See learners the way God sees them.

Skill

Study recent prophetic messages to understand how Heavenly Father sees young people.

man studying

Define

Elder Dale G. Renlund taught, “To effectively serve others we must see them … through Heavenly Father’s eyes” (“Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 94). Living prophets are inspired men called to speak for the Lord. By understanding what prophets are teaching about today’s youth, you can see your students through God’s eyes and know better how to help them at any time. One way to do this is to prayerfully study prophetic messages to discover answers to questions such as the following:

• What are prophets and apostles teaching about the identity of the youth?

• What are leaders of the Church asking young people to do?

• What are prophets and apostles revealing about the Lord’s hopes, desires, feelings about, and expectations for young people?

As you study the words of living prophets to find answers to these questions or some of your own questions, you will grow in your understanding of how God sees the youth of the Church. As you see students more clearly through God’s eyes, you will be inspired to teach and interact with young people in higher and holier ways.

Model

• Sister Antel is about to start her first year teaching institute. Before meeting her students, she studies President Nelson’s talk “Choices for Eternity” while pondering the question “What does the Lord’s prophet want me to understand about the young adults I will be teaching?” She sees more clearly how Heavenly Father sees her students as she reads the following: “First and foremost, you are a child of God. Second, as a member of the Church, you are a child of the covenant. And third, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

• Brother Mueller has been frustrated because the students in his seminary class seem unengaged. He seeks help by studying the most recent general conference addresses to find answers to the question “What did leaders of the Church share about Heavenly Father’s hopes, desires, feelings about, and expectations for young people?” His view of his students is bolstered as he reads Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s words: “My dear friends, let me repeat, if the Savior were standing here today, He would express His endless love for you, His complete confidence in you” (“Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 12).

Practice

• Study a recent prophetic message and look for insights that help you understand how Heavenly Father sees your students.

Incorporate

• Make a list of prophetic statements from the past year that help you see young people through Heavenly Father’s eyes.

Discuss or Ponder

How can seeing young people through God’s eyes affect the way you treat them?

• What are some prophetic statements that have helped you see young people the way Heavenly Father sees them, and what difference has that made for you?

• What are other questions you might ponder while studying prophetic messages to help you better understand the youth of the Church?

Want More?

• Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity” (worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022), ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Dale G. Renlund, “Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 93–94

• Chad H Webb, “His Representatives” (Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, Jan. 21, 2022), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org