Hidden in Plain Sight
From “Prove Me Now Herewith,” by Elder Moisés Villanueva · Sunday afternoon session, October 2026 General Conference
The big idea
The Lord keeps His promise to bless those who live the law of tithing, but His blessings are often subtle and come in His way and timing, so we have to learn to see them.
Objective
Youth will explain what the Lord does and does not promise in Malachi 3:10 and will start their own list of subtle blessings they had overlooked.
Before you teach
- Read Elder Villanueva's talk, especially T30.09–T30.24 and the widow of Zarephath in T30.25–T30.33.
- Bring paper and pens; youth will also use their scriptures or the Gospel Library app.
- Write on the board: Malachi 3:10 and 1 Kings 17:8–16.
- Have a timer ready (a phone works).
- Do not ask anyone whether they or their family pay tithing.
Lesson plan
Thirty minutes in 6 parts. Times are a guide; let the Spirit and the learners set the pace.
You see what you look for
- As soon as the prayer ends, say: you have twenty seconds to silently find everything green in this room. Go.
- When time is up, have everyone close their eyes. Ask them to name things in the room that are brown. Let them laugh at how little they remember.
- Ask the question below, then say that today's talk is about blessings that are in plain sight and easy to miss.
- Why did you miss the brown things when they were right in front of you?
The honest question
- Tell the story from the talk: a faithful sister told Elder Villanueva her testimony of tithing was weakening. She had always paid a full tithe but never got the promotion she hoped for or the raise she deserved.
- Ask the first question and let youth answer honestly. Do not correct yet.
- Have everyone open Malachi 3:10 on a phone or in scriptures. In pairs, give one minute to find what the Lord promises and one thing the verse never says.
- Hear from two or three pairs. Read Doctrine and Covenants 58:31 (fourth key quote), then the first key quote about the Lord's own way and timing.
- Is she wrong to feel that way? What would you say to her?
- Does this verse promise money? What does it promise?
First, not last
- Explain that Elder Villanueva was ten when his family was baptized. Money was tight; his mother was working tirelessly to support eight children. When the missionaries taught tithing, she chose to trust the Lord's promise. Her faith makes him think of a widow in the Old Testament.
- Form teams of three or four. Each team reads 1 Kings 17:8–16 and writes a headline of ten words or fewer that captures the story. Give four minutes on the timer.
- Teams read their headlines aloud. The class votes by applause for the one that best captures the story; a team cannot vote for itself.
- Read the second key quote, then ask the questions.
- Elijah asked her to make his portion first. Why does the order matter?
- What is hard about giving to the Lord first when you do not have much?
Blessing hunt
- Read Elder Bednar's words, quoted in the talk (first aligned quote). Ask youth to say the two words that describe these blessings: significant and subtle.
- Explain that those words moved Elder Villanueva to make a list, and that the Holy Ghost helped him recognize blessings: steady work, good health for his family, home and possessions preserved, being able to manage time and resources to get an education, the gift of gratitude, and recognizing the Holy Ghost when making important decisions. Add the sister whose 20-liter propane tank lasted far longer than she expected.
- Same teams, three minutes on the timer: list subtle blessings a person your age could easily overlook. Specific beats general: a friend who saved me a seat on Monday counts; friends does not.
- Teams read their lists. Give a point for every item no other team wrote. Congratulate the winners.
- Check for understanding: ask one youth to explain in their own words why a blessing can be both significant and easy to miss.
My list
- Explain that Elder Villanueva invited the sister to write her own list. Invite youth to try it now, alone and in silence, on paper or in the notes app on their phones.
- Suggest they begin with a silent prayer asking the Holy Ghost to help them recognize blessings. Give three minutes. Write your own list too.
- Invite anyone who wants to share one line to do so. Share one of yours.
- What is on your list that you had not thought of as a blessing before?
Choose one
- Read the third key quote: the Lord gives commandments because He wants us to receive His blessings. Then read Elder Giuffra's words from this conference (second aligned quote).
- Invite each youth to choose one idea under Act and tell the person next to them which one.
- Bear a short testimony that Heavenly Father knows them and keeps His promises.
- Follow up next week: start class by asking who kept their list going and what surprised them.
Key passages from the talk
“Sometimes we expect the Lord’s blessings to come the way we would wish, rather than in His own way and timing.”
“Elijah understood that blessings will come after the trial of our faith.”
“He gives us commandments because He wants us to receive His blessings.”
“Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?”
Scriptures
- Malachi 3:10 Read in pairs on phones or in scriptures; find what the Lord promises and one thing the verse never says.
- 1 Kings 17:8–16 Teams read the story and write a headline of ten words or fewer; then discuss why Elijah asked the widow to give first.
- D&C 58:31 Read aloud after pairs report on Malachi 3:10 (it is the fourth key quote); ask how they would answer the Lord's question.
Other voices that agree
“As we live the law of tithing, we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not always what we expect and easily can be overlooked”
“the law of tithing is a law of faith”
Three things to remember
- The Lord always keeps His promises, in His way and on His timing.
- Many of my biggest blessings are quiet ones I have to look for.
- Giving to the Lord first is how I show I trust Him.
Ways to act this week
- Add one line to your blessings list every night this week before you go to sleep.
- The next time you earn or receive money, set aside tithing first, before you spend any of it. If you are not sure how to pay it, ask a parent or a member of the bishopric.
- Read 1 Kings 17:8–16 again on your own and thank Heavenly Father in prayer for one thing in your life that has not run out.
- Tell one person about a blessing you nearly missed.
Suggestions written for this lesson, not the speaker’s words.
Music
- Count Your Blessings
Adapting the lesson
- At home or with two or three youth: skip the teams. Write headlines and blessing lists individually and compare.
- Large class: use more teams of four and hear only the best two items from each team's list.
- Short on time: keep the green and brown opener, Malachi 3:10 in pairs, Elder Bednar's words and the personal list.
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.