Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Display two gift boxes (or draw on the chalkboard a picture of two gift boxes). Invite class members to talk briefly about gifts they would like to receive.

Explain that one of the gift boxes you have displayed represents one of the greatest gifts we can receive in this life. The other box represents what the Lord called “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

Explain that in this lesson class members will discover what these two gifts are and will learn how to receive them.

Scripture Discussion and Application

As you teach the following scripture passages, discuss how the Savior’s words to his Apostles apply to all of us. Encourage class members to share experiences that relate to the lesson.

1. Jesus promises his Apostles that they will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Discuss John 16:1–15. Invite class members to read selected verses aloud.

If you used the attention activity, place on one of the gift boxes the wordstrip that says Gift of the Holy Ghost.

2. Jesus foretells his death and resurrection.

Read and discuss selected verses from John 16:16–33.

3. Jesus offers the great intercessory prayer.

Read and discuss John 17, which contains a prayer that Jesus offered just before his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. This prayer is often called the great intercessory prayer because as Jesus prayed, he interceded, or stood between us and Heavenly Father, to plead for our salvation. Seek the Spirit’s guidance in selecting verses to read and discuss.

If you used the attention activity, place the wordstrip that says Eternal Life on the second gift box. Invite a class member to read Doctrine and Covenants 14:7.

Conclusion

Ask class members to think about how they feel when they know someone is praying for them. Invite them to ponder how they might have felt if they had been with Jesus when he offered the intercessory prayer. Explain that the intercessory prayer can help us appreciate the precious gift of eternal life that the Savior offers us. Testify that we will be blessed as we strive to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and become one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.