Lesson Ideas for President Dallin H. Oaks "Kingdoms of Glory" General Conference Talk (October 2023)
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Will you be teaching President Dallin H. Oaks’ talk, “Kingdoms of Glory” from the October 2023 General Conference? It’s a beautiful talk about our Heavenly Father’s loving plan for us, His children. Ultimately, we get to choose where we want to be. Don’t you love that? Read on for ideas to help you teach and discuss.
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Questions to Ponder
How does your knowledge of the plan of salvation effect your actions and perspective?
Why do you think President Oaks emphasized our agency as he talked about the three kingdoms of glory? Why do you cherish agency? What comfort does this give you?
How does the atonement of Jesus Christ help our agency?
Since all of God’s children will inherit a kingdom of glory, with the lowest kingdom even being beyond all understanding, what does that teach us about our Heavenly Father and the plan of salvation?
Our time here is all about becoming. How does the youth program reflect this? How are we embracing continual progression? What happens when we become more like the Savior? Where do we want to be and what do we want to do?
What additional comfort have you found as you have studied President Oaks’ words about the kingdoms of glory?
Where would you be most comfortable right now?
Discussion Ideas
President Oaks mentioned how it’s not enough to be convinced of the truths of the gospel. It has to change us. We must be converted by the gospel. What difference can you see between someone who agrees with the gospel and someone who is converted by the gospel of Jesus Christ? You might want to write down the parallel on the board and then discuss how we can better strive to be doers and not just hearers of the word.
Heavenly Father didn’t just create one kingdom of glory where only the best of the best go. There are three kingdoms of glory- one of which almost ALL of God’s children will ultimately inherit. That’s incredible! Just one reason why we shouted with joy when we heard our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. What else about the plan of salvation makes you shout for joy even now? What comfort do you gain from knowing that it’s more than simply heaven and hell? Why do you want more people to know about these kingdoms of glory?
God always steers us to the ideal. Yes, we are imperfect but He knows with Christ’s help, we can be in the celestial kingdom with Him again someday. How does this make you feel? What are some choices that we can make today, this year, etc. to choose the celestial kingdom in the end? Where are our current choices leading us? Is that where we want to be? You can do this by drawing an example on the board with arrows or inviting people to ponder and draw on a scrap piece of paper themselves. For example: Am I choosing to be worthy to hold a temple recommend? Where would no lead you? Where would yes lead you? Every choice takes us closer to our ultimate destination. Who are we becoming?
Gender and marriage are not simply a recommendation. Because we know about the plan of salvation, we know that gender is an essential characteristic- one we had before we came to earth and will continue to have after this life. We also know that marriage between a man and woman is one of those laws we can choose to follow to obtain the highest degree in the celestial kingdom. Some of the most important parts of our eternal development can occur in these family relationships. What are some lessons you have learned with your family? Why do you feel exaltation is a family matter, not an individual one? Why can’t we do it all by ourselves?
President Oaks stated, “We have a loving Heavenly Father who will see that we receive every blessing and every advantage that our own desires and choices allow.” You can demonstrate this by using an object lesson of where people have chosen to sit in your classroom. Odds are there aren’t very many people in the front row. Why? What advantages do the people in the front row have that those in the back don’t? For example, it’s much easier to hear. You may even give those in the front a treat or more opportunities to read quotes. That person in the back corner also has advantages- it’s easier to see the whole room but it’s also more distracting. By simply choosing where to sit in the room, we have chosen the advantages we want. The same happens by choosing which kingdom’s laws we choose to obey.
