A Gift of Light, by Eva Koleva Timothy
Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150
Many of these psalms contain praise for the Lord’s mercy and goodness. Included are psalms that express gratitude for the word of God and declare children to be cherished gifts from the Lord.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: Old Testament, “Psalms 102–3; 110; 116–19; 127–28; 135–39; 146–50”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem containing eight verses of scripture for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Read a few portions of this psalm and think about the blessings that have come into your life or the lives of those you know from studying God’s word.
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Why are children an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation? Ponder this as you study Psalm 127.
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Have you ever tried offering a prayer in which you only expressed gratitude to Heavenly Father? Study Psalms 136 or 147 and look for ideas of things you might express in such a prayer.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Psalms 102–3; 110; 116–19; 127–28; 135–39; and 146–50.
Skill Training
The learning activity for Psalm 127 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Using Teachings of Church Leaders to Understand the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class. You could also seek input from your students.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Invite learners to prepare to learn. Spiritual preparation matters—for you and for the people you teach. When visiting the Americas, the Savior told the multitude, “Go ye unto your homes, and … prepare your minds for the morrow” (3 Nephi 17:3). Look for ways you can follow the Savior’s example and encourage your students to prepare to learn in institute. To learn more about how the Savior did this, see “The Savior Invited Others to Prepare to Learn” (in Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25).
How can the word of God guide me?
You could display the following image or create a simple drawing on the board showing two diverging roads. Then discuss the following question.
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How could this image represent the life of a young adult?
Invite students to consider the following question and record their thoughts:
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In what areas of my life could I use direction from God?
Encourage students as they study today to look for truths that can help them receive the Lord’s direction in their lives.
Explain that Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem containing eight verses of scripture for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (see “Psalm 119. Why are there Hebrew letters throughout Psalm 119?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament).
Invite students to choose one or more segments of Psalm 119 to study. Have them pay attention to what they learn about the word of God. (It may be helpful to point out that the psalm uses the words testimony, law, precepts, commandments, and statutes to describe the word of God.)
Invite students to share what they discovered. Consider asking the following question or one of your own:
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What did you learn about the word of God from the verses you studied?
After students have finished their discussions, point out that Psalm 119:105 is a well-known verse. Invite students to read this verse, looking for what the psalm compares the word of the Lord to.
You could display the following image before asking questions like the one below.
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How is God’s word like a lamp or light? (As part of this discussion, you could help students identify a truth like this: As we study the word of God, He will bless us with guidance.)
You could display the following instructions and give students time to complete one or both of them:
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Find some of God’s words in the scriptures or from His Church leaders that have brought you light or guidance recently.
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Write down advice you would give to someone who wants to draw closer to the Savior and receive more light from His word.
After sufficient time, invite students to share their insights with a partner or small group. You could also discuss a question like the following together as a class:
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When has the word of the Lord been a “light” or “lamp” for you or someone you know? What did this experience teach you about the Savior? (As part of this discussion, you could show one of the following videos: “How the Book of Mormon Encourages Amelia” [1:33] or “Shaquille’s Story about the Book of Mormon” [1:28]).
1:331:28
Invite students to ponder how studying the word of God could give them direction and bring them closer to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Encourage them to write down any impressions they received from the Holy Ghost and make a plan to act on those promptings.
How are children a blessing from God?
Consider sharing the following scenario or one like it with your students:
Lucia shared with her friend that when she thinks about her future, she does not see herself having children. As she thinks about the goals she has for her life, they do not seem possible to achieve if she were to become a mother. She feels she would be much happier without that responsibility.
You might also ask:
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What other things might make young adults hesitant to have children?
It may be helpful to explain that students will have an opportunity to create a response for Lucia later in the learning activity. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them respond.
As you continue this learning activity, be sensitive to the different circumstances your students face. It may be helpful to remind them that personal circumstances such as marital status, infertility, family background, and other factors can affect our ability to have and raise children.
Remind students that the psalms use poetic writing to describe gospel truths. Read together Psalm 127:3–5, looking for a truth about children. Then ask questions like these:
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What words did the psalmist use to describe children?
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What can these verses teach you about the importance of children? (Students may identify a truth like this one: Children are a gift from the Lord and can bring great happiness.)
To help students deepen their understanding of this truth, invite them to choose one of the following options to study. (This could be a helpful place to introduce and practice the skill “Using Teachings of Church Leaders to Understand the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.)
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Search “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Gospel Library), looking for truths, counsel, and encouragement about having and raising children.
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Study one of the following messages by Elder Neil L. Andersen or another related general conference message: “Children” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 28–31) or “Cherishing Life” (Liahona, May 2025, 30–33). Look for truths, encouragement, or counsel about having and raising children.
After sufficient time, allow students to share with a partner or small group the insights they gained from their study. It may also be helpful to discuss the following statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen:
It is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for [the] spirit children of God. We believe in families, and we believe in children.
When a child is born to a husband and wife, they are fulfilling part of our Heavenly Father’s plan to bring children to earth. …
Families are central to God’s eternal plan. I testify of the great blessing of children and of the happiness they will bring us in this life and in the eternities. (“Children,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 28, 31)
You could remind students of the scenario from the start of the learning activity. Invite students to discuss with a partner how they might respond to Lucia based on what they discovered in class.
How can I feel and express more gratitude for God?
Consider displaying the following self-evaluation. (You could also distribute copies of it.) Give students time to complete the evaluation on their own.
Thinking about your experiences over the last week, answer the following questions with the phrases never, once or twice, a few times, or many times.
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How often did you recognize a specific blessing from God in your life?
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How often did you express gratitude to God for your blessings?
Encourage students as they study today to pay attention to what the Holy Ghost can teach them about gratitude that can benefit their lives.
Remind students that many of the psalms contain expressions of praise and gratitude. Invite students to choose either Psalm 136 or Psalm 147 to study. As they study, invite them to ponder their answers to one or both of the following questions:
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What reasons did the writer of the psalm give for their praise and gratitude toward God?
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What are words or phrases that reflect your own feelings about God?
After sufficient time, encourage students to share what they found with a partner or small group. You could then share the following statement by President Thomas S. Monson and discuss the accompanying questions:
My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. (“The Divine Gift of Gratitude,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 87)
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How would you summarize what President Monson taught as a statement of truth? (Students could identify a truth like this one: Expressing gratitude for our blessings helps us feel God’s love.)
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What can help you feel more love and gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
To help students better understand the impact that gratitude for God can have on their lives, consider showing “Principles of Peace: Gratitude” (2:32) or “The Healing Power of Gratitude” (from time code 0:00 to 8:58).
To conclude, you could invite students to make a list of reasons they are grateful for God or blessings from Him that they are grateful for. Then encourage them to share items from their lists in partnerships or as a class. You could also encourage them to share their lists with others throughout the day or on social media.