[Teachldsseminary] teach - D&C 66

[Dana Burgess]

After discovering that most of my grade 12 seminary class did not have their 
patriarchal blessings, I decided that D&C 66 presented a wonderful 
opportunity to seriously discuss this. The lesson went very well so I 
thought I'd share. I started off by giving the class a treasure map. It was 
rolled up and tied and I told them that if they followed it they would find 
a great treasure. Then, as they were opening the map I turned off the 
lights. After the yelling died down we talked about how they could probably 
find the treasure without the map but how much easier and more direct their 
path would be if they could see the map. Then we talked about how a 
patriarchal blessing is like a map. It gives direction to reach our 
potential. I had each of the students read a couple of verses in D&C 66 and 
tell the class what William McLellin was told in those verses and how the 
instruction he received could benefit him. Then I handed out a card to each 
student with T (for true) on one side and F (false) on the other. We did a 
quick T/F quiz about patriarchal blessings - what they are, who can get one 
and how. I finished by reading from pg. 60, in Pres Hinckley's biography, 
about how reading his patriarchal blessing helped him feel better as he left 
on his mission. There was lots of discussion as I challenged the kids to 
really think and pray about receiving their own patriarchal blessings. They 
had lots of good questions and the few kids that had theirs were open about 
sharing the experience with the others (we stayed away from what their 
blessings said and concentrated on the experience of receiving it). A very 
good morning. If anyone is interrested in the quiz questions or the quote 
from the book, e-mail and I'd be happy to send them on.
Dana
Alberta, Canada EMS

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