Lesson Helps for "The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home" by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (October 2023)

General Conference

Nov 9

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Need help getting started on your lesson for Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s October 2023 General Conference talk, “The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home”? We’ve got you covered with some questions to ponder and discussion ideas. Read on (and share it for others to find too).

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Questions to Ponder

Why do you think the story of the prodigal son is such a popular story or parable? Why do you relate to it?
Which characters have you identified with throughout your life?
How can we walk with others on their way back to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
In what ways do you rejoice with others?
What main message did you take away from Elder Uchtdorf's talk?
What can we learn from the father's reaction to his prodigal son's return?
What are some common barriers that prevent people from coming back to church? How can we help and support?
How can we apply the principle of "the worth of souls" to our interactions with others?
What is the significance of the older son's reaction in the parable of the prodigal son? How can we avoid becoming like the older son, who harbored resentment and judgment?
Elder Uchtdorf emphasizes that "we are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions." What significance does this hold for you? How can we help others recognize this truth?
In what ways can we find joy in the journey of returning to God, even in the midst of our imperfections?
What specific actions or changes can we make in our lives to better align with the principles and teachings discussed in Elder Uchtdorf's talk?

Discussion Ideas

Dive in a little deeper with these ideas for Elder Uchtdorf’s October 2023 General Conference talk.

When the lost son was at his lowest, he was with swine. Elder Uchtdorf points out in footnote 9 that this could suggest how far he had traveled as to the Jews, pigs were unclean and offensive. Practicing Jews would not raise swine so this indicates that the overseer was a Gentile. Why do we sometimes turn away instead of to Christ in our hard times? Why do you think we at times hesitate to seek forgiveness and return to God after making mistakes?
Divide each section of the classroom into “groups” (as in, they don’t have to work together but they will have a similar assignment). Give each section one person to focus on as you read the parable out loud. What might that person have felt? What changes happened? How can they relate to that person? Invite comments as you go through the verses or at the end. Note, this parable is found in Luke 15:11-32.
Bring in a box of things from your church’s lost and found (typically in the library or coat closets). Display a few objects asking if anyone knows who those things belong to. How do you think those things became lost? How does it feel when you find something of yours again? Some of the things were probably just forgotten about. It happens! Yet, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ never forget about us. In fact, they always know where we are- we are never lost to them. We simply lose sight of them ourselves. How do we find them again? What are we teaching ourselves and our families so they can always know where to turn when they are lost? How might we be a cairn on other people’s journey back? What does walking with them look like?
Brainstorm together what #livingmybestlife means to your class. You can write answers on the board or cut out a bunch of pictures from magazines (or online) and spread them out on a table or the floor and invite people to come up and put up pictures that represent the hashtag to them. What would make all those things pointless? Does any of it matter if you don’t have the Savior in your life? Why?