Acting on Faith in Jesus Christ

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a father teaching his family

Dear Parents,

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and He has provided many ways for us to gain a testimony of His role and power in our lives. This magazine issue can help you teach your children about having faith in Jesus Christ and how we can acknowledge the blessings He and Heavenly Father bestow upon us. You can also use the following ideas to help you enhance your family’s Come, Follow Me study and start discussions about the importance of paying tithing.

Gospel Discussions

The Gift of the Savior

On page 4, President Henry B. Eyring shares a Christmas message of joy and rejoicing in the greatest gift God has given us—His Son, Jesus Christ. Read his article and discuss why the Savior is a gift in your life.

Acting upon What We Learn

How can we be more effective in acting upon the things we learn in our gospel study? On page 10, read thoughts from the Sunday School General Presidency about how we can be better “doers of the word” (James 1:22).

Blessings of Tithing

On page 40, Elder Moisés Villanueva describes how he, as a 10-year-old convert to the Church, gained a testimony of tithing through watching his mother faithfully pay tithing. He then explains the importance of acknowledging the subtle blessings—both temporal and spiritual—that come as a result of paying tithing. As a family, you could read parts of his article and discuss the subtle blessings that come from paying tithing.

Come, Follow Me Family Fun

Reminders of Christ

The Old Testament includes symbols of the Savior and His Atonement that help us learn about Him.

Have each person choose one of the following symbols of Christ used in the Old Testament:
- Lamb (Exodus 12:5; 1 Peter 1:18–20).
- Manna (Exodus 16:4, 12–21, 31; John 6:30–40).
- Water (Exodus 17:1–6; Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:7–14).
- Brass serpent (Numbers 21:4–9; John 3:14–15).
- Rock (1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2–3; Isaiah 28:16).
- Branch (Isaiah 11:1–2; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15).
- Light (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19; John 8:12).
Using paper or other supplies, create an ornament shaped like the chosen symbol and display it in a special place to remember the Savior.
Study the scripture references listed with each symbol above.

Discussion: What does each symbol teach about the Savior? What does Jesus Christ mean in your life?

For further study on this topic, you could read or listen to President Russell M. Nelson’s April 2017 conference talk “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives” (Liahona, May 2017, 39–42).