FSY Conferences Speaker/Teacher Outline - Becoming Peacemakers: The Power of Charity

Overview

Help youth understand how they can be peacemakers in today’s world. Use the principles taught in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices and Chapter 6: Seek Christlike Attributes in Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to help youth see the value of peacemaking and understand how to continue to strengthen their discipleship and develop charity.

This outline can be used for both a pre-FSY conference activity or a post-FSY conference activity. If used as a pre- activity, the focus should be on helping youth to prepare for their FSY experience. If used as a post- activity, youth should be asked to reflect on their FSY experience and identify how that experience can help them continue to grow.

Note: This lesson outline is a tool. There is more content here than is likely to be used. Follow inspiration to address the needs of the youth in your area.

I. Becoming a Peacemaker

With social media and increasingly polarized opinions, the world is in desperate need of peacemakers. Becoming a peacemaker isn’t always natural and often takes hard work, but it is an essential part of becoming more Christlike. As taught by President Russell M. Nelson, “One of the best ways we can honor the Savior is to become a peacemaker” (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 99). Becoming a peacemaker doesn’t just mean avoiding conflict—sometimes conflict is unavoidable—but it does mean creating a supportive and loving environment where conflict can be resolved kindly and compassionately. There are many benefits to being a peacemaker: you invite the Spirit to be with you, you can understand and connect with a greater variety of people, and you can build connections with people and open their minds and hearts to you and the Christlike attributes you radiate.

Pre-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and discuss the following:

  1. Why is it important to be a peacemaker?
  2. In addition to peace, what emotions are associated with a peacemaker?
  3. What feelings emerge when someone is a peacemaker?
  4. List specific actions individuals can take to be a peacemaker at FSY.
  5. Using your list, please complete the following statement: “I will strive to be a peacemaker at FSY by ____.”

Post-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and discuss the following:

  1. In what ways did the environment at FSY feel different from your everyday life?
  2. What specific things made it feel different?
  3. In what ways did you see others support and care for each other?
  4. Finish the following statement: “I will be a peacemaker by ____.”

Resources

II. Continual Discipleship

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is an ongoing process of developing Christlike attributes. This can be a challenge as so many around us do not live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Discipleship means intentionally choosing to do what is right over and over again. Spiritual muscles are like physical muscles, the more we use them, the more we practice, the better we get and the more naturally we can listen to and follow the Spirit.

Pre-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and discuss the following:

  1. Generate a list of Christlike attributes.
  2. Select from the list one or more attributes you excel at and one or more with which you struggle.
  3. What can you do to continue to develop those attributes?
  4. Finish the following statement: I will show my commitment to Christ by ___.

Post-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and/or discuss the following:

  1. What specific things did you experience or do at FSY that strengthened your testimony?
  2. What feelings did you experience being surrounded with other youth who have your same standards?
  3. During your gospel study at FSY, what feelings did you experience?
  4. What actions can you take to maintain the good habits you learned at FSY?
  5. What else can you do to strengthen your discipleship?

Resources

III. Developing Charity

Charity is defined as “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47) and is a love we should strive to develop for everyone. As we begin to feel God’s love for those around us, we will be able to see them through His eyes and understand their divine potential. Charity is a transformative attribute helping us become more Christlike and increasing our desire to serve others.

Pre-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and discuss the following:

  1. Begin now to pray for your FSY roommate and your company.
  2. What specific actions can you take to prepare to see others as Christ sees them?
  3. As you attend FSY, how will you notice the times you recognize and feel God's love for you and others?

Post-FSY Conference Activity

Invite the youth to consider, share, and discuss the following:

  1. In what situations at FSY did you experience the pure love of Christ?
  2. Write about a time when someone was extra kind or served you in some way during FSY.
  3. Using the lens of charity, who in the group did you see differently when you started to see them through the love of Christ?
  4. What specific actions can you take to deepen your charity for others?
  5. What can you do to continue to recognize the hand of God?

Resources

  • John 13:35
  • “…[T]o effectively serve others we must see them...through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes. This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others. ... We need to have eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know and feel….
    “Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with ‘the pure love of Christ’ (Moroni 7:47) Every day we should plead with God for this love. Mormon admonished, ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48). ” (Dale G. Renlund, “Through God’s Eyes, ” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 94

Testify

Keep your words focused on Jesus Christ. While it may be helpful to organize some of your ideas ahead of time, let the Spirit guide you on what best to say in the moment to help bring youth closer to the Savior.

Other Resources