How can I find solutions to my challenges and problems?
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Self-reliance includes the ability to find solutions to our own problems and challenges. Many of these solutions are found in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father is mindful of the challenges we face. He loves us and wants to help us. We should pray for guidance as we seek answers to our challenges in the scriptures and the words of the prophets and apostles.
Resources to Help You Prepare
These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.
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Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 11:28–30; Mark 4:36–39; Alma 7:11–13; 37:35–37; 38:5 (Seek the Lord’s help with challenges and problems)
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Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Bearers of Heavenly Light,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 78–81
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Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 40–42; see also the video “Like a Broken Vessel”
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“Physical and Emotional Health,” For the Strength of Youth (2012), 25–27
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“Sitting on the Bench: Thoughts on Suicide Prevention” (video)
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“Face to Face: What can I do to stay positive and know that I am enough?” (video)
Questions to Ponder before You Teach
How has the gospel provided solutions and comfort during your challenging times?
What issues or challenges do the young women face? What challenges might they face in the future? What principles of the gospel will help them successfully cope with these challenges?
What can the young women do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.
Meeting Outline
1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences
Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes
Lead a discussion about items such as the following:
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Our class: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?
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Our responsibilities: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?
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Our lives: Remind the class of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?
If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a class presidency meeting.
2. Learn Together
Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the class; approximately 25–35 minutes
After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help class members understand the doctrine.
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Invite the young women to search the first two sections of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk “Bearers of Heavenly Light” and identify different types of spiritual sickness. Divide the young women into two groups, and invite one group to find what President Uchtdorf taught about the Light of the World and how we receive it. Invite the other group to find what President Uchtdorf taught about spiritual darkness and its consequences. Ask each group to share what they learn. What does it mean to be a “bearer of light”? How can we share that light with others, especially our families and friends?
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Invite the young women to think about friends who are especially hard on themselves. Ask the young women to watch the video “Face to Face: What can I do to stay positive and know that I am enough?” and make notes of things they could share with their friends to help them. What messages from President Eyring and Elder Holland especially impressed the young women?
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Invite the young women to think of a challenge or problem that young women today face. Ask them to browse the topic index in the most recent conference issue of the Ensign or Liahona, looking for topics that could help address that problem. Invite them to search one of the talks related to those topics and share with the class a statement that could help a young woman overcome her challenges. Encourage the young women to use the topic index to find help with their own challenges.
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Invite the young women to read the last two paragraphs of “Physical and Emotional Health” in For the Strength of Youth and look for counsel that could help them or people they know. What are some examples of “healthy solutions” we should seek when we have problems? What solutions does the gospel of Jesus Christ offer? Share an experience from your own life in which the gospel provided answers or assistance for a specific problem or challenge. Invite the young women to share similar experiences from their own lives.
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Ask the young women to think of someone they know who is struggling with mental or emotional challenges. Give each young woman a copy of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Like a Broken Vessel.” Ask them to look for answers to his question “How do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love?” You might also show the video “Sitting on the Bench: Thoughts on Suicide Prevention.” Invite the young women to share what they learn and to discuss how these teachings could help the person they are thinking of.
3. Plan to Act
Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes
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Ask the young women to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a class to apply what they have learned?
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Give the young women a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.
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Remind the young women that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.