Ten years ago, as part of a ward council, I was asked to play a greater role in helping to choose what topics we covered in our sacrament meeting talks. I put a lot of thought, prayer, and effort into that request and came up with this blogpost, which has remained one of the most consistently viewed posts on this blog. I recently found myself reviewing that old post and decided it was time for an update with more current talk references, so here's an updated version with the same weekly themes, but with talks only from the last few years. Please let me know any talks or topics you would add! Click here for a printable version.
Set Themes Each Month
Week 1: Fast and Testimony meeting
Week 2: Developing Christlike Attributes
Week 3: Doctrine Unique to the Gospel
Week 4: Discipleship/ Developing Relationship with Christ
Week 5: Current Topic of Choice
DEVELOPING CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES
(* indicates topics found in Preach My Gospel: Chapter 6)
1. *Faith in Jesus Christ
Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior by Elder Renlund (Apr 2025)
Be Still, and Know that I Am God by Elder Bednar (Apr 2024)
Mosiah 3:17; Moroni 7:24-26
1. How do you grow your faith in Christ?
2.What blessings come through having faith in Christ?
2. *Hope
The Triumph of Hope by Elder Andersen (Oct 2024)
2 Nephi 31:20; Hebrews 9:11; Ether 12:4
1. How can you increase hope in your life?
2. What is the difference between hoping and wishing? What is a righteous hope?
3. *Charity and Love
Charity--A Sign of True Discipleship by Elder Strong (Apr 2025)
Moroni 7:45-48
1. How has Christlike charity blessed your life?
2. How can you seek to develop Christlike charity?
3. What is true Christlike charity?
4. *Virtue
Confidence in the Presence of God by President Nelson (Apr 2025)
Article of Faith 13; D&C 121:45
1. What does it mean to be virtuous?
2. How does virtue help you gain confidence in the presence of God?
5. *Knowledge
Divine Helps for Mortality by Elder Oaks (Apr 2025)
D&C 88:118; 2 Nephi 4:13-16
1. How can knowledge help you do the Lord’s work?
2. How can we obtain knowledge?
6. *Integrity
Integrity: A Christ-like Attribute by Elder Gerard (Apr 2024)
Matthew 22:37; Alma 53:21
1. How did Jesus show integrity even in his most vulnerable moments?
2. How can we show integrity in our daily lives?
7. *Humility
As A Little Child by President Holland (Apr 2025)
Matthew 18:4; Ether 12:27
1. How Christ lived a life of humility.
2. What does it mean to humble myself as a little child?
3. How can I overcome the natural man and live a life of humility?
8. *Diligence
Nourish the Roots, and The Branches Will Grow by Elder Uchtdorf (Oct 2024)
The video with President Nelson found in An Especially Noble Calling by Joy Jones, when he talks about how the Lord loves effort. (Apr 2020)
Alma 26:16; Mosiah 4:27
1. What does it mean to be diligent?
2. Why does the Lord expect us to be diligent?
9. *Obedience
Following Christ by President Oaks (Oct 2024)
D&C 82:10; Mosiah 2:41
1. What does it mean to be obedient?
2. What can you learn about obedience from stories in the scriptures?
3. How does obedience increase our freedom?
10. Reverence
Reverence for Sacred Things by Elder Soares (Apr 2025)
Exodus 3:4-5
1. What blessings do I receive from showing reverence?
2. How can I show reverence for sacred things in my daily life?
11. Mercy
The Plan of Mercy by Elder James Rasband (Apr 2025)
Moroni 10:3
1. Why is it important to recognize God's mercy? What role does that recognition play in the process of God communicating with us?
2. How can we follow Christ's example and be more merciful to those around us--in our families and in our communities?
12. Being a Peacemaker
Peacemakers Needed by President Nelson (Apr 2023)
Following Christ (section III) by President Oaks (Oct 2024)
Matthew 25:40, Matthew 5:9, 44
1. How Christ is the perfect example of being a peacemaker.
2. How can I find and share peace in a world filled with turmoil?
3. How can we be peacemakers in the contentious society we live in?
DOCTRINE UNIQUE TO THE GOSPEL
1. Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Times of Restitution of All Things by Elder Bednar (Apr 2025)
Alma 41:10-15
1. Why does the restoration matter?
2. What is a restoration?
2. The Plan of Salvation
God’s Intent is to Bring You Home by Elder Kearon (Apr 2024)
Mortality Works by Elder Brook Hales (Oct 2024)
Alma 12:30; Alma 42:15
3. The Doctrine of Jesus Christ
The Powerful, Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ by Elder Renlund (Apr 2024)
Simple is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ by President Eyring (Oct 2024)
2 Nephi 31
4. Our Divine Nature
Receive His Gift by Elder Kearon (Apr 2025)
Choices for Eternity by President Nelson (May 2022 devotional for YA)
Romans 8:16; 1 Nephi 11:17
5. For the Strength of Youth
O Youth of the Noble Birthright by Elder Wilcox (Oct 2024)
3 Nephi 20:26; 1 Peter 2:9; Abraham 1:2
6. Family History
True to the Faith that Our Parents Have Cherished by Hans Boom (Apr 2025)
We Each Have a Story by Elder Gong (Apr 2022)
Mosiah 5:13; Alma 36:28; 1 Peter 4:6;
1. What does family history look like in 2025?
2. Why does family history remain important?
7. Missionary Work
Right Before Our Eyes by Elder Rasband (Apr 2025)
Days Never to Be Forgotten by Elder Stevenson (Oct 2024)
D&C 88:73; Isaiah 52:7; D&C 4:1
1. How can we do missionary work at this busy stage of life?
8. The Book of Mormon
It is Wisdom in the Lord that We Should Have the Book of Mormon by Elder Pace (Apr 2024)
In the Space of Not Many Years by Elder Bednar (Oct 2024)
Mormon 8:34-35; Alma 37:6-7
9. Priesthood Power
Miracles, Angels, and Priesthood Power by Elder Bowen (Apr 2024)
Divine Authority, Sublime Young Men by Elder Lund (Apr 2025)
D&C 107:1-4; Moroni 7:27, 29; D&C 121:41
10. The Temple
Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth by Elder Andersen (Apr 2024)
All Will be Well Because of Temple Covenants by President Eyring (Apr 2024)
John 14:27; D&C 109:22;
1. How does / can my experience in the temple improve my access to the atonement?
11. Ordinances and Covenants
Live Up to Your Privileges by Sister Freeman (Oct 2024)
Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ by Sister Dennis (Apr 2024)
D&C 107:1-3; D&C 84:20;
12. Grace
Compensating Blessings by Elder Caussé (Apr 2025)
Worthiness is not Flawlessness by Elder Wilcox (Oct 2021)
Moroni 10:32; Alma 7:11-12; 2 Nephi 25:23
1. How can grace transform us?
2. What does the admonition to, "be ye therefore perfect" mean, recognizing that no one can reach that goal in this life? How does Christ play a role in that quest?
3. How does grace imbue us with power?
DISCIPLESHIP / DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST:
1. Personal Revelation
Pillars and Rays by Elder Dushku (Apr 2024)
Patterns of Light video series by Elder Bednar
Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives by President Nelson (Apr 2018)
Mosiah 16:9; D&C 84:46; D&C 6:23
1. What can we do when we feel like we are not receiving the answers we seek?
2. How can we teach the youth of the church to better recognize the voice of the Lord when seeking personal revelation?
2. Let God Prevail
Let God Prevail by President Nelson (Oct 2020)
Aligning Our Will with His by Elder Soares (Oct 2024)
Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 54:7; Mosiah 15:7
1. How can we learn to trust in the Lord in good times and in bad?
3. Discipleship
Thou Art the Christ by Sister Wright (Apr 2025)
Joy Through Covenant Discipleship by Elder McCune (Apr 2025)
2 Nephi 31:19; John 14:6; John 6:68-69
4. Finding Healing through Jesus Christ
Spiritually Whole In Him by Sister Johnson (Apr 2025)
Return Unto Me…That I May Heal You by Elder Mark Palmer (Apr 2025)
Luke 17:11-19; Alma 40:23; Luke 15:11-32;
5. Christ’s Atonement
The Atonement of Jesus Christ Provides the Ultimate Rescue by Elder Cook (Apr 2025)
And We Talk of Christ by Elder Stevenson (Apr 2025)
2 Nephi 25:26; Matthew 21:9, 11; John 15:13
6. Developing a Personal Relationship with Christ
Draw Near Unto Me by Elder Eyring (Apr 2025)
D&C 88:63; Luke 24:36
7. Overcoming Weaknesses / Repentance
Your Repentance Doesn't Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy by Sister Runia (Apr 2025)
The Joy of Our Redemption by Sister Yee (Oct 2024)
D&C 18:13; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Nephi 31:20
1. How is the opportunity to repent daily an expression of God’s love in our lives?
2. How can we shift our perspective from repentance being negative to that of it being a gift from a loving God?
8. Worship
Worship by Elder Christofferson (Apr 2025)
Motions of a Hidden Fire by President Holland (Apr 2024)
D&C 88:78; Mark 12:28-30
1. What is the difference between merely attending church and true worship?
9. Finding Unity in the Church
By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples by Elder Uchtdorf (Apr 2025)
Welcome to the Church of Joy by Elder Kearon (Oct 2024)
The Doctrine of Belonging by Elder Christofferson (Oct 2022)
D&C 46:5-6; D&C 38:27; Luke 14:21
1. How can we better reach the people who feel like they’re on the fringes?
2. How can we do better to create a sense of camaraderie and belonging at church?
10. The Worth of a Soul
God’s Favourite by Elder Hirst (Oct 2024)
D&C 18:10; Luke 15:1-10; John 3:16–17
1. How should we treat people who have made choices we disagree with?
2. How can we separate the world’s views on worth from true worth in the sight of God?
11. Magnifying Your Calling/Serving in the Church
Participate to Prepare for Christ’s Return by Elder Shumway (Apr 2025)
“In the Path of Their Duty” by Elder Bednar (Oct 2023)
Mark 12:30
1. How does the Lord help us when we receive callings that are outside our comfort zone?
12. Feasting on the Words of Christ
Sacred Scriptures-The Foundations of Faith by Elder Cook (Oct 2024)
2 Nephi 32:3; 2 Nephi 31:20
1. What does it mean to feast upon the words of Christ?
2. How can feasting upon the words of Christ strengthen our relationship with God?
