A young woman sitting down. A woman (possibly her mother) has her hand on the girl’s shoulder. The girl has a sad expression on her face.
Even the most faithful disciples of Jesus Christ endure hardship in their lives. Paul shared some of the suffering he endured and how he was able to find joy in those experiences through the Savior’s help. This lesson can help you rely on the Lord as you strive to faithfully endure your own challenges.
Praying for students by name. Ask Heavenly Father for help understanding the needs of individual students and how to meet those needs. Then listen for promptings from the Spirit that may come during the lesson or during lesson preparation in answer to those prayers.
Student preparation: Invite students to be prepared to share why they feel the following statement is not true: “If we pray with sufficient faith in Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father will remove any trial that we are going through.”
Possible Learning Activities
Life’s trials
If possible, bring to class or show an image of a rose with a thorny stem.
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Spring rose bush thorns.
What do you think is the purpose of the thorns on a rose bush?
In life, we have many wonderful experiences that can be compared with a rose. However, we also face trials and challenges that could be compared with the thorns.
What are some trials and challenges that people may face in life?
Listen carefully to students’ responses to the following question. Their answers could help identify the most relevant truths to focus on throughout the lesson.
What thoughts and questions might people ask about God as they experience trials? What might they wonder about themselves?
As you study today, look for truths that can help you faithfully endure trials that God, in His love and wisdom, chooses not to remove. Ponder why you need God’s help as you endure them.
Paul’s trials
Read 2 Corinthians 11:24–28, looking for some of the trials Paul endured during his ministry.
To help students realize the depth of suffering Paul experienced, consider inviting them to share which of Paul’s trials they think would be most difficult to endure.
What other examples can you think of from the scriptures or from Church history that show that even the righteous suffer difficulties? How is the Savior’s life proof of this?
Why do you think Heavenly Father allows faithful disciples of Jesus Christ to endure so much?
Although God blessed Paul with wonderful revelations, including a vision of the celestial kingdom (see 2 Corinthians 12:1–4), Paul still had to endure trials and tests of his faith. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7 to see what Paul compared one of his ongoing trials to.
How could “a thorn in the flesh” be a good description of some personal trials?
Rather than simply asking the following question, consider inviting students to draw in their study journals or on the board what they might compare one of their personal trials to.
What comparison might you use to describe a specific trial that you or your loved ones have endured? Why?
Read 2 Corinthians 12:8–10 to see Paul’s experience praying for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed. As you read, keep in mind that the word grace means “divine help or strength … given through the mercy and love of God” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Grace,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also Ether 12:27).
One truth we can learn from Paul’s experience is that the Lord may not always remove our challenges, but we can be strengthened by His grace as we endure them faithfully.
How do you see this truth evident in the Savior’s life? (see Luke 22:41–44).
For the following activity, consider inviting students to work with a partner and having each student read a different passage and share what they learned with each other.
Find and read at least one scripture account that shows how the Lord can bless those who endure trials with faith in Him. (Following are suggestions of accounts you might choose.)
Mosiah 24:8–15. (Alma’s people were captives of the Lamanites and were ruled over by the wicked priest Amulon.)
What did you learn about the Lord and what He offers to those who endure trials faithfully?
Which of His blessings do you most need as you endure your trials? Why?
Who do you personally know who has endured a challenge faithfully? What did they do to endure faithfully? How have you seen the Lord’s grace help them?
What do you think the Savior would have you do to faithfully endure your trials?
Watch the video “Mountains to Climb” (5:05), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, looking for what we can do to endure trials faithfully.
What did you learn about enduring trials with faith in Jesus Christ?
Based on what you learned and felt as you studied 2 Corinthians 12 today, add to or rewrite the following statement to make it more accurate.
Consider writing the following statement on the board and inviting students to discuss in small groups how they would change it. Then invite a few students to come to the board and rewrite the statement based on their group discussion. Ask these students to explain to the class why their group made the changes they did.
“If we pray with sufficient faith in Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father will remove any trial that we are going through.”
Testify of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and of the grace They offer as we endure trials with faith in Them. Invite students to share experiences of how God has blessed them, as well as what they have learned, as they have endured trials.
Commentary and Background Information
How was the Savior an example of the truths taught in this lesson?
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency shared the following about Luke 22:41–44:
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Official Portrait of President Dallin H. Oaks taken March 2018.
Here we see the Savior’s absolute faith and trust in the Father. “Nevertheless,” he said, “not my will, but thine be done.” The Father’s answer was to deny the plea of his Only Begotten Son. The Atonement had to be worked out by that lamb without blemish. But though the Son’s request was denied, his prayer was answered. The scripture records: “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (JST, Luke 22:43).
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency shared:
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Official Portrait of President Dallin H. Oaks taken March 2018.
The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality.
How can our struggles help us bless those around us?
Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, taught:
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Official Portrait of Sister Reyna Aburto. Photographed in 2017.
Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you. Because of a “thorn in the flesh,” you may have the ability to feel more compassion toward others.
Can those who hold the priesthood heal all who have faith to be healed?
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:
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Official Portrait of President Dallin H. Oaks taken March 2018.
Although the Savior could heal all whom He would heal, this is not true of those who hold His priesthood authority. Mortal exercises of that authority are limited by the will of Him whose priesthood it is. Consequently, we are told that some whom the elders bless are not healed because they are “appointed unto death” [Doctrine and Covenants 42:48]. Similarly, when the Apostle Paul sought to be healed from the “thorn in the flesh” that buffeted him (2 Corinthians 12:7), the Lord declined to heal him.
Consider displaying the following pictures or bringing a rough stone and a polished stone to class. Invite students to discuss what is required for a stone to become polished and smooth and how that applies to the polishing we need in our lives. Invite students to ponder why, at times, the Lord allows us to continue to suffer difficult trials even when we have faith in Him sufficient to be healed.
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A heart shaped rounded edge rock.
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Stones laid out on a white background.
Faith not to be healed
Consider using this account and these follow-up questions to help students understand the faith in Jesus Christ that is needed to accept His will when it is different than our will.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told the true story of a faithful young man who was suffering from cancer and the lesson he and others learned about having faith not to be healed. This account is found in the article “Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing,” Ensign, August 2016, 29–35.
What does the question “Do you have the faith not to be healed?” mean to you?
How might this question relate to the situation Paul described in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10?
Are there any situations in your life in which you may need to exercise faith in Jesus Christ even when you might not receive a blessing in the way or in the time frame that you hope?
What do you know about Jesus Christ that helps you trust Him even in those situations?