“Lesson 14 Teacher Material: Recognizing the Savior’s Miracles,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material (2023)
“Lesson 14 Teacher Material,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material
Lesson 14 Teacher Material
Recognizing the Savior’s Miracles
Jesus Christ declared, “I am a God of miracles” (2 Nephi 27:23). In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to share what they learn about Jesus Christ through the miracles He performed during His mortal ministry. Students will also consider what they can do to receive the Lord’s miracles in their own lives and identify miracles they have already received.
Suggestions for Teaching
Jesus Christ heals people physically and spiritually.
Consider displaying prior to class the following pictures of the miracles that correspond with the “Record Your Thoughts” activity in section 1 of the preparation material. As class begins, direct students’ attention to the pictures, and invite one or two students to briefly share their general impressions about the miracles of Jesus.
Turning water into wine
Calming the tempest
Raising the dead
Feeding 5,000
Restoring sight
You might invite students to go to the “Record Your Thoughts” activity in section 1 of the preparation material and review the miracle they studied in preparation for class. If they did not prepare, invite them to select a miracle to study. Give students a few minutes to review or study the miracle they chose and to reflect on their responses to the two questions from the activity.
After giving students sufficient time to review, invite them to form small groups with other students who studied a different miracle. Each group member should be given the opportunity to briefly summarize the miracle she or he studied and to discuss her or his response to at least one of the two accompanying questions.
You may also want to invite a student to summarize the account of the Lord healing the man with paralysis, recorded in Mark 2:5–12, that was discussed in section 1 of the preparation material. Or you could watch this account in “Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals a Man Stricken with Palsy” (2:57).
You might then help deepen students’ understanding by asking one or both of the following questions:
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What do we learn about the Savior’s healing power from this miracle? (Help students identify a truth such as Jesus Christ has the power to heal us spiritually and physically.)
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In what ways have you or someone you know experienced either spiritual or physical healing? (Consider inviting one or two students prior to class to come prepared to share their responses to this question. Remind them that they should not feel pressure to share anything that is too personal.)
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Invite some students prior to class to come prepared to share. Classroom learning can be enhanced when we invite a few students to come prepared with their responses to specific questions from the lesson, to share relevant experiences, or to bear testimony of specific principles. This type of preparation can help foster discussion, deepen learning, and provide important opportunities for those who feel more comfortable sharing when they have had time to prepare their thoughts.
Invite a student to read aloud President Dallin H. Oaks’s statement in section 1 of the preparation material, and consider asking one or more of the following questions to help your students learn more deeply:
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Why do you think a mighty change of heart can be considered a greater miracle than physical miracles? Why is it essential that we look to the Savior for this miracle?
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How would you explain the miracle of a changed heart to someone uncertain of what that means?
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What things can people do to show the Lord they desire this miracle? What specific action could you take to show the Lord you desire to have more of your heart changed? (You may need to remind students that a change of heart is a process, not an event. It may be helpful to provide students time to record their thoughts and impressions.)
Miracles occur according to our faith and God’s will.
Remind students that one miracle the Savior performed during His mortal ministry was healing a leper. Invite a student to briefly share what a leper’s life might have been like in New Testament times and how being healed would have altered his or her life.
Read together Mark 1:40–42, and invite students to look for how the leper approached the Lord for a miracle.
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What can we learn from this account about how to approach the Lord when seeking a miracle? (You may want to review the statement by Elder Jorge F. Zeballos in section 2 of the preparation material. Help students identify a principle like this one: As we exercise our faith in Jesus Christ, He can perform miracles in our lives according to His will.)
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How can we develop the faith to trust the Lord’s will when seeking a miracle? (Consider reviewing the statements by Church leaders in section 2 of the preparation material.)
It may be helpful to invite some students before class to review the accounts shared by President Oaks or Elder David A. Bednar found under the question “How can I develop the faith to trust the Lord’s will when seeking a miracle?” in the “Want More?” section of the preparation material. During class, you might invite these students to share one of the accounts and what they learned from it about miracles and trusting the Lord’s will.
Consider reading the statement by Elder Ronald A. Rasband in section 3 of the preparation material. Invite students to share examples of small and simple miracles they have witnessed. (Students may mention miracles such as receiving revelation, overcoming a harmful habit, receiving the power to forgive someone, being strengthened when facing adversity, experiencing increased ability to complete a difficult task, and so on.)
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What does the prevalence of these “small miracles” reveal about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
To help students apply what they have learned from this lesson, consider giving them time to ponder and record their thoughts and feelings about the following question:
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What can I do to be more aware of and open to the Lord’s miracles in my life?
Consider sharing testimony that Jesus Christ is a God of miracles, or you could invite one or more students to do so.
For Next Time
To encourage students to prepare for the next class, consider sending the following picture and message: What was your most recent experience with the sacrament like? As you study the preparation material for lesson 15, reflect on why Jesus Christ wants you to participate weekly in this sacred ordinance.
