How to Be Your Brother's Keeper

# Outline 4: How to Be Your Brother's Keeper

Use these lesson outlines in student living meetings with your tenants to help them learn apartment living principles to help them have positive living experiences at BYU-Idaho

Be Your Brother's Keeper

Help residents learn to be observant of roommates and other residents as they look for opportunities to serve like the Savior.

Step 1: Ponder

Step 2: Discuss

Step 3: Activity

Step 4: Invite and Follow Up

Step 1: Ponder

Step 2: Discuss

Step 3: Activity

Step 4: Invite and Follow Up

Step 1: Ponder

Step 2: Discuss

Step 3: Activity

Step 4: Invite and Follow Up

## Preparation

In preparation for this meeting, read Mosiah 18:8-9 and answer all the following question:

- How can you help residents to bear the burdens of and mourn with their roommates?

## Discussion Options

Select one of the options below to lead residents in a group discussion. This discussion will help residents understand what it means to be their brother's keeper. As you prepare, consider additional questions that will enhance the discussion. Remember to allow residents time to think and participate.

- Option 1
- Option 2
- Option 3

## To The Rescue

Watch the video and discuss the following questions: 

- What is the significance behind the phrase "don't leave the wounded on the battlefield"?
- Why might it be important to the Savior that we look out for each other?
- What fears do you have about speaking up when you notice your roommate struggling?
- What steps can you take to overcome your fears of speaking up? How might you need to change in order to be prepared?

## Good Samaritan

Watch the video "Good Samaritan" and discuss the following questions: 

- What responsibilities do you have to watch out for your roommates?
- What expectations does the Savior have for us as good Samaritans in our apartment?
- Turn to your neighbor and share a time in which a roommate was a good Samaritan towards you. Discuss ways you could do the same for your roommates this semester.

## "Where shall I work today?"

Read the poem and discuss the following questions:

**"Father, where shall I work today"**

**And my love flowed warm and free.**

**Then He pointed me out a tiny spot,**

**And said, "Tend that for me."**

**I answered quickly, 'Oh, no, not that.**

**Why, no one would ever see,**

**No matter how well my work was done.**

**Not that little place for me!'**

**And the word He spoke, it was not stern,...**

**Art thou working for them or me?**

**Nazareth was a little place,**

**And so was Galilee."**

Meade MacGuire, "Father, Where Shall I Work Today?" in **Best-Loved Poems of**

**the LDS People**, comp. Jack M. Lyon and others (1996), 152

- Some residents may feel they do not have an important responsibility for what happens in their apartment. After reading the poem, how can your actions impact your roommates in meaningful ways?
- What are practical, meaningful ways you can serve your roommates?
- Zion is a people who are united, righteous, and caring. Share one thing you and your roommates can do today that would make "your spot" Zion.

## Activity

Break into small groups and give each group a scenario to discuss. Invite residents to develop practical and detailed solutions. This will help the residents learn how to evaluate a possible situation in which they will need to be their brother's keeper.

- One of your roommates is consistently having their boyfriend/girlfriend in their bedroom. You have talked about it once, but your roommate insists "it's not a big deal."
- Your roommate condescendingly confronts you about how often you come home after curfew. You feel angry and embarrasssed but you know they are right. How can you effectively communicate (on both sides) through this situation?
- You notice a roommate has changed their behavior and has become withdrawn, anxious, and irritable. You are concerned but unsure how to address it.
- Consider additional scenarios you have seen as a manager. Remember to keep confidentiality as you share.

## Invite and Follow Up

Invite everyone to pray individually to be blessed with increased awareness of when someone in their apartment is in need of help. Follow up in person, email, or text on their experiences.