Lesson 3 Teacher Material

Trusting Jesus Christ, Our Premortal Savior and Leader

In the premortal life, Heavenly Father taught us about His plan of salvation. There we had the opportunity to rise in support of His plan and sustain Jesus Christ as our Savior. In this lesson, students will identify reasons we trusted Jesus Christ to be our Savior and leader in the premortal life. Students will also consider how to stand with Him in their continued battle against Satan and his forces in this life.

Suggestions for Teaching

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Follow up on student learning. Students’ faith can be strengthened when they are given an opportunity to share how they have been blessed by acting on invitations extended during a previous class. As guided by the Holy Ghost, look for opportunities to follow up on how students are applying what they are learning.

Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior and Redeemer from the beginning.

As a class, take a few minutes to identify truths that have been revealed about our premortal life. (If needed, have students select either section 1 or 2 of the preparation material and briefly review it. Students may identify one or more of the following truths: In the Grand Council, Heavenly Father presented His plan of salvation so we could return to His presence and become like Him. Jesus Christ’s willingness to be our Savior was essential to the success of the Father’s plan. In the premortal life, Jesus Christ was the greatest and most intelligent of all Heavenly Father’s children.)

As your class discussion develops, consider which of the following questions you might ask that would be most relevant for your students. (Note: To foster converting experiences, it may be better to ask fewer questions and have deeper discussions about certain topics, rather than trying to ask all the suggested questions.)

• How can knowledge of the plan of salvation bless someone who feels their life is without meaning or purpose? (You could review the statement by Elder Robert D. Hales in section 1 of the preparation material.) How has knowledge of the plan of salvation helped you in difficult times?

• Why is a Savior needed in Heavenly Father’s plan? (See section 1 of the preparation material.)

• Considering the personal cost Jesus Christ paid to atone for our sins, what are your thoughts or feelings about His willingness to become our Savior? (see Moses 4:2).

• What did Abraham learn about Jesus Christ’s unique status in the premortal life? (It may be helpful to draw on truths taught in section 2 of the preparation material.) How can knowing the premortal greatness of Jesus Christ help you trust Him with challenges you face?

To bring this part of the lesson to a close, you could ask students to imagine what it was like to be present in the Grand Council when Heavenly Father presented the plan of salvation and Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior. Invite one or two students to share their thoughts and feelings.

With the help of Jesus Christ, we can win the battle with Satan and his followers.

Display the accompanying image of the War in Heaven. Invite students to share how this image may differ from what we know from modern revelation about the War in Heaven. (Encourage students to draw on Moses 4:1–4, Revelation 12:7–11, and the statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley in section 3 of the preparation material.)

St. Michael, the Archangel, by Gustave Doré

As students share their insights, consider asking the following questions:

• Why did Satan rebel? What were his tactics during the War in Heaven? (see Moses 4:1, 3–4; Revelation 12:7–9). How does he employ these tactics in our day?

• According to Revelation 12:11, how did we win the battle against Satan and his followers in the premortal life? (It may add to your discussion to review the statement by Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt in the preparation material. Help students identify the following truth and write it on the board: As we did in the premortal life, we can overcome Satan’s power through faith in the Savior’s Atonement and our testimony of Him.)

• How has your testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement helped you in the battle against Satan and his temptations? What can you do to increase your trust in the Savior’s ability to help you overcome Satan’s power?

To conclude class, you may want to display and read aloud the following statement by Elder Jörg Klebingat of the Seventy:

Elder Jörg Klebingat

[During the War in Heaven,] those of us armed with faith in the future Atonement of Jesus Christ, those energized by testimonies of His divine role, those possessing spiritual knowledge and the courage to use it in defense of His sacred name fought on the front lines of this war of words. John taught that those valiant spirits, and others, have overcome Lucifer ‘by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony’ (Revelation 12:11; emphasis added).

Yes, the promise of a Savior and of a bloodstained Gethsemane and Calvary won the premortal war. But our premortal courage and testimony, our willingness to explain, reason with, and persuade other spirits also helped stem the tide of falsehoods from spreading unopposed!

Having successfully completed a premortal tour of duty in His defense, we became witnesses of His holy name. Indeed, having proven us in battle and being thus assured of our hearts and courage, the Lord later said of us—members of the house of Israel—“Ye are my witnesses” (Isaiah 43:10). Let us ask ourselves: Is this declaration still true of us today? (Jörg Klebingat, “Defending the Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2017, 49–50)

Invite students to reflect on Elder Klebingat’s statement and determine what they can do to stand with Jesus Christ in our day. You could invite them to record their thoughts and impressions.

For Next Time

During the week, you may want to send the following invitation to students: As you read the preparation material for lesson 4 and ponder miracles of the Creation, consider sending me, or bringing to class, a picture of God’s creations you find particularly inspiring.