Lesson 2: Counseling Together

You may teach this lesson in its entirety or separate it into shorter segments. Adapt the lesson to your local circumstances and the needs, ages, and understanding of your quorum or class presidency.

Strength Comes from Counseling Together

The Lord’s way of leading His Church is through councils (see Doctrine and Covenants 43:8–10). Counseling together can help us to be unified as a quorum or class presidency, led by the Spirit in making decisions, and more effective in doing the Lord’s work. How can counseling together help us make better decisions?

Counseling Together Can Help Us Receive Revelation

Elder Neil L. Andersen taught that “revelation is scattered among us” (in “Auxiliary Panels Use New Training Library,” Ensign, Apr. 2011, 76). Counseling allows us to gather that revelation as we plan and carry out the Lord’s work. To illustrate this idea, you could give each member of the presidency a few pieces of a simple puzzle and invite them to work together to complete the puzzle.

How does this example apply to counseling as a presidency?
Why is it important for everyone to contribute in a council?
What can we do to help everyone feel comfortable participating?
What can we do to invite and listen to the Holy Ghost as we counsel together?
Think about a challenge or need in your quorum or class. Practice counseling together about how to address it.

Supporting Resources

“Secrets to Conducting Effective Youth Presidency Meetings”
“Conduct Class Meetings to Help the Lord”
Matthew 18:20
Ether 2:14–3:16
Doctrine and Covenants 88:122
Doctrine and Covenants 107:84–87
M. Russell Ballard, “Strength in Counsel,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 76–78
General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10.4, 11.3.4, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
“A Spirit of Unity”