Waiting for the Prodigal HP Group Lesson, Oct 2015

Waiting for the Prodigal, By Elder Brent H. Nielson, Of the Seventy


LEARNER READINESS

SAY: A friend my mine related a story of one of his friends who had a rebellious child.  This friend had contact with a General Authority and ask him what he should do about his child.  The General Authority responded with, "Don't do anything".

SAY: With those in our lives that have gone astray, we want so badly to tell them all the reasons to be in the Church and the Gospel, be we soon learn that we end up pushing them further away from the Church and the gospel.

SAY: Elder Brent H Nielson's main thought at the beginning of us talk is, "May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost."
SAY: So, my goal for you, is that may apply one or two things from this lesson when working with those that are lost.

READ A

A - The Savior Jesus Christ spent His earthly ministry teaching of His healing and redemptive power. On one occasion in Luke chapter 15 in the New Testament, He was actually criticized for eating and spending time with sinners. The Savior used this criticism as an opportunity to teach us all how to respond to those who have lost their way.

Q: Why would the Savior be spending time with sinners?

READ B

B - He replied to His critics by asking them two important questions:

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4).

“What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?” (Luke 15:8).

The Savior then teaches the parable of the prodigal son. This parable isn’t about 100 sheep or 10 pieces of silver; it is about one precious son who is lost.

SAY: E. N. then tells of a similar experience to the parable of prodigal son in his how family.

READ C

C - My family had a similar experience. My two faithful brothers, wonderful sister, and I were raised by exemplary parents. We were taught the gospel in our home, we successfully made it to adulthood, and all four of us were sealed in the temple to our spouses. However, in 1994 our sister, Susan, became disenchanted with the Church and some of its teachings. She was persuaded by those who mocked and criticized the early leaders of the Church. She allowed her faith in living prophets and apostles to diminish. Over time, her doubts overcame her faith, and she chose to leave the Church. Susan has given me permission to share her story with the hope that it might help others.

SAY: He then tells of the devastation he, his brothers and their mother had.  It seemed to breaking his mother's heart.  Let's read some excerpts from his story.  While you are listening, think of things that were done to rescue E.N.'s sister.

LEARNER INVOLVEMENT

READ D

D - My brothers and I had served as bishops and quorum presidents, and we had experienced the joy of success with ward and quorum members as we left the ninety and nine and went after the one. However, with our sister, our persistent efforts to rescue her and to invite her back only pushed her further and further away.

Q: What was the result of their persistent efforts?
Q: Why does this sometimes happen?

READ E

E - As we sought heavenly guidance as to how we might properly respond to her, it became evident that we had to follow the example of the father in the parable of the prodigal son. Susan had made her choice, and we had to figuratively let her go—but not without her knowing and feeling our sincere love for her. And so, with renewed love and kindness, we watched and we waited.

Q: What did they have to do? (sought guidance, watched and waited, continued feeling love and kindness toward her) [BOARD]

Q: What else?
Q: Why is it important to continue feeling love and kindness toward the person?

SAY: This has been hard for me.  Especially when my son sometimes mocks the church and shows disdain towards me.

READ F

F - My mother never stopped loving and caring for Susan. Every time my mother attended the temple, she placed Susan’s name on the prayer roll and never lost hope. My older brother and his wife, who lived closest to Susan in California, invited her to all family events. They prepared dinner in their home each year on Susan’s birthday. They made sure they were always in touch with her and that she knew of their genuine love for her.

Q: Even though they had to let Susan go, what did the family do? (prayer role, never lost hope, remember her birthday.)
Q: Why is it important to never lose hope?
Q: If miracles were to occur, what are the predicated on?

At this point you may need to start summarizing

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YOU READ or SAY: The continued involving her and her children.  The home teachers never gave up.  They always invited Susan to family events.  The created family events specifically for Susan and her family.  

My younger brother and his wife reached out to Susan’s children in Utah and cared for them and loved them. They made sure that her children were always invited to family gatherings, and when it came time for Susan’s granddaughter to be baptized, my brother was there to perform the ordinance. Susan also had loving home teachers and visiting teachers who never gave up.

As our children went on missions and were married, Susan was invited to and attended these family celebrations. We tried diligently to create family events so that Susan and her children could be with us and they would know that we loved them and that they were part of our family. As Susan received an advanced degree at a California university, we were all there to support her at her graduation. Although we could not embrace all of her choices, we could certainly embrace her. We loved, we watched, and we waited.

Q: What is the difference in embracing her but maybe not some of her choices? [BOARD]

YOU READ or SAY, this rescuing effort went on for 15 years.  .....

In 2006, after 12 years had passed since Susan left the Church, our daughter Katy moved with her husband to California so he could attend law school. They were in the same city as Susan. This young couple looked to their aunt Susan for help and support, and they loved her. Susan helped care for our two-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, and Susan found herself helping Lucy with her nightly prayers. Katy called me one day and asked if I thought Susan would ever come back to the Church. I assured her that I felt she would and that we needed to continue to be patient. As another three years passed, with continued love, we watched and we waited.

Q: Anything that stands out? (involving her, continue to be patient) [BOARD]

READ (if there is time), the outcome is not important (SUMMARIZE)

Six years ago this weekend, my wife, Marcia, and I were sitting on the front row of this Conference Center. I was to be sustained as a new General Authority that day. Marcia, who is always in touch with the Spirit, had written a note to me that read, “I think it is time for Susan to come back.” My daughter Katy suggested that I leave and call Susan to invite her to watch general conference that day.

Prompted by these two great women, I walked to the foyer and called my sister. I got her voice mail and simply invited her to watch that session of general conference. She got the message. To our delight, she felt impressed to watch all the sessions of conference. She heard from prophets and apostles she had loved in earlier years. She found new names she had not heard before, such as President Uchtdorf and Elders Bednar, Cook, Christofferson, and Andersen. During this and other unique heaven-sent experiences, my sister—like the prodigal son—came to herself. The words of prophets and apostles and the love of her family moved her to turn and begin the walk back home. After 15 years our daughter and sister who was lost had been found. The watch and the wait were over.

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LEARNER APPLICATION #1 (the prodigals in our life)

Q: What are some of the underlying threads in the story? (look at board)

Love,

Acceptance

Hope

Patience

Waiting

SAY: Let's read Susan's description of the stark contrast between being in the mist of darkness and being in light of the gospel and church.

READ H

H - Susan describes this experience just as Lehi described it in the Book of Mormon. She let go of the iron rod and found herself in a mist of darkness (see 1 Nephi 8:23). She states that she did not know she was lost until her faith was reawakened by the Light of Christ, which brightly magnified the stark contrast between what she was experiencing in the world and what the Lord and her family were offering.

Q: Do you believe in this contrast be between darkness and light/
Q: What are we offering?

LEARNER APPLICATION #2 (I am the prodigal son)

READ

Perhaps the most important lesson the Lord taught me through this process happened during our family scripture study after my sister had left the Church. Our son David was reading as we studied together Luke 15. As he read the parable of the prodigal son, I heard it differently that day than I had ever heard it before. For some reason, I had always related to the son who stayed home. As David read that morning, I realized that in some ways I was the prodigal son. All of us fall short of the glory of the Father (see Romans 3:23). All of us need the Savior’s Atonement to heal us. All of us are lost and need to be found. This revelation that day helped me know that my sister and I both needed the Savior’s love and His Atonement. Susan and I were actually on the same path back home.

Q: Are we all the prodigal son in some ways?
Q: Why a righteous man like E. N. consider himself, some ways, the prodigal son?
Q: Even as active members of the Chruch, why do we need the Savior's Antonement to heal us?  Aren't we already healed?

Q: How does this healing through the Savior's atonement occur in our lives?

READ the Roman's paraphrase about admitting you need rescuing.

Q: Do we need rescuing?

Q: How do we make Christ's atonement more personal for us?

CONCLUSION

May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost and, when necessary, to have the patience and love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, as we love, watch, and wait for the prodigal. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.