Good Samaritan, by Annie Henrie Nader

Good Samaritan, by Annie Henrie Nadar

April 23

How Can I Show Greater Love to Those around Me?

Matthew 18; Luke 10

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Counsel Together

Led by a member of the class or quorum presidency; approximately 10–20 minutes

At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.

• Live the gospel. What recent experiences have brought us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• Care for those in need. Has someone recently moved into our ward or joined the Church? How can we help them feel welcome?

• Invite all to receive the gospel. What activities are coming up that we can invite our friends to attend?

• Unite families for eternity. What efforts can we make to record our personal histories?

At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:

• Testify of the principles taught.

• Remind class or quorum members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.

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Teach the Doctrine

Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

After Jesus taught a “certain lawyer” the importance of the two great commandments—loving God and loving our neighbor—the lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbour?” (see Luke 10:25–29; Matthew 22:35–40). In response, the Savior shared a parable about a Samaritan who risked his life to care for a wounded Jewish man, took the man to a shelter to be cared for, and paid for the cost of his recovery. The Samaritan did not focus on the differences between himself and the man, who was considered an enemy by his people, or judge him or find reasons not to help. He served the man in need, despite personal inconvenience and sacrifice, thereby showing love for the man and for God. As you ponder the Savior’s teachings in Luke 10:25–37, think about what it really means to “love … thy neighbour as thyself” (verse 27).

How will you help those you teach understand that when they serve those around them, they are showing their love for God? What might inspire them to love and serve others? As you prepare, you might review President Russell M. Nelson’s message “The Second Great Commandment” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 96–100).

Learn Together

To begin a discussion about showing greater love for those around us, you could ask class or quorum members to share what they learned about loving others from the parable of the good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25–37. What do we learn about the relationship between the first and second great commandments from Luke 10:27 and President Dallin H. Oaks’s statement in “Supporting Resources”? The following ideas can help you continue a discussion about showing greater love to those around us.

• Jesus Christ is our great example of showing love for God by serving others, and class or quorum members will be inspired by studying His example. Invite each person to reflect on the mortal life of Jesus Christ and choose an experience from His life that shows His great love for other people. Ask each person to share the experience they chose, along with why it is meaningful to them. Invite those you teach to think of one way they would like to follow the Savior’s example of love. They could also share their thoughts about someone they know who follows this example.

• Share and discuss with class or quorum members the statement by President Russell M. Nelson found in “Supporting Resources.” You could invite class or quorum members to review one or more of the general conference messages cited in this outline, looking for teachings that can guide us in our efforts to love others. They might focus on the following: examples of how we can serve from “The Second Great Commandment” by President Nelson; sections I, II, and VI in President Oaks’s message “Loving Others and Living with Differences”; and the story about rabbits and the counsel to youth from “Hearts Knit Together” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson. You could also read together Mosiah 2:17 and Moroni 7:45–48. It might be helpful to write the teachings discussed by the youth on the board. Then the class or quorum could counsel together about specific ways they can better apply these teachings to their relationships with family members, with friends, and within their communities, even when people seem difficult to love.

• The efforts of class or quorum members in the work of salvation and exaltation will be more meaningful and joyful when they are inspired by love. To help them see how each aspect of the work of salvation and exaltation (see General Handbook, 1.2) is motivated by love, write the four aspects on the board. Then ask the youth to discuss how having a heart full of love for others can change how they participate in each aspect. They may have experiences from their own lives or the lives of others they could share.

Young men and women decorating a cake

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “When we love God with all our hearts, He turns our hearts to the well-being of others.”

Act in Faith

Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Supporting Resources

• Dallin H. Oaks, “Loving Others and Living with Differences,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 25–28

• Gary E. Stevenson, “Hearts Knit Together,” Liahona, May 2021, 19–23

• “A Good Samaritan,” “The Greatest Commandment” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• President Dallin H. Oaks taught: “Our zeal to keep [the] second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. … We must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love—keeping the commandments and walking the covenant path, while loving our neighbors along the way. This walk requires us to seek divine inspiration on what to support and what to oppose and how to love and listen respectfully and teach in the process. Our walk demands that we not compromise on commandments but show forth a full measure of understanding and love” (“Two Great Commandments,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 73–75).

• President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Latter-day Saints … truly seek to live the first and second great commandments. When we love God with all our hearts, He turns our hearts to the well-being of others in a beautiful, virtuous cycle. … Giving help to others—making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves—is our joy. Especially, I might add, when it is not convenient and when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Living that second great commandment is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ” (“The Second Great Commandment,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 97, 100).

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

Your personal experience with living the gospel will enable you to bear powerful witness of the principles you teach. Because you are living them, the Holy Ghost can witness that what you are teaching is true.