Discussion Ideas and Questions to Ponder for "Power to Overcome the Adversary" by Elder Peter M. Johnson
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“Power to Overcome the Adversary” by Elder Peter M. Johnson might also be referred to as the 3 D’s talk. In it, Elder Johnson warns us of three tactics Satan uses. However, he also gives us four things we can do every day or week to combat these attacks.
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Questions to Ponder
Thanks to Hailey M. for providing these great questions for us. Volunteer to help with questions for the next General Conference.
When have you felt the Holy Ghost confirm to you that you are a child of heavenly parents with a divine nature and destiny?
How does understanding that we were prepared for everything in the Spirit world help change your perspective in a trial?
How have you seen the adversary attempting to deceive by having us forget who we are?
How can technology actually draw us closer to the Savior and allow us to accomplish His work instead of distracting us from our true purposes?
Elder Johnson said when he was discouraged, he chose to read the Book of Mormon each semester. What have you found helps you during times of discouragement?
When our actions are motivated by our love of God, how will our service to others change?
How do you balance Book of Mormon study with other gospel study (Come Follow Me, General Conference, lesson prep, etc.)?
How do you prepare yourself to participate in the sacrament with an open heart and spirit? What does that look like during the week?
How can we help to empower others to overcome the adversary?
What helps you get out of the downward spiral of comparison?
Use this sacrament coloring page during sacrament meeting to help remind your children of the importance and power of it.
Discussion Ideas
Divide your white board, hang up butcher paper, bring in some poster board or something for your class to write and draw on. Then divide your class into three groups. Pick a group leader and have them write or draw all the ways they can currently think of how Satan tries to do one of three D’s in their lives: Deception, Distraction, Discouragement (each group having one category). Then come back and share with each. Now that we can recognize how Satan is attacking us, how can we combat his attacks? What do we do because we know he is doing these things? Why is it important to recognize that these attacks come from Satan? You can compare this to seeing things in 3D- it gives us a fuller picture and when we can recognize things as they are, they are easy to overcome.
Ask for volunteer to come to the front of the room then ask everyone to help define who that person is. Maybe they know she likes to play volleyball or he is a great cook. That sort of thing. Write all of these things on the board. Obviously, the most important part being that person is a child of God. Why does Satan want us to forget these things about ourselves? Why would Satan not want us to know we are children of God? How does having that knowledge change your life? How can it help someone you know?
Discuss the good and bad of technology. Invite your class to share all the ways they use technology in a good way throughout the day. What happens though, we aren’t careful with our use of technology? How does it harm us and our families? What are some things that help remind you to be careful with your use of technology? How can we help our families use the good and learn to be careful as well?
You could also demonstrate the technology point by drawing a smart phone on the board and listing all the things that a phone is now versus 30 years ago. Show how you can use it for good because it is a camera, calendar, messaging service, etc. Then ask what happens we are begin to be casual in our use of it instead of careful. How do we catch ourselves and get back on track?
Focus on the four ways Elder Johnson shares to combat the three D’s: The first commandment, pray every day, read the Book of Mormon every day, and partake of the sacrament every week. Draw these on the board and list how they can help us overcome each of the three D’s. You can break into groups to do this as well.
