Taste, Then Share
From “Fruit to Make One Happy,” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson · Sunday afternoon session, October 2026 General Conference
The big idea
Gospel truths become sweet to us as we live them, and our joy grows when we love, share and invite so that others can partake too.
Objective
Learners will name one gospel truth that has become sweet to them through living it and choose one person to love, share with or invite this week.
Before you teach
- Read Elder Stevenson's talk and 1 Nephi 8:10–12. Note that he spoke partly to Primary children; the truths are for everyone.
- Write on the board: 1. Children of a loving Heavenly Father. 2. The great plan of happiness through Jesus Christ. 3. The gift of the Holy Ghost.
- Bring a slip of paper and a pen for each person.
- Ask learners to open the talk in Gospel Library, or bring three printed copies for the small groups.
- Be aware that someone in the room may be grieving. Teach the story of the grieving priest gently.
Lesson plan
Thirty minutes in 6 parts. Times are a guide; let the Spirit and the learners set the pace.
Looking or tasting
- Invite an opening prayer, then ask everyone to picture their favorite fruit. Ask one or two to describe it to the class.
- Ask: How is hearing a fruit described different from tasting it yourself?
- Explain that Elder Stevenson addressed part of his message to Primary children and used fruit to teach a truth for all of us. Read the first key quote (T34.07).
- Let two or three people answer the question below. Keep it brief; this sets the theme for the whole lesson.
- When did a gospel truth stop being something you knew about and become something you had tasted?
Lehi at the tree
- In pairs, read 1 Nephi 8:10–12. Ask pairs to look for two things: what the fruit did for Lehi, and the first thing he wanted afterward.
- Hear a few findings. Then explain what Elder Stevenson taught: the tree stands for the love of God, shown most of all in the birth, life and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The fruit stands for blessings received through His Atonement, including ordinances, covenants, the truths of the restored gospel and, ultimately, eternal life.
- Ask the question below and let learners talk to each other, not only to you.
- Why do you think Lehi's joy turned so quickly into a desire for his family?
Three fruits
- Divide into three groups and assign each one of the fruits on the board. A small class can take one fruit per person or pair.
- Group 1 reads the section on being children of a loving Heavenly Father (T34.08–10) with Romans 8:16. Group 2 reads the section on the great plan of happiness (T34.11–14) with Alma 40:11–12. Group 3 reads the section on the gift of the Holy Ghost (T34.16–17) with 2 Nephi 32:5.
- Give groups five minutes to answer the two questions below.
- Give each group one minute to report. Ask them to share an experience, not a summary.
- What did Elder Stevenson teach about this truth?
- What does living this truth look like on an ordinary day, and how has living it made it sweet to you?
One visit, one question, one truth
- Retell the story in your own words: when Elder Stevenson lived in Japan he became friends with a Buddhist temple priest, a happy man who became deeply sad after his wife died. Elder Stevenson and a friend visited him one night. He was reluctant to talk until Elder Stevenson asked whether he knew where his wife was. They then shared that in God's loving plan her spirit was received into the spirit world, a state of rest, happiness and peace. His countenance changed in that moment.
- Read the key quote from T34.12 about the transformation they witnessed.
- Ask the questions below. Draw out how simple the visit was: they went, they asked, they shared one truth.
- What did Elder Stevenson and his friend actually do that evening?
- Who do you know who might be waiting for someone to visit and share one truth?
Love, share, invite
- Read Elder Stevenson's invitation and his promise (T34.20). Point out that he said to do this with words and actions.
- Read President Oaks's words from this conference (T27.18) and note that the prophet and Elder Stevenson ask the same thing of us.
- Hand out the slips of paper. Give two quiet minutes to write three lines: one gospel fruit that is sweet to me; one person who would be blessed to partake; whether I will love, share or invite this week, and how.
- As a check for understanding, ask one or two volunteers to say in a sentence how tasting a truth differs from knowing about it.
Close
- Bear a brief testimony of Jesus Christ and of one fruit of His gospel that is sweet to you.
- Tell the class you will begin next week by asking: Whom did you love, share with or invite, and what joy came of it?
- Close with prayer.
Key passages from the talk
“Gospel truths are the same. We learn them at home, Primary, and through the scriptures. They become sweet to us as we live them, bringing us happiness and joy.”
“Having this knowledge makes us stronger. This knowledge also makes us kinder to others, knowing that everyone around us is our brother or sister.”
“We witnessed a miraculous transformation: peace for despair, joy for sadness, hope for ashes.”
“As you do so, I promise that you will not only feel joy and happiness that comes as you partake of fruit of the gospel but even greater joy as loved ones around you partake as well.”
The speaker’s direct invitation
“I invite you to do something that is as simple as gospel fruit is delicious: love, share, and invite.”
Scriptures
- 1 Nephi 8:10–12 Read in pairs. Look for what the fruit did for Lehi and the first thing he wanted afterward.
- Romans 8:16 Group 1 reads it with the section on being children of God and discusses how the Spirit has borne this witness to them.
- Alma 40:11–12 Group 2 reads it with the story of the grieving priest and notes the words that describe where the spirits of the righteous are received.
- 2 Nephi 32:5 Group 3 reads it with the section on the gift of the Holy Ghost and shares a time the Holy Ghost showed them what to do.
Other voices that agree
“I call upon all to act on these truths and to share them with others that we may all draw closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior.”
Three things to remember
- Gospel truths become sweet when I live them, not only when I learn them.
- Because of Jesus Christ there is peace for despair and joy for sadness.
- My joy grows when I love, share and invite so that others can partake.
Ways to act this week
- Pick one of the three fruits and live it on purpose each day this week; write a line each night about what you noticed.
- Visit or call one person who is grieving or alone. Listen first, then share one truth that brings you peace.
- Tell a family member or friend, in a sentence or two, why one gospel truth is sweet to you.
- Invite someone to something you already do: a meal after church, home evening, sacrament meeting or a visit to the grounds of the house of the Lord.
Suggestions written for this lesson, not the speaker’s words.
Music
- I Am a Child of God
- Gethsemane
Adapting the lesson
- At home: skip the groups. Let each person choose one of the three fruits and tell the family why it is sweet to them, then write the three lines together.
- Large class: have pairs, not groups, study the three fruits, and take reports from only one pair per fruit.
- Short on time: do Looking or tasting, read 1 Nephi 8:10–12, and go straight to Love, share, invite.
This lesson is an independent study aid written for this site. It is not an official lesson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quotations are word for word from the official talk; paragraph numbers count the paragraphs of the talk as published at churchofjesuschrist.org, not counting headings or picture captions. The activities, questions and ideas for acting are suggestions; follow the Spirit and adapt them to those you teach.