“Alma 7:1–13: That He May Succor His People,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Alma 7:1–13,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Alma 7:1–13
That He May Succor His People
God’s work and glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). To accomplish this, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins and overcome death through His Resurrection. The Savior willingly suffered all things for us “that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). This lesson can help you rely on and feel greater love for your Savior.
Help students recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost often communicates through feelings of love, joy, and peace (see Galatians 5:22–23). He also testifies of Jesus Christ (see John 15:26). Look for natural opportunities to help students understand the relationship between their feelings and the influence of the Holy Ghost. Keep in mind that not all students will feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in the same way.
Student preparation: Consider inviting students to study Alma 7:11–13 and to look in these verses for what Jesus Christ suffered through His Atonement and why He suffered these things.
Possible Learning Activities
The most important things
You could create the following list and rankings together as a class, or you could have the students create a list with a partner or small group and compare the different answers.
Create a list of what you consider to be some of the most important events in world history, and then rank them in order from the most to the least important.
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What makes an event significant or important?
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Why might ranking them in order of importance be somewhat difficult to do?
As Alma spoke to the people in the land of Gideon, he prophesied that although “there be many things to come; … there is one thing which is of more importance” than anything else (Alma 7:7).
Read Alma 7:7, looking for this most important event. Consider marking what you find.
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Why do you think the coming of the Savior is the most important event of all time?
Consider inviting students to record their thoughts about the following in their study journals.
After Alma spoke to the people of Zarahemla and set the Church in order in that part of the land (see Alma 6), he traveled to the land of Gideon. Alma 7 contains important teachings from Alma to the people of Gideon about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Before you begin studying, take a moment to think about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ relates to your life. What circumstances are you currently facing in which you need the help Heavenly Father and the Savior provide?
As you study today, look for teachings about Jesus Christ and His Atonement that can help you better understand what He has done for you and how He can help you.
Alma teaches about the Savior’s Atonement
Consider inviting students to copy the following chart in their study journals. Alternatively, you could display or copy it on the board so it can be filled out together as a class.
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What the Savior suffered for me |
Why the Savior suffered for me |
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Alma 7:11–13 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.
Read Alma 7:11–13, looking for Alma’s teachings about what Jesus Christ suffered or took upon Himself for you as part of His Atonement. Record these in the first column of your chart. It may be helpful to know that the word infirmities refers to the weaknesses and frailties we experience in mortality.
If you chose to use the chart on the board, consider inviting students to record what they found from these verses in it. Then invite them to read the following scripture passages and to record additional details they learn about the Savior’s suffering.
Read 2 Nephi 9:21; Mosiah 3:5–8; and Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19. These passages include other details about the Savior’s suffering. Add any words or phrases that you find important to the first column in your chart. Consider adding a cross-reference or link from these passages to Alma 7:11–13.
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What thoughts or feelings did you have as you learned about the Savior’s suffering?
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Why do you think it is important to understand what the Savior suffered and took upon Himself as part of His atoning sacrifice?
Why Jesus Christ suffered these things
Read Alma 7:11–13 again, this time looking for why the Savior suffered for you. Focus on the phrases that begin with “that he” or “that his” as you read. In the second column of your chart, write what you find. It may be helpful to know that the word succor means to provide relief or aid.
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What did you learn about why Jesus Christ suffered these things for you?
Students could record their answers to the previous question in the chart on the board.
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How would you summarize what you have studied in Alma 7:11–13 into a statement of truth?
From Alma 7:11–13, you may have identified a truth like this: Jesus Christ suffered to save me from sin and death and to help me through the challenges of mortality.
Consider writing this truth on the board.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency shared some of the challenges of mortality the Savior can help us with. Read the following statement or watch the video “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 3:13 to 4:01.
Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges “according to the flesh” so He could know “according to the flesh” how to “succor [which means to give relief or aid to] his people according to their infirmities.” He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement. And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us—to give us the strength to bear it all. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 61–62)
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What does this statement help you understand or feel about the Savior?
Relating it to your life
Help students relate what they have learned in this lesson to their lives. One way to do this might be to give them time to ponder and complete the following on their own.
Ponder for a moment what the Savior suffered for you personally. For example, what specific afflictions, temptations, infirmities, or suffering are you experiencing or have you experienced? Consider writing your thoughts below your chart.
Next, prayerfully ponder how the Savior has strengthened or could strengthen you in each of these difficulties. Ask Heavenly Father to inspire you as you write your thoughts and feelings.
Consider inviting volunteers to share some of the insights they recorded. The following questions could also be used to guide a class discussion. Before asking the first question, consider sharing a personal example from your life. When asking students to share, remind them not to share experiences that might be too personal or sacred.
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When have you felt the strength Jesus Christ provides through His Atonement?
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What have you learned or felt about Jesus Christ in your study today that you want to remember?
Testify of the truths you have discussed today.