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Elder Karl D. Hirst’s October 2024 General Conference talk, “God’s Favorite” reminded us that we can feel like God’s favorite too, just like John the Beloved. Share this message with those you love. Discover teaching ideas and discussion questions below for inspiration on how to develop your own message.

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Discussion Questions

Help your class discuss ELder Hirst’s talk with these questions.

In what ways has your thought process shifted as you have pondered that John’s description of being “the beloved” isn’t a unique title but can be ours too? What insights does it give you about your worth?
What experiences have you had where you have felt so full and completely loved and noticed by Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father? How has God filled you? How did that help you then as well as later?
What are some circumstances that make it easier for you feel God’s love? Do specific scriptures or music help? Is it maybe while you serve or attend the temple or being around someone in particular? How has General Conference helped you connect with heaven’s love?
In what ways has showing Christlike love for others actually brought you closer to God’s love? How have you noticed others share this kind of love? How has it impacted you?
Why might we feel unlovable at times? What can help us reconnect with God’s love? We know His love is always there but sometimes it’s harder for us to recognize. How do you handle moments when you feel distant from God’s love? What might make it easier to feel His love?
How does remembering that God’s love never fails and never stops help you each day? How does it influence how you talk to Him, how you repent, and more?
How might zooming out and seeing with an eternal perspective help us remember that we indeed are loved even when it’s hard to feel His love? What can help us zoom out while still feeling helped in the moment?
Jesus is always within reach. What are some scripture verses or songs that we can hold on to to remember this truth?
How has God’s love shielded you from the storms of life? How has it expanded your joy?
How might we better treasure our experiences of feeling truly loved by our Savior and Heavenly Father? How can Their love ground us?
How can we “splash” God’s love everywhere we go especially as we engage in our daily routines? How can we splash some love on those we minister to?
How can we remind ourselves that divine love never runs dry, even when our lives feel messy or broken?

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Teaching Ideas

Write everyone names on the board before class begins then underneath all the names write, “is God’s favorite” or “who God loves” as a fun visual.
Give everyone a slip of paper and invite them to write one thing they appreciate about themselves on it. No names needed. Then gather them together in a jar and pick a few to read. God loves each of us and all the things that make us unique including those things on those slips of paper. How can the practice of loving the little things about ourselves help us also feel God’s love for us?
If you had to write 3 affirmations from this talk, what would they be? Split into small groups to brainstorm. As they come up with their three, encourage one person to write theirs on the board. If it’s similar to another, they can draw a check mark next to it. How can writing down or repeating these affirmations to yourself each day truly help you? How can we remind each other of these important truths especially while ministering to one another? Why are these things important?
God’s love can help us find even more joy in the happy times. I have this pair of sunglasses that make everything more beautiful- especially the fall leaves. Sometimes my kids think I’m crazy because the leaves are really just brown, not red, but with my sunglasses on, it’s gorgeous. This is like God’s love. Everything is better with God’s love, the good and the bad. I shared an example of this on Instagram. Others may not be able to see or feel the same joy we can because they are not connected to God’s love yet. It’s there, they simply don’t know it. Once they find God’s love, it changes their whole perspective.
Pass out paper hearts or paper that has hearts on them. Invite everyone to write one way they have felt God’s love for them recently. Then collect and staple the hearts together so that it makes one long chain. What does seeing that chain remind us? How does God’s love connect us?
Take time for testimonies where people can share how they felt God’s love, how they knew it was divine and how that has helped grow their faith and confidence. After each person shares, invite them to add a stone to a bowl or jar full of water. Let it splash! Try to go until there the bowl or jar is overflowing- adjust the size of your container to the time you want to take.
Personal love letter from God while listening to music
Invite everyone to stand out and reach their arms. Then encourage them to reach their arms out as far as they possibly can (well, within the confines of your room) and spread out a little more while holding hands until you’re whole class is connected- there’s always that one in the corner or by themselves somewhere. How can this symbolize the way God reaches for us? How might we feel this connected every Sunday? How can we show each other love each week and be an instrument for God’s love to reach another? Discuss several scriptures that teach us more about Christlike love. Ask what people notice in these scriptures, why that matters, how we can further develop that kind of love
Pssttt… Keep splashing the love of God around by writing a few letters to those in your class this week.

Teaching Kids?

Here are just a few additional resources from previous creations through the years you can use as you try to teach this important message to your children as well. You may also want to use our search bar.