Relief Society · Elders Quorum · 25 minutes
Elder Wan-Liang Wu · Of the Seventy · Saturday Afternoon Session
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This class in one line
This class is about what it actually costs to know God, and why the king's prayer, 'I will give away all my sins to know thee,' is an invitation for each of us.
Skip retelling the full king-of-the-Lamanites narrative in detail; members can read it, spend that time on the discussion questions instead.
Before Sunday
Sunday's class: a prayer worth memorizing
This week we're discussing a talk by Elder Wan-Liang Wu from the Saturday Afternoon Session of general conference. He shares his own conversion story and the story of a king who gave up everything, including his sins, to know God. If you have a moment before Sunday, look up Alma 22:18 and read the king's prayer out loud. Ponder: Is there anything I am holding onto that keeps me from knowing God more fully?
Pick one opening
Think of someone you would say you truly know, not just know about, but genuinely know. What made that relationship become real rather than just familiar? We're going to talk today about what it means to know God in that same way, and what it might cost us.
Think of someone you would say you truly know, not just know about, but genuinely know. What made that relationship become real rather than just familiar? We're going to talk today about what it means to know God in that same way, and what it might cost us.
Elder Wu grew up going to Chinese temples with his mother, bringing cakes, burning incense, asking different gods for different needs. When the rituals ended, young Wan-Liang got to eat the delicious cakes. That was his experience of worship. Then, at age 10, his family moved to Bolivia, and two missionaries introduced him to a God he had never heard of before.
Teach this first
Elder Wu teaches that coming to know God is not passive, it demands a decision. The king in his story was willing to forsake his kingdom and, more importantly, all his sins. Elder Wu applies this directly to us: 'What are we willing to give up or change to truly know God?' Knowing God is not just learning facts about Him; it is being converted to Him, which requires real faith and real repentance.
Elder Wu quotes President Oaks: 'The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. … The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change.'
Ask the class
If time remains
Elder Wu closes with this: 'If we have a sincere desire, being meek and lowly in heart, we can come to know the true God the Father and gain eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, for the power is in us.' The king did not stay paralyzed in amazement, he chose to believe and acted on that choice.
Ask the class
Counsel together
Last 3–5 minutes
Sometime this week, find a quiet moment and pray the king's prayer in your own words, telling God what you are willing to give up to know Him better. Notice what comes to mind.
Elder Wu, quoting the Savior, teaches that knowing the true God and Jesus Christ is eternal life itself, and that those who come unto Christ 'will have greater happiness, hope, peace, and purpose' in this life.
Your witness: Share, in your own words, what it has meant in your life to know, not just know about, the Savior. What did you have to give up, or what changed in you, as that relationship became real?