Lesson 28 Teacher Material

Come unto Christ

Prior to concluding his record, the prophet Moroni invited readers to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32). In this lesson students will have the opportunity to explain why it is important to build their lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ and to consider what they can do to more fully come unto Him. They will also have the opportunity to share how their study of the Book of Mormon during this course has helped them to come unto Jesus Christ.

Suggestions for Teaching

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Encourage students to continue participating in institute. In a worldwide devotional for young adults, Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “I love institute. I hope all of you who have the opportunity are not only enrolled, but attending and actively participating in institute. It’s one of the best things we do in the Church” (“Choice and Commitment” [Jan. 12, 2020], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Encourage students to complete the requirements for this course and to continue to participate in institute.

Helaman teaches his sons to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Watch the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (until time code 1:25), or display and read the following statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen. Invite students to consider how Elder Andersen’s teachings relate to their own unique circumstances.

Elder Neil L. Andersen

My young friends, the world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming of the Savior. The scriptures declare that “all things shall be in commotion” [Doctrine and Covenants 88:91]. …

More concerning than the prophesied earthquakes and wars [see Dallin H. Oaks, “Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 7–10] are the spiritual whirlwinds that can uproot you from your spiritual foundations and land your spirit in places you never imagined possible, sometimes with your barely noticing that you have been moved.

The worst whirlwinds are the temptations of the adversary. Sin has always been part of the world, but it has never been so accessible, insatiable, and acceptable. (“Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18)

• What are some spiritual whirlwinds young adults face today? (You may want to list students’ responses on the board.)

• How can you best prepare for the spiritual whirlwinds you will face? (You may want to point out that Elder Andersen asked a similar question in his talk and then quoted Helaman 5:12.)

Read Helaman 5:12 together, and invite students to identify a principle that could help them withstand their spiritual whirlwinds. (Using students’ responses, you might write a principle like the following on the board: If we build our foundation on Jesus Christ, Satan will not have power to destroy us.)

• How might people who have built their lives on worldly values or philosophies be affected by spiritual whirlwinds?

• What makes Jesus Christ the only sure foundation on which to build our lives? (You may want to invite students to review the statement by Sister Sheri L. Dew in section 1 of the preparation material.)

• What might prevent us from building or maintaining our foundation on Jesus Christ? How can we overcome these challenges?

Invite students to share some specific actions they have taken to build their lives on Jesus Christ. (You may want to list their answers on the board.) After students have shared their experiences, give them time to record an action they could take to more fully build their life on the Lord.

Moroni concludes the Book of Mormon by inviting all to come unto Jesus Christ.

Consider showing the video “Come unto Christ” (3:54), in which Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares how some people in Bolivia were changed as they came unto Jesus Christ. Alternatively, you might share a different experience about how someone’s life changed as he or she chose to come unto Christ. Invite students to discuss what they can learn from the experience.

Read Moroni 10:32–33 together, and invite students to discuss why this invitation is appropriate for the final chapter of the Book of Mormon. Help students identify from these verses a principle similar to the following: As we come unto Jesus Christ, we can be purified and perfected through His grace.

• How would you explain what it means to “come unto Christ” to someone who is hearing this invitation for the first time? (It may be helpful to ask students to review Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s statement in section 2 of the preparation material.)

• What does it mean to “deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness”? (Moroni 10:32).

• Why do we need the grace of Jesus Christ to become perfect? What can we do to invite the Lord’s enabling power, or grace, into our lives? (Encourage students to review President Tad R. Callister’s statement in section 2 of the preparation material.)

Encourage a few students to share how the Lord’s grace has helped them to come unto Jesus Christ.

Read Moroni’s invitation in Ether 12:41 together, and remind students they were invited to ponder how they have responded to this invitation. Invite students to open section 3 of the preparation material and review the three options under the heading “Record Your Thoughts.” Give students time to review what they wrote, or, if they have not had time to prepare, encourage them to select one of the options and prepare some thoughts to share.

After sufficient time, invite students to share what they have written. (If you have a large class, you may want to divide students into groups so everyone has an opportunity to share.)

As you conclude this lesson and course, consider testifying of how the Book of Mormon has helped you to come unto Christ. Encourage students to continue to come unto Christ by studying the Book of Mormon daily.