Easter

Easter

Hope and Peace through the Savior and His Atonement

The Savior Jesus Christ brought hope and peace in ways others likely thought impossible. He healed the blind, the sick, and the lame. He brought the dead back to life. Ultimately, through His suffering, death, and Resurrection, He overcame sin and death for all mankind. We celebrate and remember the Savior at Easter. This lesson can help students reflect on the peace and hope Jesus Christ offers them.

Student preparation: Invite students to do one of the four numbered activities at the end of the lesson. For example, study “The Living Christ” document, looking for phrases that testify of the peace and hope the Savior offers. Encourage them to come prepared to share their favorite phrases.

Possible Learning Activities

Losing or gaining hope and peace

Draw the following graphic on the board.

You might ask students to imagine they lived in Israel and witnessed the life of the Savior. Ask the following question:

• What experiences from the Savior’s life may have given you more hope?

After students have shared some examples, you might hold up a picture of Jesus Christ on the cross, such as “The Crucifixion,” and explain that this may have been a moment when some disciples were tempted to lose hope. (The Savior died, and no one had ever resurrected before.)

Then display a picture of the Savior’s Resurrection, such as “Christ and Mary at the Tomb,” and ask how this event may have affected their hope.

• What are some reasons people may be tempted to lose hope today?

• What are some reasons people may gain hope through the Savior today?

Consider writing students’ answers on the board next to the appropriate arrows. Explain that we could do a similar activity by changing the word hope to peace.

Take a moment to ponder how the Savior helps you feel hope and peace in your life. Also ponder reasons you may feel like you’re losing hope and peace. Consider why you may need more hope and peace in your life.

Throughout this lesson, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you reflect on the peace and hope Jesus Christ offers you and all mankind.

Hope and peace in our lives

At Easter, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the completion of His atoning sacrifice for us. As you read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson, look for the hope the Savior can bring into our lives.

When He suffered for our sins and weaknesses, died on the cross, and rose again, the Savior rewrote humanity’s story. Because of Him, we do not have to deal with our frailties, sins, and fears alone. Because of Him, death is not the end. Resurrection will come to all who have ever lived. Because of Him, families can be together forever. Because of Jesus Christ, we celebrate Easter. And Easter is all about peace and hope. …

… At this Easter season, let us worship and praise Him for the peace, hope, light, and truth He brings to us. (“The Peace and Hope of Easter,” video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• How would you summarize what President Nelson taught?

  Students may share various insights. Thank them for their answers. One of the principles we can learn is that through the Savior’s suffering, death, and Resurrection, we can have peace and hope in our lives.

• What are some ways President Nelson shared that the Savior can provide us with hope and peace?

• Why do you think knowing about the Savior’s suffering, death, and Resurrection helps us seek hope and peace through Him?

Testimonies of the Savior

The following activity will help students better understand how we can have peace and hope through Jesus Christ. Consider displaying the following instructions and scripture references on the board. Invite students to study a few of these or other verses that testify of the Savior. Or you can assign each scripture to different students. Students can then share with the class what they discover about how the Savior brings hope and peace into our lives.

Read several of the following scriptures in the Old Testament, looking for phrases that describe what the Savior can do for us. Ponder how He brings hope and peace to our lives.

Job 19:25–26

Psalms 16:8–11

Psalms 30:2–5

Psalms 33:18–22

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 12:2

Isaiah 25:8–9

Isaiah 40:28–31

Jeremiah 17:7–8

Invite students to share phrases they found that were meaningful to them. You may want to have them write these phrases on the board next to the “Gaining hope” arrow. Ask them why the phrases were meaningful. You may also want to encourage students to mark phrases that others share.

Reflect on the hope and peace the Savior offers

To help students reflect on the hope and peace that comes through the Savior, invite students to do one or two of the following activities as a class. You can select those you feel would be most useful or helpful to students. Or you can summarize the choices and allow the students to choose, as a class, which activities they want to do. You can also invite students to come up with their own ideas and try them.

1. Study “The Living Christ,” written by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, looking for phrases that testify of the peace and hope the Savior offers. Students could share what they found and why it is meaningful to them.

2. Select hymns or other songs that teach of the peace and hope the Savior offers. Sing one of them. Then share phrases from that hymn that are meaningful to you. Some examples are “Where Can I Turn for Peace,” Hymns, no. 129; “My Redeemer Lives,” Hymns, no. 135; and “I Feel My Savior’s Love,” Children’s Songbook, 74.

3. Read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson or watch “The Peace and Hope of Easter, President Russell M. Nelson Palm Sunday Invitation” from time code 3:50 to 5:11. Share how attending church or listening to general conference helps us reflect on the peace and hope the Savior offers.

This Easter, I encourage you to focus on the Savior. If you are looking for a place to worship, please join with us. On [or near] Easter Sunday, the worldwide general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be filled with Christ-centered messages and music. We will gather [in person and] virtually to worship our Redeemer. Please join with us. Invite your friends!

Jesus Christ lives! As our resurrected and atoning Savior, He stands ready to help us grow from the dramatic, unexpected events in our lives. At this Easter season, let us worship and praise Him for the peace, hope, light, and truth He brings to us. (“The Peace and Hope of Easter, President Russell M. Nelson Palm Sunday Invitation,” video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• Share experiences of when you or someone you know has felt hope and peace through the Savior Jesus Christ.

After students have completed one or two of these activities, you might share one of the following videos to help them feel the peace and hope the Savior offers:

“The Prince of Peace” (2:32)

“Because He Lives” (2:28)

Conclusion

Refer back to the graphic on the board. Explain that while we all may be tempted at times to lose hope, we can choose to seek hope and peace through the Savior.

In your scripture journal write why you need the hope and peace of the Savior in your life. Then write some things you would like to do to focus on the Savior and His hope and peace. These could include remembering scriptures or phrases from “The Living Christ” that you studied today.

Consider giving students an opportunity to share their thoughts and testimony of the Savior and the hope and peace He offers.

Additional Resources

How can having hope in Jesus Christ bless us?

President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

I speak of hope in Christ not as wishful thinking. Instead, I speak of hope as an expectation that will be realized. Such hope is essential to overcoming adversity, fostering spiritual resilience and strength, and coming to know that we are loved by our Eternal Father and that we are His children, who belong to His family. (“Hope in Christ,” Liahona, May 2021, 54, time codes 5:33 to 6:08)

Supplemental Learning Activities

A Book of Mormon prophet testifies of the hope that comes through Jesus Christ.

If it would be useful to study a Book of Mormon scripture to bear additional testimony of the bolded truth in this lesson, consider the following: In Moroni 7, Moroni quotes the teaching of his father, Mormon. Invite students to read Moroni 7:40–41 and summarize what Mormon taught and how it can be helpful to them. Students can also read Moroni 7:42–44 to see how hope in Jesus Christ is related to faith and charity.

Additional activities for the end of the lesson:

If useful, the following activities could be offered at the end of the lesson:

• Invite students to make a card or poster of a scriptural phrase that brings them hope in Jesus Christ. They can place it somewhere they will see it often. Alternatively, they could set a verse as the wallpaper on their phone.

• Write a letter or text to someone you know to increase their hope in the Savior. You might include a favorite scripture or quote from the lesson, a testimony, or anything else the Holy Ghost prompts you to share.

Prophets ancient and modern testify of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

If it would be useful for students to study how Old Testament prophets prophesied of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how these prophecies were fulfilled, consider writing the word prophecy on the board. Ask students questions like the following:

• What is prophecy?

• What are examples of events or truths that are important enough for the Lord to prophesy of them to us through His prophets?

Students may have done the activity in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2026 under the title, “Prophets ancient and modern testify of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.” Consider writing that title, which is also a truth, on the board as well as the chart with scripture verses. If students did this activity at home, invite them to review a few passages to remember what they learned. If not, invite them to read a few passages looking for what they learn about the Savior. If useful, you can assign the various verses to different students or groups of students.

After students share what stood out to them, consider showing them a modern-day prophet’s testimony about Jesus Christ. Various videos are available on the Easter page at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The following are some examples:

“Because of Jesus Christ We Can Navigate Life’s Challenges,” (President Russell M. Nelson)

“Finding Strength in Jesus Christ,” (President Dallin H. Oaks)

Or you could invite students to study “The Living Christ,” written by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Invite students to record their own testimony of the Savior. They can include their thoughts and feelings about the Savior’s Atonement and l. They can also include scripture references that testify of the same truths. Students can then share their thoughts and testimony with the class or in a small group.