Relief Society · Elders Quorum · 25 minutes
Elder Hutch U. Fale · Of the Seventy · Saturday Afternoon Session
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Heavenly Father loves each of us as His child, a love we did not earn and cannot lose, and understanding that love changes how we see Jesus Christ, ourselves, and others.
Skip the talk's opening section on scripture beginning with families and the closing section on priesthood keys, so the class has time for the baby-picture story and two of the three reasons.
Before Sunday
This Sunday: I Am a Child of God
On Sunday the class will discuss Elder Hutch U. Fale's October 2026 conference talk, "I Am a Child of God." Elder Fale showed his children their baby pictures and asked what they had done to earn their parents' love. Please read or listen to the talk before class if you can. Ponder this question: what difference does it make in your week to know that Heavenly Father's love is not something you earn?
Pick one opening
Think of a newborn baby you have loved: your own child, a grandchild, a niece or nephew. What had that baby done to earn your love? Hold on to that answer. Elder Fale used that same question to teach his children something about Heavenly Father, and that is what we will talk about today.
Think of a newborn baby you have loved: your own child, a grandchild, a niece or nephew. What had that baby done to earn your love? Hold on to that answer. Elder Fale used that same question to teach his children something about Heavenly Father, and that is what we will talk about today.
Elder Fale had his wife find a baby picture of each of their children. He showed each child the picture and asked what they had done, as of that day, to earn their parents' love. They looked down and said, "Nothing." He told them to look up. They had not earned that love, so they could never lose it. Then he told them their parents' love is only a small part of what Heavenly Father feels for them.
Teach this first
Each of us is a spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents. Elder Fale teaches that, just as a baby does nothing to earn a parent's love, we did not earn Heavenly Father's love and cannot remove it. Earthly family love, even at its best, is a small picture of His love. That love gives us courage to do our best, to trust Him, and to come home to Him whenever we need to.
Elder Fale told his children: "You did not earn it; you cannot lose it. It is yours forever."
Ask the class
If time remains
Elder Fale teaches that when we understand God loves all His children, the world's labels for us and for others stop working on us. We become quick to repent, slow to judge, and willing to make sure no one sits, stands, or walks alone. We also reject the lie that it is too late for anyone to turn to Christ.
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Counsel together
Last 3–5 minutes
This week, pray to Heavenly Father as "our Father," the way Jesus taught, and then do one thing for someone else so they are not sitting, standing, or walking alone.
Elder Fale teaches that even when a loving family is not part of our earthly experience, knowing Heavenly Father loves us can bring power, peace, and comfort, and that all who make and keep sacred covenants can receive every blessing of an eternal family.
Your witness: Elder Fale first felt the Spirit confirm John 3:16 as a young boy reading the New Testament on a bus in Tonga. Think about when you first knew Heavenly Father loves you, or a recent time you felt it, and share that briefly in your own words.