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Becoming a covenant son of God

Purpose

Priesthood brings both authority and responsibility. Priesthood responsibility gives a beloved son of God ways to help others come unto Jesus Christ. Titles such as deacon and fellow servant point toward that service. Our deepest identity remains a beloved son of God, a child of covenant, and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Prepare

  • The 4 to 5-minute President Russell M. Nelson video about labels and true identity
  • A board, markers, and Post-it notes
  • Write Becoming a covenant son of God in the center of the board

Young Men theme

Read the Young men theme (write beloved son of God on the board).

Young Men theme

I am a beloved son of God, and He has a work for me to do.

With all my heart, might, mind, and strength, I will love God, keep my covenants, and use His priesthood to serve others, beginning in my own home.

Question

What comes before the work and responsibility in this theme? Why does that order matter?

Fellow servants

Read Doctrine & Covenants 13:1 (write fellow servants on the board).

Discuss

  • John the Baptist called Joseph and Oliver “fellow servants.” Why is that an important name for someone who holds priesthood authority?
  • What blessings and responsibilities came with the Aaronic Priesthood?
  • How does being a fellow servant change the way you think about priesthood responsibility?

Priesthood responsibilities

Read Doctrine & Covenants 20:46 and Doctrine & Covenants 20:59. List the action words you hear: preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, administer, warn, and invite. (Write priest, teacher, and deacon on the board).

Question

  • What do the action words have in common?
  • What kind of help do those responsibilities offer other people?

Explore titles and labels

Add beloved son of God, fellow servant, priest, teacher, and deacon near the words in the center of the board.

Invite everyone to write on a Post-it one general title/label that young people use or hear in their world, such as athlete, friend, gamer, funny, quiet, smart, or popular.

Labels can name good things, but they become limiting when they take priority over a young man's relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

Question

  • Which words describe a responsibility?
  • Which labels can change with school, popularity, or someone else's opinion?
  • Which words tell us who we are in God's eyes?

President Nelson's message

Play President Nelson's 4-minute video. Invite the quorum to listen for the identities President Nelson says should come first. After the video, add these words beneath the center phrase:

  • Child of God
  • Child of the covenant
  • Disciple of Jesus Christ

Discuss and testify

Use one or two questions, then leave time for answers.

Discussion

  • What phrase from President Nelson's message do you want to remember?
  • Why does it matter that we are beloved sons of God before we hold a title or responsibility?
  • Where do deacon and fellow servant fit among the identities President Nelson taught?

Testify that God knows every young man as His beloved son. Priesthood responsibilities give us ways to serve as fellow servants under the Savior.