Lesson 7 Teacher Material

The Strengthening Power of Jesus Christ

The Book of Mormon expands our understanding of the breadth and depth of the Savior’s Atonement. From it we learn that Jesus Christ not only provides us with the opportunity to be cleansed from sin, but He can also comfort and help us through our infirmities and weaknesses. During this lesson, students will have the opportunity to explain and testify of this doctrine. Students will also be given an opportunity to identify what they can do to further invite the Lord’s grace into their lives.

Suggestions for Teaching

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Begin with the students in mind. Students come to class with prior experience, knowledge, and questions. We can allow the learners’ current understanding to be the starting point as we guide them through the learning process. Throughout this course as you start class or begin to talk about certain subjects, consider how you might discover what questions and insights students hope to discuss, and then adjust your plans as the Spirit directs.

Alma the Younger teaches the people in Gideon that the Lord will succor His people.

Consider displaying images like the following and asking, “What struggles, pains, or afflictions might we experience that are not the result of sinful choices?” (List student responses on the board.)

woman crying

young man lying in hospital bed

young woman looking sad

man in wheelchair

Give students a minute to ponder (and maybe write) some of the challenges that have caused pain or suffering for them or for those they love.

Remind students that when Alma the Younger ministered to the faithful people in Gideon, he taught them how the Savior’s suffering can also help us with pains and afflictions not caused by sin. Invite students to review Alma 7:11–12 and look for any phrases that stand out to them. Invite them to explain the meaning of what they found and why it’s significant to them.

To help deepen students’ understanding of the Savior knowing how to succor His people, you might share the following statement from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

[Succor] is used often in the scriptures to describe Christ’s care for and attention to us. It means literally “to run to.” What a magnificent way to describe the Savior’s urgent effort in our behalf. Even as he calls us to come to him and follow him, he is unfailingly running to help us. (“Come unto Me” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Mar. 2, 1997], 9, speeches.byu.edu)

After discussing the teachings from Alma 7:11–12, help students identify a principle similar to the following: The Savior took upon Himself our pains, sicknesses, and temptations so He could succor us as we face the challenges of mortality.

• Why is it important to understand this aspect of the doctrine of the Savior’s Atonement?

• What does this truth teach you about the nature and character of Jesus Christ?

• How can having faith in this truth help you or your loved ones during personal challenges?

As a class or in small groups, read Elder Bednar’s statement from section 1 of the class preparation material, and discuss the following question from the preparation material:

• When have you felt the Savior reach out to, comfort, or strengthen you as you have experienced challenges in your life?

The Lord teaches Moroni about the power of His grace.

Show the accompanying picture, and invite a student to explain how Moroni felt about his ability to write holy scripture. (If needed, review Ether 12:23–25 with students.)

Moroni Hides the Plates in the Hill Cumorah, by Tom Lovell

You might invite students to take a minute to write about or ponder a few of their inadequacies and weaknesses.

Read Ether 12:27 together, and invite students to look for principles that can help us approach our weaknesses in the Lord’s way. Students may identify truths similar to the following: As we come unto the Lord, He helps us recognize our weakness. Recognizing our weakness can help us to be humble. When we humble ourselves and have faith in the Savior, His grace can make our weaknesses into strengths. Display the truths students identify so they can reference them in the following activity.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Help students know and understand principles and doctrine. After students identify principles and doctrine from the scriptures and words of prophets, help them understand the meanings and nuances of these truths and how these truths can affect their lives. This knowledge and understanding can come as students explain a statement of doctrine or a principle and share examples and experiences that relate to it. Pray for help to ask questions that open students’ minds and hearts to the relevance and importance of the principles they identify.

Invite students to explain, as a class or in small groups, what these principles mean to them.

To help students think and feel more deeply about these principles, you might display some of the following questions and have students choose which ones to discuss together. There will probably not be time to discuss all of them.

• In what ways can a weakness be a blessing to someone? (If desired, reference Sister Michelle D. Craig’s statement in section 2 of the preparation material.)

• How would you explain the Lord’s grace to someone who felt they were incapable of abandoning a sin or habit?

• What have you learned about the Savior by going through the process of humbling yourself and relying on His grace in your life?

• What can we do to invite the Lord’s grace more fully into our lives? (Consider reviewing 2 Nephi 25:23, 29 and the statements by Church leaders in section 3 of the preparation material.)

Testify (or invite a student to testify) of the Savior’s Atonement, especially His power to help us overcome affliction, sorrow, weakness, and inadequacy.

Give students time to ponder or record personal impressions they felt during the lesson today. You could invite them to consider the following questions: What do you think the Lord would have you do to gain greater access to His grace? What could you do to approach a current weakness you face with greater humility and faith in Christ?

For Next Time

Ask students to consider what questions they have about the spirit world, Resurrection, or Final Judgment. As they prepare for the next class, invite them to think about what they are doing to prepare for life after death.