Elder Pingree’s Conference address is found here.

(Note: Paragraphs in the normal font make up the lesson plan; paragraphs in italics are Alison’s explanations of what she is doing as a teacher, and why.)

When I’m assigned a conference talk to present as a lesson in Relief Society, as soon as I see it’s divided into 3 or more subheadings, I cheer/sigh with relief – this means I can split the class into groups to discuss and apply some or all of the subtopics. This can take up a considerable part of the lesson – all, if you want it to – what with the discussion being allocated several minutes and then each group sharing their findings. You can allow as much latitude there as you like and it means that, with the right approach, the class members are thinking about, and hopefully planning to apply, the principle(s) taught in the talk.

Elder Pingree’s talk falls into this category. Four or five subjects he addresses will work well as discussion topics within the class.

The question at the start of Elder Pingree’s talk is one I’d like you to ask yourself just now. This is purely for your own personal reflection and, hopefully, motivation; just nod if this applies to you.

Have you ever wondered if your Heavenly Father has a special work for you to perform for him? Are there important things He has specifically prepared you to accomplish? Think about what those might be as we consider an example.

Elder Pingree shares the story of a young Nepalese man which you will have read about in his talk. The questions you were asked to ponder during the past week were: How did our Father in Heaven prepare and use this young man? What does that lead you to think about the way He has prepared you to serve Him in a specific way?

An essential part of the Come Follow Me lesson format requires a simple assignment from the teacher for each person to carry out prior to the class time. In these RS/Priesthood classes, this should involve reading the talk, perhaps to find the answer to a question you pose or to come prepared to share a personal experience relating to the talk’s content. In our ward, these assignments will be announced in class the week before and posted on our RS Facebook page. Our teachers have been instructed to communicate the assignment to sisters in whatever way best meets those sisters’ needs.

Rather than have somebody share or read it aloud (heaven forfend), I’ll assume most if not all of the class are familiar with Elder Pingree’s story about the Nepali translator, and invite answers to the questions they were assigned to consider. Knowing my Relief Society group as I do, this will probably lead to a relevant discussion about how God guides our lives to specific points and people.

Sister L, can you please read out the quote from President Spencer W. Kimball?

Did anybody notice the source of that quotation? Why do you think that is significant? Note that Elder Pingree says everybody has a role to fulfil in this regard, irrespective of whether they are young or old, male or female, new to the Church or born in it, comfortably off or in straitened circumstances. No-one is exempt. So, if you have never thought of yourself as having a special work to do, given to you by God, today is the time to start thinking about it. Perhaps you have already started your work and hadn’t considered it in this light.

Elder Russell M. Nelson tells us: “The Lord has more in mind for you than you have in mind for yourself! You have been reserved and preserved for this time and place. … The Lord needs you to change the world. As you accept and follow His will for you, you will find yourself accomplishing the impossible!” I’d like to add that most of the time, what God will require of us is perfectly possible…it’s the unspectacular, unseen, and often mundane things we do that go together to make up a significant part of the work of salvation.

Here, divide the class into groups to discuss the four subtopics Focus on Others, Discover and Develop Spiritual Gifts, Make Use of Adversity, and Rely on God. It’s important to give each group one or two questions about their topic to help them concentrate on applying the material to themselves; this will also give them something concrete to report and provide the rest of the class with some new perspectives. Specify a time limit, and ask them to appoint a spokesperson to write down and share their findings (if that’s not already customary in your unit). For instance, with the group on developing spiritual gifts you might ask them to expand on the list given in the talk and suggest some different gifts that perhaps they have experienced, either in themselves or others, and ponder how those gifts have helped people. The “Focus on Others” group might be asked to share how we can consider the long-term needs of others as we make key decisions in our lives. The questions should not simply be about the content of the talk.

The length of time for discussion and then presentation of the groups’ findings is entirely dependent on the individual unit. There are many factors governing this and these will vary from lesson to lesson. One of the main principles of CFM is for both class and teacher to prepare prayerfully, and for me one of the most important parts of my lesson preparation is to think about who is likely to be present in the class on that day, and to pray about individual involvement and understanding. However, you will also want to ensure that each group has ample opportunity to share what they’ve discussed, and not allow one of the first groups to monopolise the class time!

[Write keywords/main points of group discussions on the board]

I testify to you that each of us can be an instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, in His work, and serving His children, wherever we are and in whatever life circumstances we find ourselves.

Sister D, can you please share with us your thoughts on Elder Pingree’s remarks about how Satan tries to distract us from the work of God?

This would be by prior assignment and again, would have a specified time limit. This is a tricky subject, in my experience, as I have heard some individuals in past classes focus far too extensively on what they feel Satan is good at and not nearly enough on the power of God, so my assigned sister will be one who I know well enough to address the point accurately!

Another of the planks of the CFM platform is the final assignment for class members to prepare out with class. Although this is nothing new to gospel teaching, the difference is now that the teacher will be expected to spend a few minutes at the beginning of her/his next lesson finding out how a few of the class members completed their assignment. Encouraging and getting reports on application of the principle is paramount, and if initially this seems too much of a bother, it should be remembered that this is yet another way in which members can share with each other how they apply gospel principles in daily living: a major focus of Come Follow Me.

One of the questions we looked at in the lesson, especially if you hadn’t thought of it in this way before, was to identify what work God has given you, specifically, to do. At some point in the next day or two, seek the inspiration of the Spirit as you look back over your life or consider your present circumstances, and write in your journal or discuss with someone what you learn about God’s role for you in His plan. You might wish to study your patriarchal blessing with this specific aim in mind. We’ll talk about this again next time and you’ll have a chance to share what you learn, either in general terms or in specifics, if you feel so inspired.

I would identify in advance one such example from my life, not too personal, which I could share at an appropriate moment in the lesson, if prompted to do so.
Here concludeth the lesson.

Oh, and a good resource for teaching these lessons is found at the youth Come Follow Me website – not just this page, but at the links to the left of it, too. Yes, some of them may not be appropriate for adult classes (I don’t think my group would be very keen on drawing a picture of what they’d learned), but it’s easy to see what would be useful for your class. There are some simple but very practical ideas in the lesson plans themselves, too. One of my favourites is from a Young Women lesson about forgiving others:

Share the story … in President Gordon B. Hinckley’s talk “Forgiveness.” What impresses the young women about this story? Invite them to think of or write down the name of someone they have had difficulty forgiving. Encourage them to think about this person throughout this lesson.