Ether 12:23–27

“Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong unto Them”

Moroni writing on plates

As Moroni continued abridging the book of Ether, he feared the Gentiles would mock his work because of his weakness in writing. The Lord responded that as we come unto Him in humility and faith, He can turn our weak things into strengths (see Ether 12:27). This lesson is intended to help you come unto Jesus Christ to overcome weaknesses through His grace.

Plan learning activities that invite introspection. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ requires consistent learning and determination to act in faith. Plan study activities that allow students to evaluate themselves and see how applying gospel principles can bless their lives. Encourage students to strive to follow the promptings of the Spirit as they study.

Student preparation: Invite students to read Ether 12:27 and to think of a weakness in their life that they want to overcome with the Savior’s help.

Possible Learning Activities

Weakness and strength

Invite a student to come to the front of the room and complete a task that would require more physical strength than he or she currently has. Discuss how to develop the strength required to be successful in this task.

In mortality, we all face weaknesses. Sometimes this can be discouraging. In this lesson you will learn about a pattern the Lord taught Moroni that can turn weaknesses into strengths.

Moroni’s concerns

Moroni was given the task of abridging the account of the Jaredites, and he knew this account would be read by many people in the future. As he finished his abridgment, he recorded some of his final thoughts and included his personal concerns and worries about what he was asked to do.

Read Ether 12:23–25, looking for what concerns Moroni had.

• What was Moroni specifically worried about?

Consider discussing and listing as a class some common weaknesses that teenagers have. Students could reflect silently and record in their study journals some of their own weaknesses they would like to overcome. Explain that students will not share these personal thoughts with the class.

The Lord’s response to Moroni

Read Ether 12:26–27, looking for how the Lord responded to Moroni’s concerns.

Ether 12:27 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.

Help students analyze the statements in verse 27 that are listed below. You might have them write each of the phrases on the board in different quadrants. You could guide a discussion as a class using the content below.

Alternatively, you could divide students into small groups and give each group a piece of paper. Have the groups divide their papers into four squares. In each square, students could record one of the phrases from verse 27. Then as a group, students could come up with questions that could help them understand each phrase. After recording their questions, they could divide up the phrases and each seek answers to the questions they recorded.

“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness”

• What do you think it means to come unto Christ?

Some answers students might provide could be making and keeping covenants with Christ and choosing to follow His teachings and example. For additional help answering this question, you might point students to the article “How to Come unto Christ” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, which can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Notice that the Lord says that He will show us our weakness if we come unto Him.

• Why is this a blessing to us?

The word weakness in this phrase refers to our fallen condition, which includes individual “weak things” and our inability to be perfect.

• What do you learn from Ether 12:27 about why the Savior wants you to recognize your weakness?

Help students understand that humbly recognizing our limitations and inadequacies can lead us to call upon our Heavenly Father for divine assistance. It is through His grace that the Lord can turn weakness into strength. (See 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; Ether 12:37.)

You may also want to share the statement by Brother Douglas D. Holmes in the “Commentary and Background Information” section.

Invite students to silently ponder if God has recently shown them their weakness. Assure them that this is a good indicator that they are coming unto Him.

“I give unto men weakness that they may be humble”

Read some examples of individuals in the scriptures who recognized their weakness:

• Ether 3:2: The brother of Jared

• Mosiah 4:2: The people of King Benjamin

• How did recognizing their weakness help the individuals in these accounts be humble?

• Why do you think the Lord wants us to be humble?

“My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me”

• What do you think it means that the Savior’s grace is sufficient for all who humble themselves before Him?

If students struggle to answer the previous question, consider sharing the following statement by Elder Kevin S. Hamilton.

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy explained:

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

[Jesus Christ’s] strengthening, enabling grace gives us power to overcome all obstacles, all challenges, and all weaknesses as we seek to change.

The Savior worked out His infinite and eternal Atonement so that we could in fact change, repent, and become better. We can actually be born again. We can overcome habits, addictions, and even the “disposition to do evil” [Mosiah 5:2]. (Kevin S. Hamilton, “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong,” Liahona, May 2022, 51–52)

Notice how the people of King Benjamin experienced the Lord’s grace in Mosiah 4:3.

• Who else in the scriptures demonstrated that the Savior’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome our weaknesses?

Some examples students might share could be Alma (see Mosiah 27:24–29) and the sons of Mosiah (see Mosiah 28:4).

“If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”

Elder Hamilton pointed out that “weak things” in this verse could refer to our behaviors that are weaknesses.

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

As we first change our fallen natures, our weakness, then we will be able to change our behaviors, our weaknesses. (Kevin S. Hamilton, “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong,” Liahona, May 2022, 51)

To help students think about what they have learned today, invite them to do one or both of the following activities in their study journals.

1. In a paragraph of at least three sentences, record what you have learned and want to remember from this lesson.

2. In a paragraph of at least three sentences, describe how you will apply what you have learned today.

Commentary and Background Information

Why is it a blessing that God shows me my weakness?

Brother Douglas D. Holmes, former counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, explained:

Brother Douglas D. Holmes

[Seeing ourselves in our fallen state] may not sound like much of a reward for coming to know God better. Don’t we want a God who makes us feel good and builds us up? Yes, but we also want and worship a God of truth, a God who deals not in illusion but in reality, not in niceties but in power and glory. We don’t simply want to know God, we want to become like Him, and until we see ourselves as we really are, we can’t become what He really is. (Douglas D. Holmes, “The Doctrine of Christ: Our Daily Walk,” [Brigham Young University devotional, Jan. 17, 2017], 3, speeches.byu.edu)

What if I keep making the same mistakes?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized:

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Even after sincere repentance, however, we may stumble. Stumbling does not mean that the repentance was inadequate but may simply reflect human weakness. How comforting to know that “the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He [sees] rebellion.” We should not doubt the Savior’s ability to help us with our weaknesses, because “when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy” [Richard G. Scott, “Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 83]. (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 76)

The following videos illustrate individuals who turned weaknesses into strengths with the Lord’s help.

“Weak Things Become Strong” (1:32)

“Faith Murray’s Story: Overcoming Adversity through Service” (4:52)

“Wheelz: Overcoming Is Possible” (7:13)

“With All Your Heart” (3:26)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The blessings of coming unto Christ

Throughout the scriptures, we find the invitation to come unto Christ. One of these instances is in Ether 12:27. If students would benefit from looking at other instances of this invitation and the promised blessings, you could invite students to search the scriptures for the phrase “come unto Christ” or “come unto me” using scripture study helps or the Gospel Library app. When they find the invitations, they could identify what blessings come when we come unto Christ. Some examples they might find include Matthew 11:28–30 and 3 Nephi 9:14–15. As students find these scriptures, you may want to list the blessings on the board and invite students to discuss how these blessings are needed in the lives of youth today.

Examples of being strengthened by Christ to overcome weaknesses

Moses and Enoch are two examples of individuals who turned their weaknesses into strengths with the Lord’s help. Students could study one of these examples in the corresponding scripture passage. As they study, invite them to ponder what these accounts teach about the Savior’s power and ability to turn our weaknesses into strengths.

• Moses (Exodus 4:1, 10–12)

• Enoch (Moses 6:31–34)

Encourage students to pay close attention to the Savior’s responses to Moses and Enoch about their weaknesses. You could then ask, “What do you imagine the Savior would say to you about your weaknesses?”