Microtraining 8

How to Invite Others to Act in Faith When They Are Struggling with Difficult Questions or Doubts

Define

Help students see how they can assist others to receive answers to their gospel questions. Display and read the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf that he shared while serving in the First Presidency:

It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come, Join with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 23)

Provide the following handout to students.

How to Help Others with Their Gospel Questions

Answering My Gospel Questions—Microtraining 8: How to Invite Others to Act in Faith When They Are Struggling with Difficult Questions or Doubts

• Listen with an understanding, empathetic heart.

• Invite others to act in faith by seeking help from Heavenly Father through prayer and obedience to the commandments.

• Share truths, spiritual impressions, or your testimony with others (see “Helping Others Acquire Spiritual Knowledge,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Invite others to study scriptures, prophetic counsel, and other uplifting sources, including the Topics articles on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• Encourage others to remember experiences they have had when they felt the Holy Ghost and to hold fast to the truth they have felt and learned until additional knowledge comes.

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How to Help Others with Their Gospel Questions

Model

Show the following video example of someone who had a question and was invited to learn more: “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge: Madison’s Story” (8:35). Ask students to look for ways Madison was invited to act in faith and watch for the results. After watching the video, invite students to share what they observed.

Apply

Invite students to work with a partner for this activity. Ask them to use the principles in the handout “How to Help Others with Their Gospel Questions” to role-play how they might help Jean in the scenario that follows. (Remind students to focus on practicing how to help others so they can find answers to their own questions rather than simply providing complete answers for them.)

Jean joined the Church one year ago. She decided to get baptized because she felt a strong witness that the Book of Mormon was true. Lately, her faith has wavered because of her questions about why women are not ordained to priesthood offices in the Church. She feels the Church is discriminating against women.

After this activity, provide students with an opportunity to share what they learned as they practiced.