Purpose
To help class members understand the characteristics we should develop to live our religion more fully.
Preparation
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Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
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James 1:1–4; 5:10–11. James teaches that we should endure affliction patiently.
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James 1:5–7; 4:8. James teaches that we should pray to God in faith.
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James 1:19–20, 26; 3:2–18. James teaches that we should control our tongues and be “slow to wrath.”
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James 1:22–25, 27; 2:14–26; 4:17. James teaches that we should be “doers of the word,” showing our faith by our works.
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Additional Reading: Bible Dictionary, “James,” 709; “James, Epistle of,” 709–10.
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Suggestion for teaching: “Teach the reality of personal communication from and to God. Help each individual understand how to pray worthily and how to receive and recognize answers from God” (Richard G. Scott, “Four Fundamentals for Those Who Teach and Inspire Youth,” in CES Old Testament Symposium Speeches, 1987 [1987], 3).
Suggested Lesson Development
Additional Teaching Ideas
The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.
1. Class member presentations
The week before this lesson is to be taught, ask five class members to each study a different chapter of James. At the beginning of class (just after the attention activity, if you use it), have these people share their insights into the chapters they studied.
2. Video presentation
Read James 1:27 and then show “The Body Is a Temple,” a six-minute video segment from New Testament Video Presentations (53914). Discuss what this video presentation teaches about keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.
3. Additional discussion of the book of James
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In the Joseph Smith Translation of James 1:12, the word endureth is changed to resisteth (see footnote 12b). What is the difference between enduring temptation and resisting temptation? What are the promises to those who resist temptation? (See James 1:12; 4:7.)
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What did James teach about judging others? (See James 2:1–9.) Why do some people judge others by their earthly positions or material possessions? How can we learn to look beyond the outward appearance and into people’s hearts, as God does? (See 1 Samuel 16:7; D&C 38:24–27.)
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What did James teach about the effects of envy and lust? (See James 3:16; 4:1–6.) How can we overcome feelings of envy or lust? (See James 4:7–10.)
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What did James teach about administering to the sick? (See James 5:14–15.) How have you been blessed or seen others be blessed by the healing power of the priesthood?
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James emphasized the importance of helping people who “err from the truth” (James 5:19–20). How can we do this?