal histories help future readers feel the Spirit?
4. The Forgotten Password
Materials:
- A slip of paper with a “forgotten” password written on it
- A phone or computer mock login
Lesson Overview:
Pretend you’re trying to log in but can’t remember the password. Show the paper with the correct one. Make the connection: without records, we forget important details—including the feelings and lessons from spiritual experiences.
Discussion Points:
- What spiritual “passwords” (testimony moments, revelation) do you want to remember?
- How does writing help you remember what God has taught you?
5. The Domino Record
Materials:
- A line of dominoes
Lesson Overview:
Start tipping a line of dominoes and explain that each one represents a life or a testimony. When we record our spiritual experiences, we become part of a chain reaction of faith that strengthens generations.
Discussion Points:
- Whose record (journal, story, conference talk) has influenced your faith?
- How can your words continue that spiritual chain?
6. The Jar of Memories
Materials:
- A jar with blank slips of paper and pens
Lesson Overview:
Invite everyone to write down a small spiritual experience or memory and place it in the jar. Explain this is like creating a personal or family history one memory at a time. Over time, it becomes a treasure of truth and testimony.
Discussion Points:
- What’s something spiritual you could write down today?
- How might your history bless someone in your family?
Personal Sharing Prompts:
- Think of a time when writing in your journal helped you recognize the Lord’s hand in your life. What did you learn from recording that experience?
- Think of a time when reading an old journal entry brought back a spiritual insight or answered a current question. How did keeping a record bless you later?
- Think of a time when you preserved a family story, photo, or testimony. How did that effort strengthen your sense of identity or purpose?
- Think of a time when someone else’s written testimony or personal history inspired your faith. What did their record help you see more clearly?
- Think of a time when you shared a personal story from your life and felt the Spirit confirm its value. How did others respond?
- Think of a time when keeping a spiritual record—like a gratitude list, revelation journal, or study notes—helped you grow closer to God. What made that habit meaningful?
- Think of a time when you realized that even “ordinary” experiences were worth remembering and recording. What changed your perspective?
- Think of a time when writing down your feelings or impressions during a difficult time helped bring peace or clarity. How did that process invite the Spirit?
- Think of a time when your written testimony or memories helped a family member understand their spiritual heritage. What impact did it have?
- Think of a time when you felt prompted to start or return to keeping a personal history. What helped you act on that prompting?
The Spirit speaks with a “still small voice.”
Engaging Questions:
- How would you describe the “still small voice” of the Spirit in your own words?
- Have you ever felt a quiet prompting from the Holy Ghost? What helped you recognize it?
- Why do you think the Lord often speaks to us in a quiet, gentle way instead of something louder or more obvious?
- What helps you feel more spiritually “tuned in” to hear the Spirit’s whisperings?
- Can you think of a time when ignoring or missing a prompting taught you something important?
- What are some things that can drown out the still small voice in our daily lives?
- How does the way the Spirit speaks to you differ from how He might speak to others?
- What can you do if you’re trying to hear the Spirit but feel like nothing’s coming?
- Why is it important to act quickly or faithfully when the Spirit prompts you—even if it seems small?
- What’s one way you can make more space in your life this week to better hear and follow the Holy Ghost?
Object Lessons:
1. Whisper vs. Noise
Materials:
- A whispered message
- Background noise (e.g., recorded sounds, fans, or people talking)
Lesson Overview:
Ask someone to try to hear a whispered message while there’s background noise. Then repeat it in silence. Show how the Spirit speaks softly, and we must quiet our minds and hearts to hear Him.
Discussion Points:
- What kinds of “noise” can make it hard to feel the Spirit?
- How can you make space in your life for the still small voice?
2. Feather Drop
Materials:
- A feather or small lightweight object
Lesson Overview:
Drop the feather and ask everyone to listen for the sound it makes when it hits the ground. It’s nearly silent—but you can see its movement. The Spirit is often the same: gentle, quiet, but noticeable when we are paying attention.
Discussion Points:
- How does the Spirit “move” in your heart?
- What helps you notice spiritual impressions?
3. Tuning the Radio
Materials:
- A radio or audio device with a tuning dial
- Or use a phone with static/white noise and a clear station
Lesson Overview:
Show how tuning carefully brings in a clear station—but rushing or turning too far causes static. The Spirit requires spiritual tuning—attention, stillness, and practice.
Discussion Points:
- How do you “tune in” to the Holy Ghost?
- How can you tell when you’re spiritually out of tune?
4. The Flashlight in Fog
Materials:
- A flashlight
- Use a misted-up glass or imagine fog with a visual aid
Lesson Overview:
Shine the flashlight through fog or mist. The light is not harsh or blinding, but it still guides your way step by step. The Holy Ghost leads gently, not forcefully.
Discussion Points:
- Have you ever received quiet direction from the Holy Ghost?
- Why do you think God speaks softly instead of loudly?
5. Ink in Water
Materials:
- A clear glass of water
- A single drop of food coloring or ink
Lesson Overview:
Drop one drop into the water. It spreads slowly but clearly. Explain that spiritual impressions often begin as a single thought or feeling, and if we’re still, they can fill our minds and hearts over time.
Discussion Points:
- How do spiritual impressions grow when we pay attention to them?
- What happens when we ignore or rush past them?
6. The Cotton Ball Toss
Materials:
- Cotton balls tossed gently toward someone
- Optional: try tossing them during silence, then during distraction
Lesson Overview:
A cotton ball doesn’t make noise—but you can feel it. Like the Spirit, it’s soft, gentle, but very real when you’re paying attention.
Discussion Points:
- Why do we sometimes expect the Spirit to be loud?
- What helps you recognize spiritual “nudges”?
Personal Sharing Prompts:
- Think of a time when a quiet feeling or thought helped you make the right choice. How did you recognize it as the voice of the Spirit?
- Think of a time when you almost missed a prompting because it was so subtle. What helped you notice and act on it?
- Think of a time when the Spirit calmed your heart in a moment of fear, stress, or confusion. What did the “still small voice” say—or not say—that brought peace?
- Think of a time when you received clear direction through a gentle impression. How did following it change the outcome of your day or situation?
- Think of a time when you were in a quiet, reverent setting and felt the Spirit speak to you. What made that moment spiritually significant?
- Think of a time when a thought or feeling came repeatedly, gently prompting you to act. What did you do, and how did the Lord bless your effort?
- Think of a time when the Spirit warned or protected you in a way that was soft but unmistakable. How did that experience increase your sensitivity to promptings?
- Think of a time when the Lord corrected or redirected you with love through the Spirit. How did the still small voice help you feel both truth and compassion?
- Think of a time when the Spirit testified of truth in a class, conversation, or while studying. What did the stillness of that moment teach you?
- Think of a time when the still small voice helped you bless someone else. How did the Lord guide you in that quiet, powerful way?
The righteous are gathered to Christ in the last days.
Engaging Questions:
- What does it mean to you personally to be “gathered to Christ”?
- In what ways do you see the Lord gathering His people today?
- Why do you think gathering is such an important part of the Lord’s work in the last days?
- Have you ever felt spiritually “gathered”—welcomed, included, or strengthened by others in the gospel? What did that look like?
- How can we help others feel gathered and included in Christ’s Church and covenant path?
- What role does missionary work or temple work play in the gathering of Israel?
- What are some modern tools or methods that help gather people to Christ today?
- How can living righteously help us stay gathered and focused on Christ in a world of distraction and division?
- What promises has the Lord made to the righteous in the last days, and how do those promises give you hope?
- What is one thing you can do this week to participate in gathering others to Christ?
Object Lessons:
1. Wheat and Tares in a Bowl
Materials:
- A bowl filled with uncooked rice and dry beans mixed together
- A second empty bowl
Lesson Overview:
Have participants sort the rice (symbolizing the righteous) from the beans (symbolizing the tares). Point out that the gathering of the righteous requires deliberate, thoughtful action—and that the Lord knows who is ready to be gathered.
Discussion Points:
- What does it mean to “be wheat” in today’s world?
- How is the Lord gathering people now?
2. The Magnet and Paper Clips
Materials:
- A magnet
- A mix of paper clips and other small non-magnetic items
Lesson Overview:
Move the magnet over the pile. Only the paper clips are drawn in. Explain that the Lord is gathering His people by the power of His gospel—those who are ready and willing respond to Him.
Discussion Points:
- What makes someone “spiritually magnetic” to Christ?
- How can we help others feel that same draw?
3. The Puzzle with Missing Pieces
Materials:
- A partially assembled puzzle with missing edge and center pieces
Lesson Overview:
Put in the final pieces and emphasize how the picture is only complete when all pieces are gathered together. The Lord is preparing His people—bringing them into unity, love, and truth so the “picture” of Zion is complete.
Discussion Points:
- What piece of God’s work do you feel you’re part of?
- How does gathering bring wholeness and beauty to the Church?
4. Gathering Dots with String
Materials:
- Paper with scattered dots (or small objects) and a piece of string
Lesson Overview:
Place string around a few items and pull them together. Then gather more. The Lord’s gathering begins small but grows over time as people respond to His Spirit and truth.
Discussion Points:
- How have you seen others “gathered” into Christ’s fold?
- What can you do to help the Lord gather others?
5. Light Drawing Light (Candle or Lantern)
Materials:
- A lit candle or lantern in a dark room
Lesson Overview:
Turn off the lights and light the candle. As people gather around it, emphasize how light draws people in—and Christ is the Light we are drawn to in the last days. Those who follow Him are being spiritually gathered.
Discussion Points:
- What does Christ’s light look like in today’s world?
- How can we reflect His light to help gather others?
6. The Net and the Fish (Gathering for Good)
Materials:
- A simple net or visual representation
- Paper cutouts or toys representing fish
Lesson Overview:
Cast the net and gather “fish.” Explain how Christ compares gathering souls to fishermen gathering fish. In the last days, the righteous are gathered through missionary work, temple covenants, and discipleship.
Discussion Points:
- What’s your role in helping the Lord “cast the net”?
- How are people being gathered spiritually in your ward or community?
Personal Sharing Prompts:
- Think of a time when you felt the Lord gathering you closer to Him through a specific experience or decision. What helped you recognize His hand?
- Think of a time when you saw someone embrace the gospel and come unto Christ. How did their story strengthen your testimony of the gathering?
- Think of a time when you felt prompted to invite someone to church, study the gospel, or return to the covenant path. What happened, and how did the Spirit guide you?
- Think of a time when temple worship helped you feel connected to the worldwide gathering of God’s children. What did that experience teach you?
- Think of a time when you felt spiritually “gathered in” by a loving Church community. How did that feeling reflect Christ’s invitation to all?
- Think of a time when you participated in missionary work—formally or informally—and felt the Spirit confirm the importance of gathering. What did you learn?
- Think of a time when you saw someone who was lost or wandering be spiritually gathered by the Lord. How did that deepen your faith in His timing and love?
- Think of a time when studying the scriptures helped you better understand the role of the righteous in preparing for the Second Coming. What truths stood out?
- Think of a time when you realized that gathering to Christ isn’t only about location—it’s about devotion. How did that truth shape your daily choices?
- Think of a time when you felt that your testimony or example was helping to gather others to the Savior. How did the Lord magnify your effort?
Peace is found in “holy places.”
Engaging Questions:
- What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “holy places”? Where are those places for you?
- Have you ever felt peace in a chaotic moment because you were in a “holy place”? What was that experience like?
- How can we make our homes or even our hearts into holy places where the Spirit can dwell?
- What makes a place holy—is it the location, the people, the purpose, or something else?
- What do you think the Lord meant when He said to “stand in holy places and be not moved”?
- How can we carry a sense of spiritual peace with us even when we’re not in a physically quiet or sacred setting?
- Can friends or relationships be “holy places” in your life? How do people help you feel peace and safety?
- What’s one thing you can do to make your everyday spaces—like your room, locker, car, or phone—more spiritually uplifting?
- What do you do when you’re feeling overwhelmed or afraid to help bring yourself back to a spiritual “holy place”?
- How can we help others find and stand in their own holy places when life feels unstable or uncertain?
Object Lessons:
1. The Umbrella in the Storm
Materials:
- An umbrella
- A spray bottle or visual of “rain”
Lesson Overview:
Spray “rain” around but keep someone protected under the umbrella. Explain that holy places—like the temple, church, our homes, or even our hearts—are like spiritual umbrellas in the storm. They don’t stop life’s challenges, but they protect and give peace.
Discussion Points:
- What are the “umbrellas” or holy places in your life?
- How do you stay under spiritual protection?
2. The Noise-Canceling Headphones
Materials:
- A pair of noise-canceling headphones or earplugs
Lesson Overview:
Put on the headphones and show how they block out noise. Holy places are like this—they allow us to filter out the world’s noise so we can hear the still small voice and feel peace.
Discussion Points:
- What are some “noises” you deal with every day?
- How do you create “quiet” spiritual space?
3. The Lighthouse in a Storm
Materials:
- A picture of a lighthouse or a small model
- Flashlight for effect
Lesson Overview:
Talk about how a lighthouse doesn’t calm the storm—but it gives safety and guidance in the middle of it. Holy places act the same way: they don’t always change the storm, but they protect and center us.
Discussion Points:
- When has the temple or church brought you peace during a hard time?
- What does it mean to “anchor” yourself in a holy place?
4. The Safe Zone Circle
Materials:
- Chalk or string to make a circle on the floor
- Labels or images of “holy places” (e.g., home, temple, church, scriptures)
Lesson Overview:
Have someone stand in the circle labeled “holy places.” Try to tempt or distract them from outside the circle with words or actions. Emphasize that when we stay in “holy places,” we are less vulnerable to fear, confusion, and temptation.
Discussion Points:
- What “holy places” do you try to stand in each day?
- How can we bring that peace into everyday moments?
5. The Calm Center of the Spinning Plate
Materials:
- A lazy Susan or turntable
- Small figurine or object in the center
Lesson Overview:
Spin the plate slowly. Show how the center stays still even as the edges whirl. Holy places are like that calm center—they are places where we can be still and grounded, even when life is spinning around us.
Discussion Points:
- How do you stay centered in Christ?
- What spiritual routines bring you peace?
6. The Lighted Room vs. the Dark
Materials:
- Two small spaces or boxes—one dark, one with a small light
Lesson Overview:
Show how stepping into the lit space changes your comfort and perception. Holy places are filled with light and safety because God’s Spirit dwells there. When we seek His light, we find peace.
Discussion Points:
- How does the Spirit bring peace to a place?
- What can we do to invite more light into our homes or hearts?
Personal Sharing Prompts:
- Think of a time when you felt deep peace in the temple or while thinking about the temple. What made that experience feel holy?
- Think of a time when your home became a holy place because of prayer, scripture study, or love. How did that bring peace into your life?
- Think of a time when you felt protected or calm in a Church meeting or sacred setting. What was said or felt that brought that peace?
- Think of a time when you created a “holy place” in your heart or mind despite being in a difficult environment. How did you find peace there?
- Think of a time when turning to the Savior made an ordinary moment feel sacred. What helped you recognize His presence?
- Think of a time when you were going through turmoil but found peace in keeping covenants. How did those promises anchor you?
- Think of a time when being surrounded by righteous friends or family helped you feel safe and supported. What made their influence feel like a holy place?
- Think of a time when reading the scriptures or listening to uplifting music brought you a sense of peace. How did that moment become holy?
- Think of a time when you felt the need to leave behind distractions to enter a place of stillness and spiritual connection. What difference did it make?
- Think of a time when the Lord invited you to “stand in holy places” through a prompting or experience. How did you respond, and what peace followed?
