Teaching Helps for "How Can I Show Greater Love to Those around Me?" (April 23)
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Some family matters demand my attention currently so I can’t record a podcast for “How Can I Show Greater Love to Those around Me?”. But don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you completely empty-handed. Here are some quick resources that I’ve made in the past that may help you as you teach!
Print my Steps to Service sign. I found these steps on a handwritten poster in my old Relief Society room and fell in love with it. It describes the Good Samaritan story to me in today’s time so well. We are always SO busy with everything. Slowing down and turning around are necessary steps to help us serve those that we may quickly walk by otherwise (even during a ministering visit). I also like that the last step can have multiple meanings. First, throw yourself all into the service- really do it right. Second, go to town as in go into the city and get friends to help. Sometimes we need more people to help us help others.
Play, “Do You Love Your Neighbor?” It’s a fun game that you can use to help drive home the point that whoever we come into contact with is our neighbor. It’s up to us to choose to love them. Obviously, keep it short!
Send a note to those in your class before you teach!
Enjoy some coloring pages about love.
Go on a walk around the church- inside or outside after reviewing the steps in the Step to Service sign. As you walk, look around. What are some things you can do to help your neighbor? Did you pass by someone? Turn around. Is there anything you can do to help them out? As you go, look (and pray) for opportunities. It could be picking up trash, moving chairs, making friends with someone along the way, or another need you see.
Grab some stuffed animals or use each other and some toilet paper and have a race to see who can wrap the “wounds” the fastest (use up all the roll). I recommend buying some cheap rolls for this instead of using your good stuff. Play this game after reading the story of the Good Samaritan.
Get your class thinking before you start your discussion. Hand out slips of paper that say, "I have felt the most love from someone when...." How does understanding what helps you feel loved, help you show Christlike love to others? What can we do so we show others love in a way they feel it most?
Discuss the hymn, "Love One Another" (Hymn #308). What do the different phrases mean? How do we live this hymn? Consider singing it to end your discussion.
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, and how we can apply it to our ministering.
Discuss what keeps us from loving others more purely. For example, when we get caught up in the comparison cycle it's hard to feel love for those people or when we have completely different ways of doing things and allow that to drive a wedge between us instead of a bond. How can we overcome those things? What can help us step back and honestly examine our love for others?
