Lesson 15 Teacher Material

Preparing for the Coming of Jesus Christ

In this unit students will study important events and teachings connected with Jesus Christ’s ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites. As you prepare to discuss the material in this unit, look for ways to help students deepen their testimony of His divine mission.

In this lesson students will have an opportunity to study how the Book of Mormon provides a pattern for preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming. They will consider what they can do to overcome feelings of fear and counter messages that may cause doubt so they can feel better prepared for His return.

Suggestions for Teaching

Samuel the Lamanite prophesies of signs that will precede the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Second Coming, by Harry Anderson

Display the accompanying image of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and ask:

• What prophesied signs or conditions associated with the last days and the Second Coming might cause people to feel worried? (If students struggle to identify signs of the times, you may want to invite them to briefly review the “Signs of the Times” entry in the Guide to the Scriptures [see scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org].)

• What can we learn from the fact that the Lord reveals signs before He comes to His people?

• How can the Book of Mormon help us to feel less anxious, better prepared, and more joyful about the Lord’s return to the earth? (You may want to review President Benson’s statement in the introduction of the preparation material.)

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Give students opportunities to strengthen each other. We meet together as disciples of Jesus Christ not only to learn for ourselves but to help and strengthen each other (see Moroni 6:4–5). During class, look for ways to create opportunities for students to have peer-to-peer conversations. A great time for these conversations might be when students are invited to talk with a partner or form a small discussion group. During class discussions, be careful not to dominate the conversation. For example, before you respond to a student’s question or concern, consider inviting his or her peers to respond first. Instead of sharing your favorite personal experiences, encourage students to share their experiences. Don’t just look for opportunities to bear your testimony, but provide students with opportunities to bear their testimonies as well.

Display the following question: According to Helaman 14:9–13, why did Samuel come to preach and prophesy to the Nephites?

Consider inviting students to work in pairs to study the assigned passage and discuss how they would answer the question. Invite a few students to share what they learned. Based on students’ comments, consider which of the following questions you might ask to help students prepare to apply what they are learning:

• How can knowing and believing the signs and wonders of Christ’s coming change our lives? (Give students time to discuss this question with each other, and then invite them to share their insights with the rest of the class. Help students identify a principle similar to the following: Knowing and recognizing the signs of Christ’s coming can help lead us to believe in Him and repent of our sins.)

• Why should the signs and wonders connected to the Lord’s Second Coming increase our hope and not increase our fears? In what ways do the signs and wonders associated with the Second Coming show God’s love and concern for His children?

• What prophetic teaching or sign of the Second Coming has inspired you to better prepare for the Lord’s return? (To help students see how God’s love is being shown in our day, you could invite them to share or look up what living prophets and apostles have recently taught about preparing for the Lord’s return.)

Display the following statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

First, and crucial for the Lord’s return, is the presence on the earth of a people prepared to receive Him at His coming. (“Preparing for the Lord’s Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 82)

Provide students with a few minutes to ponder and record their thoughts about the following question:

• What do you need to start doing or stop doing so you can feel better prepared to receive Jesus Christ at His coming?

The faith of believers is tested as they steadfastly wait for prophesied signs to be fulfilled.

Consider dividing the class into small discussion groups. Invite each group to review Helaman 16:13–22 and 3 Nephi 1:4–15, 22 together, looking for how Satan stirred up doubt in the Savior’s birth and how the faithful responded. After sufficient time, invite a person from each group to share what he or she discovered. As students share their insights, consider asking some or all of the following questions to help deepen your class discussion:

• How are these same tactics of spreading doubt used in our day?

• What did some Nephites and Lamanites do to remain faithful when they were confronted with doubt and opposition from unbelievers? (You might display a principle like the following: Relying on the Lord and watching steadfastly for His coming can help us respond with faith to skepticism and doubt.)

• What can we do to ensure we remain firm and steadfast as we look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? (Consider reviewing the statements by President Bonnie L. Oscarson and Elder D. Todd Christofferson in section 2 of the preparation material.)

• How has relying on the Lord helped you when facing skeptics and messages that might cause doubt? How can we help each other remain steadfast as we prepare for the Lord’s return?

Invite students to quietly reflect on what they have learned and felt about Jesus Christ and the Second Coming as they prepared for and participated in this class. Then give students time to share their testimonies of the Lord and the hope they have knowing that He will return.

For Next Time

Explain that during the next class, students will have the opportunity to consider what it would be like to be in the presence of the Savior and to interact with Him. As students study the class preparation material, invite them to look for what they can learn about the nature and character of Jesus Christ from His ministry among those in the Americas.