Seeking the Spirit, Testifying of Christ
With all the dissenting voices in the world today, your students may feel apprehensive about sharing their religious beliefs with others. But the Apostle Paul counseled: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:7–8). As you prepare to teach this scripture block, consider testifying to your students that as we earnestly seek the companionship of the Spirit, we can overcome fear and be unashamed of our testimony of Jesus Christ. We can bear testimony without being overbearing.
But how can we help our students earnestly seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost? During the October 2016 general conference, Brother Brian K. Ashton, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, taught that as we understand and live the doctrine of Christ, “the Holy Ghost will come into our lives to a greater degree, and we will have additional strength” (“The Doctrine of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 108–9). As you discuss this idea with your students, you might consider sharing the following suggestions for seeking the companionship of the Spirit, based on Brother Ashton’s outline of the doctrine of Christ (see “The Doctrine of Christ,” 106–9):
- Exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
- Reevaluate and repent regularly.
- Renew covenants each week with the sacrament.
- Seek the Holy Ghost through prayer.
- Endure to the end by following the example of Jesus Christ.
Invite Students to Share
Discuss with your students the importance of the companionship of the Spirit as they testify of Christ. Then invite them to use social media to share their testimony of Christ without fear. Shareable images can be found on the Seminary Facebook page and are included below.
In your discussions with your students, encourage them to think about what they can do to invite the Spirit into their lives to overcome fear. Then encourage them to testify boldly of Jesus Christ. As you and your students share thoughts on social media, consider answering the following questions:
- What can I do to seek the companionship of the Spirit?
- What do I believe about Jesus Christ and His gospel?
Include #LDSSeminary in the post.
