Lesson 16 Teacher Material

Obtaining Happiness in Family Life through Jesus Christ

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). In this lesson, students will explore how they can build the foundation of their personal and family life on Jesus Christ and His teachings. They will be invited to identify obstacles that might prevent them from doing so and ways to overcome them.

Suggestions for Teaching

Building our personal and family life on the foundation of Jesus Christ protects and strengthens us.

Consider displaying the accompanying picture of the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. Remind students of the purpose of a building’s foundation (see section 1 of the preparation material).

Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple

Read together the following statement by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, in which he described the engineering efforts made to create a strong foundation for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

This structure will be … subject to destructive winds and invasive groundwater. These harsh conditions, if left unchecked, could significantly damage and even destroy this noble edifice.

Knowing that these forces would relentlessly attack the temple, the engineers designed, and the contractor excavated, a hole 32 feet (10 m) deep under the entire footprint of the structure. The hole was dug into native Pennsylvania granite to provide an immovable foundation upon which to build. The concrete footings and foundations were then tied to the granite bedrock with rock anchors to resist even torrential wind and powerful groundwater. The anchors were drilled 50 to 175 feet (15 to 53 m) into the granite. …

I give such detailed information to teach this point: unlike building a structure (which is temporary), in building our everlasting (and, we hope, eternal) lives, we sometimes pay woefully little attention to the engineering and construction of our foundations. Consequently, we are left highly exposed to, and are easily buffeted by, dangerous forces. (“Jesus Christ: Our Firm Foundation,” Ensign, Apr. 2016, 58)

Invite students to keep the description of this temple’s foundation in mind as you review Helaman 5:12 together.

• What does this verse teach about why individuals and families need to build a spiritual foundation on Jesus Christ? (Help students identify a principle like the following: As individuals and families build their foundation on Jesus Christ, Satan will not have power to destroy them.)

• What are some common “mighty winds, … shafts in the whirlwind, … hail and … mighty storm[s]” that the adversary brings against families in our day?

• What are some ways individuals and families can build their foundation on Jesus Christ? (As part of this discussion, consider inviting students to share what they learned from the statements by Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Hallstrom, as well as the “Record Your Thoughts” activity in section 1 of the preparation material.)

• What experiences have you or your family had where building a foundation on Jesus Christ helped in withstanding or overcoming different types of storms?

Living the teachings of Jesus Christ brings happiness in family life.

Display the following statement from the family proclamation: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Encourage student participation. Look for ways to encourage all students to participate in class. Each student has a unique background, interests, hopes, and challenges that add to his or her insights and questions. Students’ distinct perspectives can bless others in the class in personal ways. Listening carefully as students participate can also help you to assess their needs and concerns.

Invite students to open to the scripture passage they found that contains a teaching of Jesus Christ that has brought them happiness in their personal or family life as they have applied it. (See section 2 of the preparation material. You may need to give students a few minutes to identify a passage.)

Divide the class into small groups. Invite students to share their scripture passages, along with their responses to the following question (you may want to display or write the question on the board):

• How can following this gospel teaching bless an individual, a marriage, or a family?

After sufficient time, consider inviting a few students to share with the class what they learned from their group discussion.

Invite students to review 4 Nephi 1:1, 11–13, 15–18 silently, looking for words or phrases that indicate the teachings of the Savior that these people chose to live. Invite students to share what they find.

• What blessings can a family receive as they strive to live the teachings of the Savior together? Where have you seen examples of these types of blessings?

• What are some of the ways the adversary tries to keep us from receiving these blessings? (If needed, you might invite students to review the examples in section 3 of the preparation material.)

Display the following statement by Elder Bradley D. Foster, who formerly served as a member of the Seventy:

Elder Bradley D. Foster

A distraction doesn’t have to be evil to be effective. (“Mother Told Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 99)

• What are some distractions that may not be inherently evil but can keep us from being firmly founded on Jesus Christ and His teachings? What have you done to reduce or eliminate one or more of these distractions in your life?

• What blessings might people miss out on if their foundation is built on something like cultural tradition, recreation, or money?

Consider ways you can help students meaningfully act on what they have learned in this lesson. For example, you could give students a few minutes to review Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s statement and the “Act” activity in section 3 of the preparation material. Then invite students to write any additional thoughts they would like to related to their goal or plan.

You might conclude by sharing your testimony of the happiness you have experienced in your personal and family life as you have built your foundation on Jesus Christ and His teachings.

For Next Time

Invite students to consider when they have seen a husband and wife work together as equal partners. They might also think of times when they may have witnessed couples not working as equal partners for some reason. Encourage students to study the material for the next lesson with these examples in mind and to determine what kind of partnership they would like to have in their own marriage.