When Enoch was called to preach repentance to a wicked group of people, he felt inadequate. The Lord helped and strengthened him to accomplish what he thought he could not do. This lesson can help students feel confidence in the Lord and His power to help and strengthen them.
Student preparation: Invite students to think of times people experienced the Lord’s power as he helped them overcome difficulties. Encourage them to look for examples in the scriptures.
Possible Learning Activities
Feelings of inadequacy
Consider displaying statements such as the following on the board: I can’t. I’m not good enough. It’s too hard.
What are situations where teenagers might experience these kinds of feelings?
You might make a list on the board of the situations that students share.
Think about a situation in your own life that might be causing you to feel inadequate or overwhelmed. Take a moment and ponder this question:
How confident do you feel that the Lord will help you in this situation?
Encourage students to think about their own situations as they study Enoch’s call to be a prophet. Invite them to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to increase their confidence in the Lord’s ability to help and strengthen them.
Enoch experiences the Lord’s power
A few generations after Adam, one of his descendants, Enoch, lived among hard-hearted and wicked people. Read Moses 6:26–28, looking for what the Lord called Enoch to do.
How might you have felt if you were Enoch? Why?
To help students study Enoch’s experience with the Lord, consider using the handout titled “Enoch Experiences the Lord’s Power.” Students could work through the handout with a partner. For variety, they could switch partners after each study activity. You could also use the ideas on the handout to help the students study Enoch’s experience together as a class.
Some students struggle with knowing how to begin a gospel-focused conversation. Included in the handout are some discussion questions. Providing discussion questions like these can help students practice sharing their thoughts and feelings about what they study in the scriptures or the words of prophets. (For additional training on discussions, see “Encourage learners to share the truths they are learning” in Teacher Development Skills.)
Give students time to share what they learned from their study and discussion, including truths they identified in Study Activity 4. Using their own words, students may have identified a truth similar to the following: If we faithfully do as the Lord commands, He will give us help and strength.
The Lord’s help and strength in your life
To help students understand the above principle, you could display some scriptural or modern examples. Invite students to read (or watch) the example and prepare to share how the Lord helped and strengthened the people in the example. Examples could include Nephi and his family in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 5:7–8; 7:16–18; 17:1–3; 18:1–4), Alma and his people in bondage (see Mosiah 24:10–22), or the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–10; 122:7–9). You could also consider showing the example President Russell M. Nelson shared from his life in “Becoming True Millennials” (time code 9:05 to 12:29). This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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How have you seen or experienced the Lord’s power to give help and strength in your life?
Consider sharing your own personal experiences with the Lord’s power.
Reflect on what you learned
Give students time to reflect on what they have learned and felt today from the scriptures, each other, and the Spirit. One way you could do this is to display the following question and give students time to record their answers in their study journals.
What have I learned or felt today about the Lord that can help me when I feel inadequate, discouraged, or not strong enough?
Consider inviting a few willing students to share what they wrote with the class. Testify of the Savior and His power to give us strength and help.