Lessons · Wed Sep 2, 2026 · Life Preparation
Taking Responsibility for Your Learning
1 Samuel 17:24–40; Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 2:52; Isaiah 41:10
The principle
Taking personal responsibility for our learning helps us realize our full potential as daughters and sons of God.
What the lesson is for
Help students name an excuse they actually use about school, trade it for a Christlike attribute and a specific action, and start that action this week.
Personal study, first ten minutes
1 Samuel 17:32–40 and Matthew 25:14–30
Israel's army had every reason to do nothing, and so did the man with one talent. What did David and the first two servants do instead — and what attribute did it take to do it?
The deck
Click any card to see it full size.
Teacher notes
Supplies, board work and timing. Never printed on the cards.
SUPPLIES: a board and markers, with room to write all around a drawing. Optional: the manual's handout "Taking Responsibility" (David and the parable of the talents). Run the activity first, talk second — the trade step on Card 0 is where it lands, not the excuse-piling step. Make sure students keep their own excuse from step 4; they use it again on Card 1. Second quote for the board if you want it: "the opportunity to assume personal responsibility is a God-given gift without which we cannot realize our full potential as daughters and sons of God" (D. Todd Christofferson, "Free Forever, to Act for Themselves," Liahona, Nov. 2014, 18). Second of four Succeed in School lessons (192-195); 194 is tomorrow, and 195 (procrastination) is still open for a later Life Preparation day.
Journal prompt
The last five minutes. Card 1 hands into this.
Write down the excuse you actually use about school — the real one, in your own words. Then write what you will do instead, which attribute of the Savior it will take, and the exact day this week you will start. Finish with what you will ask Heavenly Father to help you with.