Things You Will Learn This Week

How to discover your talents and strengths
Solving for a variable, continued
How to write transitions inside of and between paragraphs of an essay

Things You Need to Know This Week

In your gathering, you’ll be reviewing important information from this week's life skills. Please be sure to review this week’s Gathering Agenda before your gathering.

Introduction

In many cultures (including the Church), there is an emphasis on finding your “calling in life,” or the one thing that you are just meant to do. We serve in various callings at church, but the calling we are referring to in this lesson is not temporary or assigned—it is a lifelong journey that encompasses what you are and what you will contribute to the world. Callings are similar to the top-level goals you started to create in Week 06 because they support your passion and desire to make a difference. This focus on talents and callings may create anxiety and even fear that you may not have talents. After all, not all talents are as observable as singing, dancing, or playing sports. In this lesson, we will help eliminate some of the myths connected to developing your talents. We will give you some practical advice about how to find your calling or top-level goals.

There Is No One Calling

When we refer to a “life calling,” it may seem like you only have one possible calling in life and if you miss it, you’ll never reach your full potential. That is not true. There are many ways you can contribute to society and live a worthwhile and satisfying life. After all, very few people are born with a natural understanding of their gifts and talents. Instead, talents are discovered and developed over time. As Jeffrey A. Thompson and J. Stuart Bunderson once noted in their book The Zookeeper’s Secret, Finding Your Calling In Life, “callings reside at the intersection of your spiritual gifts and a need in the world.” In other words, “you find your calling when you come to see where your spiritual gifts allow you—and obligate you—to serve others.”

Ponder and Record

As you review the material above, please consider the following questions and record your thoughts in your Learning Journal:

How is a “life calling” different than a church calling?
How can you start to discover what your own life calling is?

Don’t Be Afraid

Many people never discover their talents because they are afraid of failure. It’s meaningful that the Savior chose to use the man with one talent to illustrate the principle of developing talents. If you’re a one-talent person, you might relate with this man’s fear of failure. The world doesn’t usually celebrate mistakes, and it’s hard to contribute if you don’t think you have much to offer. Nonetheless, the message of this parable is clear. The Lord expects us to develop our talents regardless of how ordinary we think our gifts are.

Fear of success can also keep us from trying. As activist Marianne Williamson powerfully captured in her book A Return to Love:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

We have a divine heritage and potential. It is our responsibility to discover it and then use the talents we have been given. We can be a light to others so they can learn to shine as well. We should not be hiding our talent, but rather multiplying it. We want to return to our Father in Heaven after this earth life better than we were before we came.

The Lord Trusts You

What does the Lord expect us to do with our talent? In D&C 58, He declared that we “should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [our] own free will.” Note that the Lord said “many things.” Surely this helps support the principle that there is no one single calling for you in life. More importantly in the following verse, God states that “the power is in [us]” to do his work, “and bring to pass much righteousness.”

In an attempt to help Moses understand this principle and his divine nature and purpose on earth, God lovingly declared to him “behold, thou art my son…and I have a work for thee, Moses my son. (Moses 1:4, 6)” Just like Moses, you have a divine nature and work to do. God knows you and has blessed you with the talents and abilities you need to accomplish your work. He trusts that you will use your gifts and talents to bless others.

Recognize Your Gifts and Talents

To do God’s work and bless others, you need to discover and develop your talents. It will take time and effort to discover them but the Lord can help you. Your talents might be difficult to identify because they are so much a part of who you are. You probably take them for granted and think that most people can do what you do. The reality is that no one has your unique combination of gifts and talents. An awareness of your gifts will also increase your sense of self-worth. It will also give you a clearer understanding of who you are and how you can best contribute in your home, the Church, and your community.

To help you get started, here are some ideas on how you can identify your talents.

Ask God

Discover your talents by asking Heavenly Father for His guidance in recognizing them. God knows what gifts and talents He has given you and He knows why you need them. As Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy explained,

In the epistle of James, we read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). This counsel applies to all the gifts of the Spirit; we are invited to ask God…

Heavenly Father is much more generous than most of His children realize. He is never annoyed at us for asking for divine help. On the contrary, He “giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not” (James 1:5).” (“Why Not Ask?” BYU-I Devotional, Spring 2017).

Watch the video below about Kuha’o, a blind 15-year-old piano prodigy, and his own journey to discovering his own talent with the help of his Heavenly Father.

(04:24 mins, Extraordinary Talents Transcript)

Ponder and Record

As you watch the video, please consider the following questions:

How did Kuha’o come to discover his extraordinary gift?
How does he use it to bless the lives of those around him?
What does President Eyring invite all to do in order to discover our own extraordinary gifts?

Study your Patriarchal Blessing

Making a Connection: D&C 46:11-12

"For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

"To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby."

The scriptures teach us that every worthy member possesses at least one spiritual gift (see D&C 46:11-12). These personal gifts are most commonly found within our Patriarchal Blessings.

If you have your patriarchal blessing, consider making a mind map of your blessing outlining major themes. Look closely for talents and gifts God has given you. When you identify a gift, look for phrases and clues that indicate why it was given to you, so you can more clearly define your own personal calling in life.

Try New Things and Be Prepared to Look Silly

One reason many people hide their talents is because they are afraid to try new things. They worry about looking silly or making mistakes. But if you have a growth mindset, you’re open to feedback and eager to try new things—even if it means feeling a little embarrassed at times.

(03:26 mins, With All Your Heart Transcript)

Ponder and Record

After watching the video about Daniel and his desire to serve God despite his own hesitation and anxiety, please consider the following questions:

Why was Daniel so nervous to receive his new calling?
Why did he choose to accept anyway, despite the embarrassment and fear he felt about his lack of skill and talent?
What does President Uchtdorf encourage all members to see new opportunities to serve and develop talents as?

Explore your Interests

Another way to develop and discover new talents is by trying new things. Trying new things exposes you to new interests and hobbies you might enjoy. Angela Duckworth explains in her book Grit, that you’re unlikely to continue in something you’re not passionate about. A first step in discovering your passion is to explore your interests. Exploring your interest is not the same as just trying things out. If something catches your interest, you need to continually explore the interest to see if it will develop into a passion. Duckworth explains that,

Paradoxically, the initial discovery of an interest often goes unnoticed by the discoverer. In other words, when you just start to get interested in something, you may not even realize that’s what’s happening. The emotion of boredom is always self-conscious --you know it when you feel it--but when your attention is attracted to a new activity or experience, you may have very little reflective appreciation of what’s happening to you. This means that at the start of a new endeavor, asking yourself nervously every few days whether you’ve found your passion is premature.

When you are in the interest phase, don’t rush to make it a talent. Talents and passions rarely arrive as declarations. They have to be nurtured and developed. If you press them too hard, you can destroy your interest.

Consider Different Types of Talents

“Everyone has unique gifts and talents.” We often hear this but do we actually believe it? Anya Bateman explains that “Often we don’t recognize the gifts we have as worth much because in our minds talents are defined as specific qualities that are easily seen,” but there all kinds of talents. They are ours by virtue of our divine origin.

(01:53 mins, Create Transcript)

Ponder and Record

After watching the message from Elder Uchtdorf, consider the following questions:

What does President Uchtdorf identify as one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul?
Some might say, “I am not the creative type.” What does President Uchtdorf say to these people?
How can we increase our capacity to “create” or develop our talents?

Personal Talents	Artistic and Creative Talents
Having self-control	Singing
Being patient	Painting
Having courage	Carving wood
Being kind	Working with clay
Having a sense of humor	Sculpting
Being a good listener	Baking
Forgiving easily	Gardening
Inspiring confidence in others	Writing
Having faith	Writing songs
Loving others	Dancing
Having a strong testimony	Telling stories
Being active in the Church	Acting
Supporting Church leaders	Playing a musical instrument
Seeing good in others	Being athletic
Being cheerful	Sewing

Ask Others

Sometimes we don’t see in ourselves what others see in us. Asking trusted friends, family members, or even co-workers what they think you’re good at is also a wonderful place to begin.

Look for Gifts in Adversity

Elder James B. Martino of the Seventy has noted:

The Apostle Paul taught an interesting lesson only a few years before the Saints in Rome were to face some of the most violent persecution of any Christian era. Paul reminded the Saints that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”2 Our Heavenly Father, who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more and more Christlike. Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience….We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience. (All Things Work Together for Good, April 2010)

When we persevere through difficult times, we often come to rely on, discover, or even develop new strengths.

Ponder and Record

As you reflect on the quote above, consider the following questions and record some of your thoughts in your Learning Journal:

What is one of the most difficult trials you have passed through?
How did you get through it?
What did you learn from the experience and how has that experience enabled you to reach out and serve more effectively?

Reflect on Your Family

What gifts do you have that your siblings, parents, or grandparents have too? Go further! Research family history, discover stories, and identify even more gifts you share with your family.

[Making a Connection: President Hinckley

“There is no end in sight for the good you can do. Do you know it? You are just simple kids. You are not geniuses. I know that. But the work of the world isn't done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary way…Don't sell yourselves short. You [can] look in the mirror every morning…and say ‘I can do the right thing today, God being my helper. And I will do it’” (BYU-Idaho, Oct. 2002).

Don’t Compare

One way to ensure you’re never happy is to constantly compare yourself to others. The Lord gave you specific gifts and talents. Rather than consume yourself with the differences of how gifts are given, celebrate the gifts you have. If you do, you’ll learn to admire your talents and your love for God will grow as you express your gratitude for them.

This lesson is taught in John 21: 19-22 where Peter learns that he’ll die as a martyr. Upon hearing this “Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved” and asked “Lord, and what shall this man do?” It seems reasonable that after hearing of his own unfortunate end that Peter would be interested in comparing his situation to his companion’s. But the Lord’s response is absolute. “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.” The message is clear that the Lord didn’t want Peter to compare his lot to John’s anymore than he wanted the “one talent” servant to compare his lot to those who received more. In each instance, the Lord restates their charge to “follow thou me.”

The Best Gifts Are Available to All

While each of us has been given unique gifts and talents, the best gifts (such as faith and charity) are available to everyone who diligently seeks them. How comforting it is that God will bless us with all the talents and gifts we need to reach our exaltation. With his help, you can develop interest into talent, and hope into faith.

(04:42 mins, Keep Moving Transcript)

Ponder and Record

At the beginning of the course you watched the previous video. Now after watching it a second time, think about how important it is to keep promoting your interests as you try to find and develop your gifts and talents. Record your thoughts in your Learning Journal.

Why is it important to keep moving forward and developing your talents even if you feel you’re not as good as other people?
How can you discover your strengths and talents?

Want to learn more about these topics?

Below are some of the resources used in this lesson.

The Zookeeper's Secret book cover.

The Zookeepers Secret:
Finding Your Calling in Life
by Jeffrey A. Thompson and Stuart Bunderson

Grit book cover.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

June 1991 Ensign magazine cover.

If Your Talents Come Incognito By Anya Bateman, June 1991 Ensign

Mark as done once you have completed all the reading and ponder activities on this page.