Welcome to August!
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August, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Job 1 and Job 2.
2. Job, a righteous man, experienced severe trials and afflictions. Job lost all of his property, his children died, and he suffered great physical agony. In the midst of his suffering, Job was visited by three friends. Though Job’s friends intended to comfort him, they accused him of transgression.
3. Watch the video about Job.
4. Listen to the “Books of the Old Testament” song. Be sure you can sing it through Job!
Youth
1. Read Ezra 1 and Ezra 3.
2. After the Jews were carried away captive to Babylon, Cyrus, the king of Persia, conquered the Babylonians and became the new ruler of the Jews. Why would a Persian king pay to have the temple rebuilt? (Ezra 1:1) The Lord can inspire people, regardless of their religious background, to accomplish His purposes.
3. The Jews first rebuilt the altar of the temple and began offering sacrifices. They were directed by Zerubbabel, the Jewish man appointed by the Persians to serve as the governor of the Jews, and Jeshua, the presiding high priest of the Aaronic Priesthood. Many Jews contributed time and resources to the reconstruction of the temple. How did the people react when the foundation of the temple was relaid? (Ezra 3:10-13) Why do you think that many of those who had seen the original temple wept?
4. After discussing the virtues of King Cyrus, President Ezra Taft Benson spoke of the way our Heavenly Father can work through individuals on the earth to accomplish His purposes:
God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future. (“Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints,” Ensign, July 1972, 59)
The Lord can bless anyone with inspiration, including those of other faiths. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
No denomination—not even the restored Church—has a monopoly on the blessings of the Lord. He loves and blesses all of His children. (“Miracles,” Ensign, June 2001, 12)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Job 19:22-27 and Job 21:1-9.
2. Again and again, Job’s friends came to him and suggested that he had so many trials because he was wicked. Job responded that he had faith in God, and knew that he would be resurrected one day. He knew that wicked people were sometimes happy, and righteous people are sometimes unhappy. Job had a testimony of Jesus Christ, and that gave him strength through his trials.
3. Listen to the song “My Redeemer Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Ezra 7.
2. About 60 years after the temple was rebuilt at Jerusalem, Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, appointed Ezra to lead another group of Jews to Judah and provided him with money and supplies to beautify the temple. Ezra had prepared and qualified himself to have God’s help as he faced challenges and fulfilled his mission in life. How was Ezra prepared for what was asked of him? (Ezra 7:6)
3. Ezra and hundreds of Jews were allowed to leave captivity and travel approximately 900 miles from Shushan to Jerusalem. Ezra fasted and prayed that God would protect them as they traveled to Jerusalem. This journey was extremely dangerous because the Israelites had to travel through thief-infested deserts carrying the large amounts of gold, silver, and other treasure that Artaxerxes had given them to beautify the temple in Jerusalem. How had Ezra prepared himself for the hand of the Lord to be upon him? (Ezra 7:10) As we try our best to fully live and teach the commandments, then the Lord’s hand will be upon us to bless our lives.
4. Sir Winston Churchill, prime minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, gave the following message.
To every man there comes … that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing unique to him and fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.
Day 3
Youth
1. Read Nehemiah 2:1-8, Nehemiah 2:16-20, and Nehemiah 4.
2. Nehemiah was a Jew who served as the cupbearer to the Persian king (see Nehemiah 1:11). As the cupbearer, he was in charge of protecting the king’s cup from being poisoned. Nehemiah was in a position of trust and honor before the king. What did the king notice about Nehemiah in chapter 2? How was the king’s reaction an answer to Nehemiah’s prayers?
3. When Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem to rebuild its walls and gates, most of the people were willing to do the work. However, some people mocked him. How did Nehemiah react to this? (Nehemiah 2:20)
4. The enemies of the Jews began to be angry when they saw the walls being repaired and tried to stop it from happening. According to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Opposition turns up almost anyplace something good has happened.” Despite opposition, Nehemiah remained focused on the work of the Lord, prayed, and listened to the inspiration he received. (Nehemiah 6:3) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency said:
Think of the power we would have as individuals … if, in response to every temptation to lose focus or lower our standards—the standards of God, we responded, ‘I am doing a great work and cannot come down.’ (“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 62)
Day 4
Youth
1. Read Nehemiah 8.
2. The Jews who were living in Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s time had been lost spiritually for several years without the nourishment of scriptures or sacred ordinances. Ezra lived in Jerusalem at the same time as Nehemiah. What did Ezra do to help the people recover their spiritual health? (Nehemiah 8:1-3)
3. Once the Jews understood the scriptures, they blessed the Lord and acted immediately to obey the law. As we learn from the scriptures about God and His goodness, we have a greater desire to enter into and keep His covenants.
4. The reading of the law to the people by Ezra the scribe is of particular importance because it appears to have been the first time a synagogue, or a place to read and expound the scriptures, was established in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. One Bible scholar commented on verse 8 as follows: ‘The Israelites, having been lately brought out of the Babylonish captivity, in which they had continued seventy years, according to the prediction of Jeremiah, [25:11], were not only extremely corrupt, but it appears that they had in general lost the knowledge of the ancient Hebrew to such a degree, that when the book of the law was read, they did not understand it: but certain Levites stood by, and gave the sense, i.e., translated into the Chaldee dialect. … It appears that the people were not only ignorant of their ancient language, but also of the rites and ceremonies of their religion, having been so long in Babylon, where they were not permitted to observe them. This being the case, not only the language must be interpreted, but the meaning of the rites and ceremonies must also be explained; for we find from ver. 13, &c., of this chapter, that they had even forgotten the feast of tabernacles, and every thing relative to that ceremony. [Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible … with a Commentary and Critical Notes, 2:781–82] (Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 336–37).
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Psalm 1 and Psalm 2.
2. The Psalms are a collection of praises and songs from the ancient Israelites. Studying Psalms can bring us nearer to God and help us feel His love.
3. Listen to the song “I Feel My Savior’s Love.”
4. Listen to the “Books of the Old Testament” song. Be sure you can sing it through Psalms!
Youth
1. Read Esther 2 and Esther 3.
2. Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, became displeased with his queen, Vashti, and decided to replace her. In Esther 2 we read that the king sought a new queen from among the fair young women of the kingdom. Esther was a young Jewish woman who was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. When Esther was chosen as a candidate, Mordecai advised her not to reveal that she was a Jew, and so she kept her heritage a secret. Why was Esther made the new queen? (Esther 2:17)
3. After Esther was made queen, Mordecai discovered a plot to assassinate the king and told Esther about it. As a result, the would-be assassins were caught and killed.
4. A man named Haman held the highest position of all the king’s officials. The king commanded everyone to bow down and reverence, or worship, Haman when he passed. Mordecai would not do this, because it would be breaking one of the commandments. This made Haman angry, and he planned a way to punish Mordecai. He convinced the king to make a law to kill not only Mordecai, but all the Jews. On a certain day, all the Jews in the kingdom would be killed, and all of their possessions taken by the people who killed them.
5. Does God have specific work for everyone? Sister Wendy W. Nelson, wife of President Russell M. Nelson, explained that God has a special work for each of us:
My dear friends, premortally you and I were each given wonderful missions to fulfill while we are here on earth. …
The choice is yours and mine. Will we choose to do whatever it takes to fulfill the wonderful missions for which we were sent to earth? …
Premortally, you and I committed to do a great work while we are here on earth. And with the Lord’s help, we will do it! (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel“ [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Psalm 23 and Psalm 24.
2. Psalm 23 is very famous because it talks about Jesus as a shepherd who takes care of us. Psalm 24 may not be quite as famous, but it contains a doctrinal mastery scripture!
3. Psalm 24:3-4 says:
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Here is a song for this verse to listen to!
Youth
1. Read Esther 4.
2. After the king decreed that the Jews would be killed, Mordecai and the Jews fasted and mourned and cried and tore their clothes. Mordecai sat outside the king’s gate, openly mourning. Esther sent a messenger to find out what had happened. What did Mordecai ask Esther to do? (Esther 4:8)
3. Although this sounds like a simple solution, there was a law that anyone who went in unto the king without being summoned could be killed. During this time kings were frequently in danger of assassination, so they surrounded themselves with guards and had harsh penalties for anyone who came uninvited into any room they were in. Esther would be risking her life if she went in to the king without having been called. Her life would be spared only if he held out his golden scepter to her. Esther said she had not been called in to the king in 30 days.
4. When Mordecai received Esther’s response describing her concern, he sent her another message. (Esther 4:13–14) What do you think Mordecai meant when he told Esther that she might have come to the kingdom “for such a time as this?”
5. Like Esther, we have a responsibility to help other people in the various circumstances and situations we are in, even when we may feel hesitant to do so. Read the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
The Lord gave you your responsibilities for a reason. There may be people and hearts only you can reach and touch. Perhaps no one else could do it in quite the same way. (“Lift Where You Stand,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 56)
6. Esther sent another response to Mordecai through the palace messengers. She agreed to go in unto the king, but asked Mordecai to have the people fast and pray for her.
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Psalm 27 and Psalm 30.
2. Psalm 27 says if the Lord is our light, we should not fear. It also says if we wait on the Lord he will strengthen our hearts. What do you think it means to “wait upon the Lord?”
3. In Psalm 30 it says “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Because of Jesus Christ, the sadness we feel in this life can be replaced with joy!
4. Listen to the song “My Redeemer Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Esther 5 and Esther 7.
2. After the king asked Esther what she wanted from him, she asked if he and Haman would come to a banquet that she would prepare for them. The king and Haman gladly accepted the invitation. At the banquet, the king asked her again what she wanted, and Esther asked Haman and the king to come to a second banquet the next day. Haman was pleased, and took this as evidence that the queen thought he was an important man, but once again he saw Mordecai sitting by the king’s gate and he was consumed with anger and prepared to kill him.
3. The second night, Esther revealed her Jewish heritage and asked the king to spare her life. He granted her request, and as a result Haman was killed on the very gallows he had prepared to kill Mordecai. His anger and pride had been his undoing, and as a result of Esther’s courage and faithfulness her people were saved.
4. After Haman died, King Ahasuerus gave a second decree to preserve the Jews and give them power to destroy their enemies within the kingdom. The Feast of Purim was instituted to help the Jews remember their deliverance from Haman. Mordecai was elevated to second-in-command in the kingdom.
5. What would it look like for me to have courage like Esther? Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, explained:
Esther is another beautiful example of letting God prevail. Rather than sticking with a cautious narrative of self–preservation, she exercised faith, turning herself completely over to the Lord. …
Esther was willing to let the Savior write her story even though, through the lens of mortality, the ending may have been tragic. Blessedly, the king received Esther, and the Jews in Persia were saved.
Of course, Esther’s level of courage is rarely asked of us. But letting God prevail, letting Him be the author and finisher of our stories, does require us to keep His commandments and the covenants we have made. It is our commandment and covenant keeping that will open the line of communication for us to receive revelation through the Holy Ghost. And it is through the manifestations of the Spirit that we will feel the Master’s hand writing our stories with us. (“Invite Christ to Author Your Story,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 81)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Psalm 33 and Psalm 46.
2. Psalm 33 teaches that we can find evidence of the glory and goodness of God all around us in His beautiful creations. If we look, we can learn to see God’s hand in the world around us.
3. Psalm 46:10. says “be still, and know that I am God.” Taking time to be reverent and still, despite the busyness around us, can help us build our testimonies that God lives. What are some times during your day that you can be still and build your testimony?
4. Listen to the song “Teach Me to Walk in the Light.”
Youth
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Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Psalm 51.
2. Everyone makes mistakes – that is a part of mortal life. We can receive help from Jesus Christ to overcome them.
3. Watch the video “The Shiny Bicycle.”
4. Listen to the song “Teach Me to Walk in the Light.”
Youth
1. Read Job 1 and Job 2.
2. It’s natural to wonder why bad things happen to good people—or for that matter, why good things happen to bad people. Why would God, who is just, allow that? Questions like these are explored through the experience of Job, one of those good people to whom bad things happened. Job, a righteous, God-fearing man, experienced severe trials and afflictions. Job lost all of his property, his children died, and he suffered great physical agony. In the midst of his suffering, Job was visited by three friends. Because of Job’s trials, his friends wondered if he was really good after all. Job asserted his own righteousness and wondered if God is really just after all. But despite his suffering and wondering, Job maintained his integrity and faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
When you face adversity, you can be led to ask many questions. Some serve a useful purpose; others do not. To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this, now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys. It really does no good to ask questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial? …
This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings, trust in our capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings. … To trust means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning (see Prov. 3:5–7). To produce fruit, your trust in the Lord must be more powerful and enduring than your confidence in your own personal feelings and experience” (“Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17).
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Psalm 61 and Psalm 66.
2. Psalm 61 describes God as a rock, a shelter, and a strong tower. Read Psalm 66:16. What has the Lord done for your soul?
3. Listen to the song “My Redeemer Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Job 19:22-27 and Job 21:1-9.
2. After suffering great afflictions, Job defended himself against his friends’ accusations that he was only suffering because he was wicked. Job knew that wicked people sometimes prosper, and righteous people sometimes undergo great trials. His suffering did not weaken his testimony of his Redeemer, Jesus Christ, or his faith that he would be resurrected some day.
3. The phrase “after my skin worms destroy this body” in verse 26 refers to the death and decay of Job’s physical body. After that, he said “yet in my flesh I shall see God.” Because of his faith he trusted that no matter what happened to his physical body, he would one day be resurrected and see God. His testimony of the Savior and the Resurrection gave him hope in the midst of his trials.
4. Testimony of the Savior and the Resurrection can give us hope not only when we are confronted with death but also when we experience other challenges. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary! (“Resurrection,” Ensign, May 2000, 15)
5. Job not only possessed a testimony of the Savior but also desired to write it down, preserve it, and share it with others (see Job 19:23). Recording and preserving our testimonies can help us during future times of trial to remember the comforting and hopeful doctrines we know to be true.
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Psalm 77.
2. Look at Psalms 77:11. What does it mean to “remember the works of the Lord?” What are some blessings the Lord has given you? What are his works in your life?
3. Listen to the song “I Feel My Savior’s Love.”
Youth
1. Read Job 19:6-11. Then read Job 22:5-10.
2. What did his friend Eliphaz assume were the causes of Job’s struggles? We often make similar assumptions. However, God soon showed Job that both men’s assumptions about the source of trials were wrong.
3. As Job continued struggling through his trials, God spoke to him. God asked Job many questions about the creation of the world, which Job could not answer. Read Job 38:4–7, looking for examples of the questions God asked Job.
4. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained God’s response to Job’s inability to answer Him:
It was as if God had patiently and kindly said to Job, “If you cannot answer even one of my questions about the earth that I have created, is it possible that eternal laws exist that you do not understand? Are there assumptions you have made that are invalid? Do you understand my motives and how my plan of salvation and exaltation works? And can you foresee your future destiny?”
God in His wisdom knows that a vital part of our mortal experience is to not know everything. There is something about trusting Him that allows us to progress to become like Him. (“Trust God and Let Him Prevail,” Liahona, Aug. 2022, 5)
5. Read Job 42:1–6, looking for Job’s response to the Lord. God can help us view our trials with an eternal perspective.
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Psalm 85 and Psalm 86.
2. When we sin, Satan wants us to think that the Lord will never forgive us. We can build faith that the Lord is “ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 86:5).
3. Read Psalm 86:7. How do we “call upon” the Lord? How does He answer us?
Youth
1. Frustrated with his friends’ accusations, Job repeatedly asked God why he had to suffer so much. The Lord did not give a clear reason in the book of Job. But He did teach an important message in chapters 38–40. What do you learn from the Lord’s questions in Job 38:1–7, 18–24?
2. You’ll notice that the Lord spoke to Job about some of His creations and other mighty works. How do these things help you think differently about God? about your trials? How did they change Job’s perspective? (see Job 42:1–6)
3. How can I better understand the purpose of trials? Sister Michelle D. Craig taught:
When hard times come, I try to remember that I chose to follow Christ before I came to earth and that challenges to my faith, my health, and my endurance are all part of the reason I’m here. And I certainly should never think that today’s trial calls into question God’s love for me or let it turn my faith in Him into doubt. Trials do not mean that the plan is failing; they are part of the plan meant to help me seek God. I become more like Him when I endure patiently, and hopefully, like Him, when in agony, I pray more earnestly (see Luke 22:44). (“Wholehearted,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 61–62)
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Psalm 102:1-12 and Psalm 103.
2. God is aware of our trials and sorrows, and He wants to comfort and encourage us. If we build our faith in Him, it will be easier to turn to Him in times of need.
3. How can the Lord help us during our times of trouble? How do we ask for His help?
4. Listen to the song “My Redeemer Lives.”
Youth
1. Read Psalm 1 and Psalm 2.
2. We don’t know for certain who wrote the Psalms. Some have been attributed to King David, but for most of them, the writers remain anonymous. Yet after reading the Psalms, we may feel as if we know the hearts of the Psalmists, even if we don’t know their names. What we do know is that the Psalms were an important part of worship among the Israelites, and we know that the Savior quoted them often. In the Psalms, we get a window into the soul of God’s ancient people. We see how they felt about God, what they worried about, and how they found peace. As believers today, all over the world, we still use these words in our worship of God. The writers of the Psalms seem to have had a window into our souls and seem to have found a way to express how we feel about God, what we worry about, and how we find peace.
3. In speaking of one of the most important messages found in the book of Psalms, President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Jesus Himself quoted the book of Psalms more than any other Old Testament text. … It could be argued that in all of holy writ, no book of scripture goes on so extensively about the Messianic mission or the looking and longing for His return that is expressed in the songs of the Psalmist. (For Times of Trouble: Spiritual Solace from the Psalms [2012], 7–8)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Psalm 119:1-8 and Psalm 119:105-112.
2. We are on the path back to Heavenly Father. The word of God can help keep us on that path now and throughout our lives.
3. What does it feel like to be in the dark? Some things are hard to do in the dark, like draw, read, or find our way somewhere. Why are these things easier to do when there is light? The word of God, as found in the scriptures and the words of living prophets, lights our way back to Heavenly Father.
4. Listen to the song “Teach Me to Walk in the Light.”
Youth
1. Read Psalm 23 and Psalm 24.
2. Psalm 23 teaches how the Lord can help us when we experience difficulties. This psalm is widely regarded as one of the most beloved scripture passages in the Bible. Because Psalm 23 is a poem, it contains vivid images and symbols. In what ways are we like sheep in need of a shepherd?
3. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:
We need a shepherd because in innocence or ignorance — but on occasion willfully and against counsel — we turn ‘every one to his own way’ and as a result ‘have gone astray’ [Isaiah 53:6]. We wander here and scamper there, inspect this and nibble at that, until at some point we look up and realize we are either lost or about to be destroyed. We realize that we, or others who affect us, have done either something stupid or something wrong — which are so very often the same thing. We realize we desperately need help; we are in trouble and frantically look about for our shepherd, our defender, our savior. (For Times of Trouble, 204)
4. Now let’s turn to Psalm 24. What do you think the phrases “the hill of the Lord” and “his holy place” refer to? (The temple or the Lord’s presence. The temple in Jerusalem was built on top of a hill!) To be worthy to worship in the Lord’s house and to be prepared to dwell in His presence, we must have clean hands and a pure heart. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior’s Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. (“Clean Hands and a Pure Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 82).
5. Psalms 24:3-4 is a doctrinal mastery scripture!
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Here is a song for this verse to listen to!
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Psalm 139.
2. Psalm 139 teaches that God knows everything about us, including our strengths and weaknesses. If we turn to Him, He can teach us what we need to do to become more like Him.
3. Read Psalm 139:23-24. What are some things God can do for us? Why would we want God to do these things? How can we invite Him to “lead [us] in the way everlasting”?
4. Listen to the song “I Feel My Savior’s Love.”
Youth
1. Read Psalm 33 and Psalm 46.
2. Part of Psalm 33 is a song praising the Lord for His power and goodness, which are manifest in His creations. Look at Psalm 33:4-9. What does the writer of this psalm want us to do? Why should the people of the earth praise the Lord and sing to Him? What do you think it means that the Lord spiritually delivers our souls from death and famine? How is He spiritually “our help and our shield”? As we respect the Lord and hope in His mercy, He can deliver us from spiritual perils.
3. Read Psalm 46:10. What do you think it means to “be still, and know that I am God?” Taking time to be reverent and still, despite the busyness around us, can help us build our testimonies that God lives.
Day 4
Youth
1. One way to worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is to express your love and devotion to Them. Many of the psalms are poetic examples of worshipping the Father and Son in praises, pleadings, and prayers.
2. Elder Dean M. Davies, then serving in the Presiding Bishopric, shared some ways we can worship God when he taught:
When we worship God, we approach Him with reverent love, humility, and adoration. We acknowledge and accept Him as our sovereign King, the Creator of the universe, our beloved and infinitely loving Father.
We respect and revere Him.
We submit ourselves to Him.
We lift our hearts in mighty prayer, cherish His word, rejoice in His grace, and commit to follow Him with dedicated loyalty. (“The Blessings of Worship,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 94)
3. What are some other ways I can express my praise and worship? Writing and reflecting are two ways to express our praise for the Lord, but there are other ways to worship. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship. Many have difficulty expressing worshipful feelings in words, but all can join in communicating such feelings through the inspired words of our hymns. (“Worship through Music,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 1994, 10)
4. Watch the video “Here I am, I Will Follow Jesus Christ.”
5. Watch the video “Trust in the Lord.”
***
Week 5
Day 1
Youth
1. Read Psalm 51.
2. David did many great things in his life, but he also sinned deeply. David’s sincere remorse for these sins is recorded in Psalm 51. If we acknowledge our sins and offer the Savior a broken heart and contrite spirit, then He can make us clean. What lessons can we learn about repentance and about the Lord from David’s pleas for forgiveness? As we understand the merciful character of God, we will have confidence to turn to Him to seek forgiveness of our sins and help with our troubles.
3. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
In ancient times when people wanted to worship the Lord and seek His blessings, they often brought a gift. For example, when they went to the temple, they brought a sacrifice to place on the altar. After His Atonement and Resurrection, the Savior said He would no longer accept burnt offerings of animals. The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ [3 Nephi 9:20]. As you seek the blessing of conversion, you can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming. (“When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 12).
4. Elder Bruce D. Porter of the Seventy teaches about having a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do anything and everything that God asks of them, without resistance or resentment. We cease doing things our way and learn to do them God’s way instead. In such a condition of submissiveness, the Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur. (“A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 32)
