Relief Society Lesson Help for “Divine Appointments” by President Timothy L. Farnes – October 2026 General Conference

Introduction: Helping Relief Society Sisters Recognize Divine Appointments

Have you ever experienced a seemingly ordinary interaction that turned out to be exactly what someone needed?

Perhaps you felt prompted to send a message, check on a neighbor, speak to someone sitting alone, or offer encouragement without knowing why. Later, you discovered that your small act of kindness had made a meaningful difference.

In his General Conference talk, “Divine Appointments,” President Timothy L. Farnes teaches that these experiences are not always random encounters. Sometimes they are opportunities God places before us to minister as Jesus Christ would.

Through personal experiences, the parable of the good Samaritan, and teachings about our baptismal and sacrament covenants, President Farnes reminds us that Christlike ministering does not always require a formal assignment, elaborate preparation, or extraordinary sacrifice.

Sometimes it simply requires us to notice someone, feel compassion, and act.

One of the most powerful messages of this talk is that ministering is not merely something we do as members of the Church. It is part of who we are becoming as covenant followers of Jesus Christ.

This Relief Society lesson help follows President Farnes’s talk chronologically, dividing it into nine teaching sections based on changes in emphasis and important doctrinal principles.

Each section includes:

• Direct quotes from the talk, prioritizing meaningful passages that can inspire deeper conversation.
• 10 engaging Relief Society discussion questions.
• 5 object lesson ideas with explanations.
• 10 personal sharing prompts designed to encourage meaningful experiences and testimonies.

Teachers can use these resources to build a Christ-centered lesson that helps sisters recognize divine appointments, understand the connection between covenants and compassion, and become more intentional in their everyday ministering.

Section 1: When Our Efforts to Serve Leave Us Feeling Discouraged

The Principle

Even faithful disciples who sincerely desire to serve the Lord can experience discouragement, exhaustion, and feelings of inadequacy.

President Farnes begins his message by describing a demanding season of Church service. He was serving in two significant callings, raising five young children, and managing a business.

Despite his willingness to sacrifice, an experience during a leadership meeting left him feeling unappreciated.

His experience reminds us that serving God does not make us immune to discouragement. Sometimes the people who are giving the most are also those who quietly wonder whether their efforts matter.

This section provides an opportunity to discuss how we respond when our service feels unnoticed and how we can turn toward the Lord rather than withdrawing from Him.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“I’ll never forget a Saturday almost 20 years ago. I had just been called into a stake presidency and hadn’t yet been released as bishop. We had five young children, a business to run, and a full day of Church meetings, starting at 8:00 a.m. and concluding with a ward temple night. It was a busy time, and I wanted to give my all to the Lord, but I was never sure if I had enough to give.”

“At a midday leadership meeting, the presiding authority invited questions. I gathered my courage and asked a question about an administrative matter that was troubling me. Instead of getting a helpful answer, I felt like my question was dismissed. I felt a little disheartened and unappreciated. I questioned why I was sacrificing so much if I was going to feel this way.”

“I left that meeting with no desire to attend the ward temple night. I called my wife, told her how discouraged I was, and said, ‘Let’s go to dinner instead of the temple.’

Linsey wisely responded, ‘No, I think you need to be in the temple. We’ll talk after.’

So I went to the temple, but not with the best attitude.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. Why might someone who genuinely loves the Lord still feel discouraged while serving Him?
2. What does President Farnes’s experience teach us about the emotional demands of Church service?
3. How can feelings of being overlooked affect our willingness to continue serving?
4. Why do you think President Farnes questioned his sacrifices after one discouraging interaction?
5. What is the difference between serving because we feel appreciated and serving because we love Jesus Christ?
6. How can we recognize when someone serving faithfully may need encouragement?
7. What can we learn from Linsey’s response to her husband’s discouragement?
8. Why might continuing to participate in sacred experiences be important even when our hearts are not fully in the right place?
9. How can we create a Relief Society environment where sisters feel comfortable expressing discouragement or exhaustion?
10. What helps you remember that your efforts matter to Heavenly Father, even when others do not recognize them?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Overloaded Backpack

Fill a backpack with several books representing family responsibilities, employment, Church callings, personal challenges, and expectations.

Invite a sister to hold the backpack while you add another book labeled “Feeling Unappreciated.”

Discuss how discouragement can feel especially heavy when someone is already carrying many responsibilities.

Connect the activity to the importance of noticing and supporting those who serve.

2. The Empty Battery

Display a phone with a low battery or a picture of one.

Explain that even devices designed to perform important tasks require opportunities to recharge.

Discuss how spiritual nourishment, rest, support, and meaningful connection help disciples continue serving.

3. The Unseen Work

Prepare a list of small acts of service that often go unnoticed, such as preparing meals, checking on someone, teaching children, cleaning the chapel, or praying for others.

Invite sisters to consider how much good happens quietly within a ward.

Emphasize that the Lord recognizes faithful efforts, even when they are not publicly acknowledged.

4. The Crumpled Paper

Write the word “Service” on a piece of paper and crumple it.

Explain that discouraging experiences can affect how we feel about our service without erasing its value.

Unfold the paper and discuss how the Lord can help us continue despite imperfect experiences.

5. The Temple Picture

Display a picture of the temple.

Ask why President Farnes might have benefited from going to the temple despite his discouragement.

Discuss how sacred places and ordinances can help us turn our hearts toward the Savior.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when you felt discouraged while trying to do something good.
2. Describe an experience when you questioned whether your efforts were making a difference.
3. Tell about a time when someone encouraged you to continue serving.
4. Share an experience when you attended the temple or another Church activity despite not feeling spiritually prepared.
5. Describe a moment when someone noticed your efforts at exactly the right time.
6. Tell about a season when balancing family, work, and Church responsibilities felt difficult.
7. Share a lesson you learned from serving without recognition.
8. Describe a time when your perspective changed after an initially disappointing experience.
9. Tell about someone who helped you feel valued in a Church calling.
10. Share an experience when the Lord strengthened you to continue doing good.

Section 2: Christlike Compassion Can Change Someone’s Life

The Principle

One sincere act of compassion can have a lasting influence on another person’s faith, confidence, and willingness to continue serving.

President Farnes describes an unexpected encounter with Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the temple.

Rather than accepting his polite response that everything was fine, Elder Oaks noticed something more and invited him to share what was really happening.

The compassion Elder Oaks demonstrated transformed President Farnes’s discouragement into renewed determination.

This experience teaches that sometimes the most meaningful ministering begins when we look beyond someone’s initial answer and sincerely seek to understand their heart.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“As I entered the dressing room, grumbling to myself, I heard someone say, ‘How are you, brother?’

It was Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

We had never met before, and I wasn’t about to tell a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles how discouraged I felt. So I forced a smile and said, ‘Everything’s great!’

I changed into my temple clothes, and as I walked out, to my surprise, Elder Oaks was waiting for me.

He said, ‘Brother, tell me how you are really doing.’”

“Something about the compassion in his voice helped me open up. Elder Oaks listened. He expressed sincere gratitude, said some encouraging words, and even answered my administrative question. Then he gave me a big hug, and in an instant I went from feeling like giving up to feeling like I could give my whole soul in service to the Lord.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. What made Elder Oaks’s interaction different from an ordinary greeting?
2. Why do you think President Farnes initially responded that everything was fine?
3. How can we recognize when someone may be struggling behind a polite smile?
4. What does this experience teach us about the power of listening?
5. Why might genuine compassion be more meaningful than immediately offering advice?
6. What role did gratitude and encouragement play in changing President Farnes’s feelings?
7. How can we become more attentive to the emotional and spiritual needs of others?
8. What does this story teach us about the influence of small, personal interactions?
9. How can we show compassion while respecting someone’s privacy and willingness to share?
10. How might our relationships change if we became more intentional about asking how people are really doing?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Mask

Display a simple paper mask with a smile drawn on it.

Explain that people sometimes present a cheerful appearance while experiencing private struggles.

Discuss how compassion helps us recognize that there may be more happening than we can see.

2. The Listening Cup

Place an empty cup on a table.

Explain that listening creates room for someone to share their thoughts and feelings.

Discuss why we sometimes rush to fill conversations with our own words instead of making space for others.

3. The Two Questions

Write these questions on the board:

“How are you?”

“How are you really doing?”

Invite sisters to discuss how tone, sincerity, timing, and willingness to listen can change the meaning of a simple question.

4. The Encouragement Note

Provide blank cards and invite sisters to write a sincere message of gratitude to someone who serves quietly.

Explain that encouragement can renew someone’s strength in ways we may never fully understand.

5. The Domino Effect

Arrange several dominoes in a row.

Knock over the first domino to demonstrate how one small action can influence what follows.

Discuss how Elder Oaks’s brief interaction affected President Farnes’s willingness to continue serving.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when someone recognized that you were struggling.
2. Describe an experience when a sincere conversation changed your perspective.
3. Tell about someone who made you feel heard and understood.
4. Share a time when a small act of kindness had a lasting impact on you.
5. Describe a moment when you felt prompted to check on someone.
6. Tell about an experience when encouragement helped you continue through difficulty.
7. Share a time when someone expressed appreciation that you did not realize you needed.
8. Describe how you learned the importance of listening.
9. Tell about someone whose compassion has influenced the way you treat others.
10. Share an experience when you felt the Savior’s love through another person.

Section 3: Compassion Is What Covenant Followers of Jesus Christ Do

The Principle

President Farnes’s experience becomes even more meaningful when he later learns that Elder Oaks does not remember their interaction.

For President Farnes, the experience had been life-changing. For Elder Oaks, it was simply an expression of the way disciples of Jesus Christ should treat others.

This distinction teaches an important principle: Christlike compassion should become part of our character rather than something we reserve for extraordinary occasions.

Ministering is not merely a program or responsibility. It is a natural expression of our commitment to follow the Savior.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“Five years later, my wife and I were invited to meet with Elder Oaks in his office. You can imagine my excitement to reminisce about the experience we had shared. I asked him, ‘Do you remember the conversation we had in the temple?’

‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘Have we met before?’

I recounted the experience and reminded him how his act of compassion had lifted my spirits and changed my life.”

“Elder Oaks responded, ‘I’m sorry, brother. I don’t remember that.’ Then, sensing my disappointment, he added, ‘But it’s what we do. Isn’t it?’

Those words have stayed with me ever since. That is what we do. As covenant followers of Jesus Christ, we minister with compassion to whomever God places in our path. We do it because that’s what the Savior did. And we’ve made a covenant to follow Him.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. Why is Elder Oaks’s response, “It’s what we do,” so significant?
2. What does this experience teach us about making compassion part of our character?
3. How is ministering as a way of life different from completing a ministering assignment?
4. Why might some of our most meaningful acts of service be ones we barely remember?
5. How can we become more naturally compassionate rather than waiting for formal opportunities?
6. What does it mean to minister to whomever God places in our path?
7. How does our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ influence the way we treat strangers?
8. Why is it important to serve without expecting recognition?
9. How can Relief Society help sisters develop a culture of everyday compassion?
10. What would change if our immediate response to someone’s need became, “This is what we do”?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Habit Jar

Fill a jar with slips of paper naming everyday habits, such as brushing teeth, preparing meals, or checking messages.

Add slips describing compassionate actions.

Discuss how repeated Christlike choices can become natural parts of our daily lives.

2. The Name Tag

Display a missionary name tag or a paper name tag bearing the words “Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Discuss what it means to represent the Savior through our everyday interactions.

3. The Ripple Effect

Drop a pebble into a bowl of water.

Observe the ripples and discuss how acts of compassion can influence lives beyond what we immediately recognize.

4. The Checklist and the Heart

Display a checklist next to a paper heart.

Discuss the difference between viewing ministering as a completed task and allowing Christlike love to motivate our actions.

5. The Invisible Gift

Place a wrapped gift on a table.

Explain that some of the greatest gifts we give others are not physical objects but encouragement, patience, compassion, and understanding.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when you helped someone without realizing how meaningful it would be.
2. Describe an experience when someone served you without expecting recognition.
3. Tell about a person who naturally demonstrates Christlike compassion.
4. Share a time when an ordinary interaction became spiritually meaningful.
5. Describe how your understanding of ministering has changed over time.
6. Tell about a moment when you felt that serving someone was simply the right thing to do.
7. Share an experience when you witnessed quiet, unrecognized service.
8. Describe a habit that has helped you become more compassionate.
9. Tell about a time when you recognized the Savior’s example influencing your actions.
10. Share a lesson you have learned about serving without expecting anything in return.

Section 4: Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ Means Reflecting His Character

The Principle

President Farnes connects Christlike compassion directly to the sacrament covenant.

When we partake of the sacrament, we witness our willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.

This covenant is more than a declaration of belief. It is an invitation to increasingly reflect the Savior’s character through our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

As we seek to see others as Christ sees them, we become better prepared to minister with His kindness, patience, hope, and love.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“Each Sabbath day, when you and I partake of the sacrament, we witness to our Father in Heaven our willingness to take upon ourselves the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. That means we choose to see as He sees, feel as He feels, and do as He would do.”

“His life should be reflected in ours. It means that when someone encounters us, they should experience something of Jesus Christ—His kindness, His patience, His hope, His love, His compassion.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. What does taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ mean in everyday life?
2. How does President Farnes expand our understanding of the sacrament covenant?
3. What does it mean to see as Jesus Christ sees?
4. How can we learn to feel greater compassion for people whose experiences differ from ours?
5. Why is reflecting the Savior’s character an important part of discipleship?
6. Which Christlike attribute do you think is especially needed in the world today?
7. How can we make the sacrament more meaningful by considering how we have treated others during the week?
8. What would it look like for someone to experience the Savior’s kindness through an interaction with us?
9. How can remembering our covenants influence the way we respond to difficult people?
10. What can we do to help our homes become places where Christlike compassion is consistently demonstrated?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Mirror

Hold up a mirror and explain that it reflects what is placed before it.

Discuss President Farnes’s statement that Christ’s life should be reflected in ours.

Invite sisters to consider which attributes of the Savior they would like to reflect more clearly.

2. The Name Badge

Prepare a paper name badge that reads “Follower of Jesus Christ.”

Discuss how representing the Savior influences our words, actions, and attitudes.

3. The Sacrament Table Picture

Display a picture of the sacrament table.

Ask sisters to consider how their weekly covenant renewal connects to their treatment of others throughout the week.

4. The Christlike Attributes Cards

Prepare cards labeled “Kindness,” “Patience,” “Hope,” “Love,” and “Compassion.”

Invite sisters to select one attribute and describe how it could be demonstrated in an ordinary interaction.

5. The Reflection in Water

Place a bowl of still water on a table and show how it reflects an object above it.

Gently disturb the water and observe how the reflection changes.

Discuss how distractions, frustration, and impatience can affect our ability to reflect the Savior’s character.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when someone helped you feel the Savior’s love.
2. Describe an experience when remembering your covenants influenced a decision.
3. Tell about a person who consistently reflects Christlike kindness.
4. Share a time when you tried to see someone through the Savior’s eyes.
5. Describe how the sacrament has strengthened your desire to follow Jesus Christ.
6. Tell about a moment when patience helped improve a difficult relationship.
7. Share an experience when you felt prompted to show compassion rather than frustration.
8. Describe a Christlike attribute you have worked to develop.
9. Tell about a time when someone else’s example helped you become more like the Savior.
10. Share how your understanding of taking Christ’s name upon yourself has deepened.

Section 5: The Holy Ghost Helps Us Keep Our Covenants Through Everyday Ministering

The Principle

The Lord does not ask us to become like Jesus Christ without providing divine assistance.

President Farnes teaches that our willingness to take upon ourselves the Savior’s name is met with the promise that we can always have His Spirit with us.

The Holy Ghost can help us recognize needs, feel compassion, and know how to respond.

This section also introduces the central idea of divine appointments: opportunities God places before us to bless others.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“Our promise of willingness is met by the Lord’s promise that we can always have His Spirit with us. With that gift, we can minister as the Savior would, with His power and His loving kindness.”

“We make the covenant during sacred time with God every Sunday. A way we keep the covenant is by ministering to God’s children every day. Often this happens when God places someone in our path and we have eyes to see them. I call these ‘divine appointments.’”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. How does the companionship of the Holy Ghost help us minister more effectively?
2. What does it mean to minister with the Savior’s power and loving kindness?
3. How does President Farnes connect Sunday worship with everyday discipleship?
4. Why might ministering be an important way of keeping our covenants?
5. What do you think makes an ordinary encounter a divine appointment?
6. How can we become more sensitive to the Spirit’s guidance in our daily interactions?
7. Why might we overlook opportunities to minister even when they are directly in front of us?
8. How can we distinguish between a spiritual prompting and a general desire to do good?
9. What role does prayer play in recognizing opportunities to help others?
10. How can we become more willing to act when we feel prompted to serve?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Compass

Display a compass.

Explain that a compass provides direction, just as the Holy Ghost can guide us toward opportunities to serve.

Discuss the importance of paying attention to spiritual direction.

2. The Calendar

Show a calendar with Sunday highlighted.

Ask sisters to identify ways they worship on Sunday and ways they can honor their covenants throughout the rest of the week.

3. The Open Eyes

Display two pictures of the same scene, one showing the entire setting and another emphasizing a person in need.

Discuss how spiritual awareness helps us notice what we might otherwise overlook.

4. The Invitation Card

Prepare a card labeled “Divine Appointment.”

Invite sisters to think about someone they may encounter during the coming week who could benefit from encouragement or kindness.

5. The Flashlight

Use a flashlight to illuminate a specific object.

Discuss how the Holy Ghost can draw our attention toward someone who needs help.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when the Holy Ghost prompted you to help someone.
2. Describe an experience when you recognized a divine appointment in hindsight.
3. Tell about a time when prayer helped you know whom to serve.
4. Share a moment when you felt guided in what to say to someone.
5. Describe how ministering has strengthened your relationship with Jesus Christ.
6. Tell about an experience when a small prompting led to an unexpected blessing.
7. Share a time when you acted on a prompting without knowing why.
8. Describe a moment when you recognized God’s hand in an ordinary interaction.
9. Tell about someone who has been an answer to your prayers.
10. Share how your understanding of the Holy Ghost has changed through ministering.

Section 6: The Good Samaritan Teaches Us to See People Rather Than Interruptions

The Principle

President Farnes uses the parable of the good Samaritan to teach that recognizing a need is often the first step toward Christlike service.

The Samaritan saw the wounded traveler differently from those who passed by.

Rather than viewing the man as an inconvenience, he recognized an opportunity to help.

The Savior’s own ministry followed this pattern. People were never distractions from His work; loving and serving them was central to His mission.

This section invites sisters to reconsider how they respond to interruptions, unexpected needs, and people whose circumstances may complicate their plans.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“When Jesus was asked, ‘What shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He answered with a story about a man who had eyes to see. In the story, a traveler lay wounded on the road to Jericho. Where others saw an inconvenience or an interruption, one man saw an opportunity to minister—a divine appointment. Seeing awakened compassion. Compassion moved him to act. And his actions changed a life forever.”

“This pattern defined the Savior’s ministry. He turned ordinary encounters with people into extraordinary moments of healing, encouragement, and transformation. To Jesus, these people were not interrupting His mission. They were His mission.”

“God has given us eyes to see. When we use them, we begin to recognize divine appointments all around us. What once looked like random encounters become invitations from the Lord to minister with compassion.”

“That’s what the Savior did. It’s what His prophet does. And it’s what we do, isn’t it?”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. What does the parable of the good Samaritan teach us about recognizing opportunities to serve?
2. Why might two people see the same situation but respond differently?
3. What is the relationship between seeing, compassion, and action?
4. How can our schedules and responsibilities influence our willingness to help?
5. What does President Farnes mean when he says people were not interruptions to the Savior’s mission?
6. How can we develop greater patience when someone unexpectedly needs our attention?
7. What assumptions might prevent us from recognizing a divine appointment?
8. How can we balance necessary responsibilities with opportunities to serve?
9. What would change if we viewed more interactions as invitations to demonstrate Christlike love?
10. How can we help children recognize opportunities to show compassion?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Good Samaritan Road

Create a simple pathway on a table using paper.

Place a small figure beside the road and discuss the different responses in the parable.

Invite sisters to consider what helps us stop and notice someone in need.

2. The Interrupted Schedule

Display a daily schedule filled with appointments.

Add an unexpected card labeled “Someone Needs Help.”

Discuss how we can respond compassionately while exercising wisdom about our responsibilities.

3. The Different Lenses

Display two pairs of glasses or paper frames.

Label one “Inconvenience” and the other “Opportunity.”

Discuss how our perspective influences our response to others.

4. The Three-Step Pattern

Write these words on the board:

See → Feel Compassion → Act

Invite sisters to identify how each step appears in the parable of the good Samaritan.

5. The Roadside Bag

Fill a small bag with items such as a bandage, water bottle, note card, and phone.

Discuss how practical assistance, encouragement, and personal attention can become expressions of Christlike love.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when an interruption became an opportunity to bless someone.
2. Describe an experience when you almost overlooked someone who needed help.
3. Tell about a moment when compassion changed your plans.
4. Share a time when someone stopped what they were doing to help you.
5. Describe an experience when you recognized a need that others had missed.
6. Tell about a situation when you had to overcome an assumption about someone.
7. Share a time when serving another person brought unexpected joy.
8. Describe an experience when a stranger demonstrated Christlike compassion.
9. Tell about a moment when you learned to see people differently.
10. Share how the parable of the good Samaritan has influenced your discipleship.

Section 7: Spiritual Promptings Sometimes Require Us to Look Again

The Principle

President Farnes shares an experience at an airport when he noticed a frightened missionary but initially returned to his book.

The Holy Ghost prompted him to look again.

That second look allowed him to recognize the missionary’s distress and respond with compassion.

This experience teaches that spiritual promptings are not always dramatic. Sometimes they are quiet invitations to pay closer attention to someone we have already noticed.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“A few years ago, my wife and I were waiting to board a flight for a much-needed vacation. We arrived at the airport early, and I put my earbuds in and started reading a book, thankful for a few quiet moments to myself.”

“Before long, I glanced up and saw a young missionary sitting across from me. He looked frightened and anxious. His eyes were closed, he was rocking back and forth, and tears were streaming down his cheeks. Clutched in his hands were his boarding pass and a digital alarm clock.”

“After briefly imagining the various reasons a missionary might look so anxious, I returned to my book. But the Spirit prompted me to look again.

When I did, I saw his tear-filled eyes looking at me, pleading for help.”

“‘Are you OK?’ I asked.

In broken, timid English, he explained that he was on the way to his mission, it was going to be his first time on an airplane alone, and he was terrified. I learned he was a long way from his home country and he was holding the alarm clock to make sure he didn’t miss the plane.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think President Farnes initially returned to his book?
2. What can we learn from the Spirit’s prompting to “look again”?
3. How might distractions prevent us from recognizing someone else’s needs?
4. Why is it important to avoid making assumptions before understanding someone’s circumstances?
5. What does this experience teach us about the quiet nature of spiritual promptings?
6. How can we become more attentive to people around us?
7. Why might the Lord sometimes prompt us to reconsider a situation we have already noticed?
8. What can we do when we feel uncertain whether we should approach someone?
9. How can simple questions open opportunities for meaningful ministering?
10. What would it look like to make “look again” a principle in our daily discipleship?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Earbuds

Display a pair of earbuds.

Discuss how technology and personal distractions can make it easier to overlook people nearby.

Invite sisters to consider when setting aside distractions might create opportunities to serve.

2. The Hidden Detail Picture

Show a detailed picture and ask sisters to identify what they notice.

Then invite them to look again for something they initially missed.

Connect the experience to President Farnes’s prompting.

3. The Second Look

Place several objects on a tray and briefly show them to the class.

Cover the tray, then reveal it again and ask sisters what they notice the second time.

Discuss how intentional attention can reveal needs we initially overlook.

4. The Boarding Pass

Display a sample boarding pass.

Explain that the missionary’s boarding pass represented a journey that felt overwhelming to him.

Discuss how ordinary objects and behaviors can sometimes reveal deeper concerns.

5. The Pause Button

Display a paper symbol of a pause button.

Discuss how pausing our own activities can create space to notice spiritual impressions.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when you felt prompted to look again at someone’s situation.
2. Describe an experience when you initially overlooked a need.
3. Tell about a moment when the Holy Ghost interrupted your plans.
4. Share a time when a simple question led to a meaningful conversation.
5. Describe an experience when you discovered that someone was struggling more than you realized.
6. Tell about a time when setting aside a distraction helped you connect with someone.
7. Share a moment when you felt prompted to approach a stranger.
8. Describe an experience when you learned not to judge someone by appearances.
9. Tell about a time when you recognized a prompting only after acting on it.
10. Share how you have learned to become more sensitive to the Holy Ghost.

Section 8: Small Acts of Compassion Can Become Unforgettable Divine Appointments

The Principle

After learning about the missionary’s fear, President Farnes and his wife helped him navigate the airport and board his flight.

Their assistance was simple, but it brought reassurance to someone who felt overwhelmed and alone.

The experience also revealed an unexpected detail: the missionary’s assigned seat was directly beside President Farnes.

This story illustrates how ordinary acts of kindness can become deeply meaningful experiences for both the person giving service and the person receiving it.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“Embarrassed by how slow I had been to help this elder, I explained that my wife and I would be on the same flight, and we would make sure he made it on the plane.

Linsey and I walked him to the gate and showed him the door he would go through. Soon it was our turn to board, so Linsey and I left him at the gate and took our seats.”

“Finally, there he was—like every missionary, the last one to board—still clutching his boarding pass and alarm clock, making his way toward the only empty seat, at the back of the plane.

It was the seat next to me.

We smiled at each other, amazed at how God had arranged even a small detail like that one. Then the elder, finally relaxing a bit, fell fast asleep.”

“When we landed, I woke him, and the panic returned to his face as he worried about what to do next. Where was he supposed to go? What if there was no one waiting for him?”

“Linsey and I helped him get off the plane and walked him, arm in arm, not to lose him again, all the way to the baggage claim area. Waiting for him there were his mission leaders. Knowing what a special moment this always is, we were excited to see this new missionary being greeted by his leaders for the very first time.”

“But to our surprise, our friend didn’t run to his mission leaders. Instead, he dropped his bags and gave Linsey and me a big hug of love and appreciation.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the missionary’s experience became so meaningful to President Farnes and his wife?
2. What does this story teach us about the importance of practical assistance?
3. How can seemingly small acts of kindness provide significant emotional reassurance?
4. Why might the missionary have felt especially grateful for their help?
5. What can we learn from the unexpected seating arrangement?
6. How does helping someone through an unfamiliar experience demonstrate Christlike love?
7. Why is it important to recognize that something easy for us may feel overwhelming to someone else?
8. How can we minister to people experiencing fear, anxiety, or uncertainty?
9. What does the missionary’s final hug reveal about the impact of their service?
10. How can we become more willing to help even when we believe our contribution will be small?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Small Key

Display a small key.

Explain that although a key is small, it can open something much larger.

Discuss how small acts of compassion can open the way for reassurance, trust, and meaningful connection.

2. The Helping Hand

Trace a hand on paper.

Invite sisters to write practical ways they can help someone who feels overwhelmed.

Discuss how simple assistance can become an expression of the Savior’s love.

3. The Airport Map

Display a simple map of an airport or unfamiliar building.

Ask sisters how they might feel navigating it alone in an unfamiliar country.

Discuss the importance of understanding another person’s perspective.

4. The Connected Chain

Create a paper chain representing the stages of President Farnes’s encounter: noticing, asking, reassuring, accompanying, and helping.

Discuss how each small action contributed to the missionary’s experience.

5. The Thank-You Card

Display a thank-you card.

Discuss how the missionary’s hug expressed gratitude for something that may have seemed ordinary to President Farnes and his wife.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when someone helped you navigate an unfamiliar situation.
2. Describe an experience when a small act of kindness meant more than the giver realized.
3. Tell about a time when you helped someone who was anxious or afraid.
4. Share a moment when an unexpected coincidence felt like a tender mercy.
5. Describe an experience when you felt guided to be in the right place at the right time.
6. Tell about someone who helped you feel less alone.
7. Share a time when practical assistance became a spiritual experience.
8. Describe an act of service you still remember years later.
9. Tell about a time when helping someone brought you unexpected joy.
10. Share an experience when gratitude helped you recognize God’s hand in your life.

Section 9: Pray for Eyes to See, Look with Compassion, and Act

The Principle

President Farnes concludes his talk with a simple invitation that brings together all the principles he has taught.

We can recognize divine appointments by developing eyes to see the people God places in our path, choosing compassion instead of judgment, and acting when opportunities arise.

His message emphasizes that Christlike ministering does not need to be complicated.

It begins with willingness.

As we pray for greater awareness and respond to spiritual impressions, ordinary encounters can become opportunities to represent Jesus Christ.

Direct Quotes from the Talk

“What we did for that elder didn’t require much of us, but this ordinary encounter became a divine appointment we will always treasure. All we had to do was see the person God had placed in our path, look with compassion rather than judgment, and then act.”

“Brothers and sisters, let us pray every day for eyes to see the divine appointments God places before us! Let us put compassion into action and minister to the person in front of us. It’s what Jesus did.”

“And it’s what we do.

In the sacred name we take upon ourselves by covenant, even Jesus Christ, amen.”

10 Relief Society Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to pray for eyes to see divine appointments?
2. Why is compassion more powerful when it leads to action?
3. How can judgment prevent us from recognizing someone’s needs?
4. What is the difference between noticing someone and truly seeing them?
5. Why does President Farnes emphasize ministering to the person in front of us?
6. How can we make daily prayer for ministering opportunities a meaningful habit?
7. What might prevent us from acting after recognizing a need?
8. How can we overcome feelings of inadequacy when an opportunity to serve arises?
9. What would change in our Relief Society if every sister intentionally looked for divine appointments?
10. What is one specific way you can apply President Farnes’s invitation this week?

5 Object Lesson Ideas

1. The Three-Step Ministering Pattern

Write the following words on the board:

See → Feel Compassion → Act

Invite sisters to identify examples from President Farnes’s talk that demonstrate each step.

Discuss how they can apply the pattern in their own lives.

2. The Daily Prayer Card

Provide small cards with the words:

“Heavenly Father, help me see who needs Your love today.”

Invite sisters to place the card somewhere they will see it during the week.

3. The Open Door

Display a picture of an open door.

Explain that everyday interactions can become opportunities to enter another person’s life with kindness and compassion.

Discuss how we can recognize and respond to those opportunities.

4. The Ministering Challenge Jar

Fill a jar with slips of paper containing simple service ideas, such as sending encouragement, introducing yourself to someone new, listening without interrupting, or offering practical help.

Invite sisters to select an idea to consider during the coming week.

5. The Empty Chair

Place an empty chair at the front of the room.

Ask sisters to imagine someone sitting there who feels lonely, discouraged, anxious, or forgotten.

Discuss what it would mean to see that person through the Savior’s eyes and respond with compassion.

10 Personal Sharing Prompts

1. Share a time when you recognized a divine appointment.
2. Describe an experience when compassion moved you to act.
3. Tell about a time when you chose understanding instead of judgment.
4. Share an experience when you felt prompted to serve someone unexpectedly.
5. Describe a moment when someone ministered to you in a simple but meaningful way.
6. Tell about a time when prayer helped you recognize someone else’s needs.
7. Share a lesson you have learned about acting on spiritual impressions.
8. Describe how ministering has helped you feel closer to Jesus Christ.
9. Tell about a person whose example has inspired you to become more compassionate.
10. Share one way you hope to become more attentive to divine appointments in the future.

Conclusion: Becoming Disciples Who Recognize Divine Appointments

President Timothy L. Farnes’s message, “Divine Appointments,” offers a beautiful reminder that some of our most meaningful opportunities to follow Jesus Christ happen during ordinary moments.

They may come when we are discouraged, distracted, busy, or simply going about our daily routines.

Through his experience with Elder Oaks, President Farnes teaches that a sincere expression of compassion can renew someone’s willingness to serve the Lord.

Through his teachings about the sacrament, he reminds us that taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ includes striving to reflect His kindness, patience, hope, love, and compassion.

Through the parable of the good Samaritan, he shows us that Christlike discipleship requires more than recognizing someone else’s suffering. It invites us to respond.

And through his experience with a frightened missionary, he demonstrates how a simple spiritual prompting to look again can lead to an unforgettable opportunity to minister.

For Relief Society teachers, this talk provides meaningful opportunities to help sisters connect their covenants with their everyday relationships.

The discussion questions can encourage thoughtful conversations about compassion, spiritual promptings, and ministering. The object lessons can help illustrate how ordinary actions become expressions of discipleship. The personal sharing prompts can invite sisters to recognize moments when they have experienced the Savior’s love through another person.

Teachers can prayerfully select the sections, questions, and activities that best meet the needs of their class rather than trying to cover every resource in one lesson.

A Final Invitation for Your Relief Society Lesson

Consider concluding the lesson by inviting sisters to reflect on three simple questions:

Who has God placed in my path?

What might that person be experiencing that I have not yet noticed?

What can I do to help them feel the love of Jesus Christ?

Encourage each sister to pray during the coming week for greater awareness of the people around her.

She might discover a divine appointment while speaking with a neighbor, helping a family member, attending Church, standing in line, or responding to an unexpected interruption.

The opportunity may seem small. The interaction may last only a few minutes. She may never know how much her kindness meant.

But as President Farnes teaches:

“All we had to do was see the person God had placed in our path, look with compassion rather than judgment, and then act.”

Ultimately, divine appointments are not simply opportunities to perform acts of service. They are opportunities to become more like Jesus Christ.

As we keep our covenants, seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and intentionally minister to those around us, we can become instruments through whom the Savior extends His compassion and love.

And when we recognize someone who needs encouragement, reassurance, understanding, or help, we can remember President Farnes’s simple but powerful question:

“It’s what we do. Isn’t it?”

Posted By: Lia · In: Relief Society