Relief Society Lesson – Your Grand Adventure

[AmyJ]

I paired Elder Utchdorf’s talk with Dr. Seuss’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/43uchtdorf?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/43uchtdorf?lang=eng

I focused on the theme of “adventure” and “Story-Telling” to a certain degree.

I asked one of my sisters to be the “Narrator” and passed the other quotes around.

SIDE STORY: I was telling my husband how it went (and how I pushed the envelope quoting both a non-LDS children’s book and Brene Brown).

He gave me the weirdest look and commented on how “non-LDS people get quoted in conference all the time” and that I was over-thinking it.

It made me smile to know that my more traditionally believing husband found himself in a position to validate my unorthodoxy 😆

[Anonymous]

Personal Reflection

5 minutes writing your story in fairy tale language.

Introduction

Introduce Elder Uchtdorf’s talk and “Oh the Places You’ll Go”.

Of Hobbits

QUOTE 1: “However, when Bilbo is presented with the prospect of a grand adventure, something surges deep within his heart. He understands from the outset that the journey will be challenging. Even dangerous. There is even a possibility he might not return. And yet, the call to adventure has reached deep into his heart. And so, this unremarkable hobbit leaves comfort behind and enters the path to a great adventure that will take him all the way to “there and back again.””

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

Of Us

NARRATOR: Congratulations! / Today is your day. / You’re off to Great Places! / You’re off and away!

QUOTE 2: “There are many bends in this road. There are hills, valleys, and detours. There may even be metaphorical spiders, trolls, and even a dragon or two. But if you stay on the path and trust in God, you will eventually find the way to your glorious destiny and back to your heavenly home.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

NARRATOR: Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! / There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball / will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, / with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t / because sometimes they won’t.

I’m afraid that sometimes / you’ll play lonely games too.

Games you can’t win / ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not, / Alone will be something / you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance / you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon, / that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go / though the weather be foul.

On you will go / though your enemies prowl.

On you will go / though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up many a frightening creek, / though your arms may get sore / and your sneakers make leak.

On and on you will hike / And I know you’ll hike far / and face up to your problems / whatever they are.

What do these 2 stories (“Lord of the Rings” and “Oh the Places”) tell us about ourselves?

Key Points in Elder Uchtdorf’s Talk

Incline Your Heart to God

“Strive each day to find Him. Learn to love Him. And then let that love inspire you to learn, understand, and follow His teachings and learn to keep God’s commandments.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

Intentionally Trying in the Struggle

QUOTE 3: “If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly; it’s about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities. Even when you fail, you can choose not to give up, but rather discover your courage, press forward, and rise up. That is the great test of the journey. God knows that you are not perfect, that you will fail at times. God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

QUOTE 4: “Our mortal brains are made to seek understanding and meaning in tidy bundles. I don’t know all the reasons why the veil over mortality is so thick. This is not the stage in our eternal development where we have all answers. It is the stage where we develop our assurance (or sometimes our hope) in the evidence of things not seen. Assurance comes in ways that aren’t always easy to analyze, but there is light in our darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.”13 For those seeking truth, it may seem at first to be the foolish claustrophobia of windows made of stone. But with patience and faithful questions, Jesus can transform our windows of stone to glass and light.”

– Sister Sharon Eubank, “Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness”, April 2019.

Reach Out in Love to Others

“To help others is the path of discipleship. Faith, hope, love, compassion, and service refine us as disciples.

“Through your efforts to help the poor and the needy, to reach out to those in distress, your own character is purified and forged, your spirit is enlarged, and you walk a little taller.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

PERSONAL REFLECTION What do you need to do to reach out to someone else this week?

Share Your Story

QUOTE 5: “To the contrary, we talk about our journey with others in normal and natural ways. That’s what friends do—they talk about things that are important to them. Things that are close to their heart and make a difference to them. That’s what you do. You tell your stories and experiences as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sometimes your stories make people laugh. Sometimes they bring them to tears. Sometimes they will help people to continue in patience, resilience, and courage to face another hour, another day and come a little closer to God. Share your experiences in person, on social media, in groups, everywhere.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

Why does Elder Utchdorf counsel us to do this? How does that change our perspective?

QUOTE 6: “We could spend a lifetime waiting for that moment when everything lines up perfectly. But now is the time to commit fully to seeking God, ministering to others, and sharing our experience with others.”

– Elder Dieter F. Utchdorf, “Your Grand Adventure”, October 2019

PERSONAL REFLECTION What are you putting off that deep down inside, your heart is telling you that you should get a move on it?

“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

– Brené Brown “The Gifts of Imperfection”

Why is this “the bravest thing that we will ever do?”

CONCLUSION:

NARRATOR: You’ll get mixed up, of course, / as you already know.

You’ll get mixed up / with many stranger birds as you go.

So be sure when you step. / Step with care and great tact / and remember that Life’s / a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. / And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed? / Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…

Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, / You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day! / Your mountain is waiting. / So… get on your way!

[Anonymous]

I love this. It is hopeful, fun, and unexpected. I would be fully engaged in this lesson.

I hope your ward RS appreciates these lessons for the gems that they are!

[Anonymous]

I love the lesson – but I actually love your husband’s comment even more. :clap:

[Author]

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