Lesson 8

How can faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement help me?

The purpose of this lesson is to help you build resilience and spiritual strength by learning to rely on Jesus Christ and His Atonement at all times.

Resources

Following is a list of resources that you can use to study this topic.

• Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18–21

• David A. Bednar, “Strength beyond Our Own,” New Era, Mar. 2015, 2–5

• Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 107–10

• Linda K. Burton, “Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 111–15

• Dallin H. Oaks, “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 61–64

• Matthew 11:28–30—The Savior will give rest to our souls

• John 14:18—Jesus Christ will comfort us

• Alma 7:11–12—Christ suffered for our pains and sicknesses

• Doctrine and Covenants 84:88—Angels will bear us up

Videos:

• “Lifting Burdens,” Mormon Messages, LDS.org

• “A Secure Anchor,” LDS.org

Learning outline

Take a minute to think of some of the challenges you have experienced in your life. Then read the following statement from Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love” (“Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17).

The Lord wants you to learn how to use the adversity in your life to grow stronger and receive joy. One of the blessings we can receive from our challenges is learning to rely more on the Savior—we can come to know Him, trust Him, understand His teachings, feel His Spirit in our hearts, and follow Him throughout our lives.

Read the following statement from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges ‘according to the flesh’ so He could know ‘according to the flesh’ how to ‘succor [which means to give relief or aid to] his people according to their infirmities.’ He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement. And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us—to give us the strength to bear it all” (“Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 61).

Principle 1: Turning to the Savior as you face trials will bring comfort and peace to your soul.

On the eve of His Crucifixion, the Savior made this promise to His Apostles: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18). Christ promised us that in Him we might have peace. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

You have likely experienced trials and challenges as a result of your military service or the service of a family member. How have you felt comfort and peace amid these challenges? Share an experience when you have turned to the Lord to help you through your difficulties.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“[God] made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds … can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead” (“Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18).

Elder Andersen also taught that if we learn to rely on our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we will have “safety in the whirlwind” (“Spiritual Whirlwinds,” 19).

How have you prepared for whirlwinds that might enter your life? How can you help your family members prepare for adversity?

Even when we have done our best to prepare and to put our trust in the Lord, we may still struggle to endure our challenges well. But we can have hope that the Savior, through His Atonement, will give us strength beyond our natural capacity.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us.

“There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, ‘No one understands. No one knows.’ No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. He can reach out, touch, succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our own power” (“Strength beyond Our Own,” New Era, Mar. 2015, 5).

Sister Linda K. Burton taught:

“Perhaps if we regularly remind ourselves that our loving Heavenly Father is just that, a loving Heavenly Father, we can view our mortal challenges as an opportunity to draw near to Him and for Him to draw near to us” (“Two Great Commandments” [address given at BYU Women’s Conference, Apr. 29, 2016]).

When we turn to the Lord completely, we receive of His rest (see Matthew 11:28–30). His help and His strength can make our burdens light.

How have you recognized the strength of the Lord operating in your life? What can you do to access the power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement during your challenges?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Our Savior’s Atonement does more than assure us of immortality by a universal resurrection and give us the opportunity to be cleansed from sin by repentance and baptism. His Atonement also provides the opportunity to call upon Him who has experienced all of our mortal infirmities to give us the strength to bear the burdens of mortality. He knows of our anguish, and He is there for us” (“Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 64).

How has the Savior been there for you during your trials? What blessings did you receive?

“We all receive tender mercies from the Lord and have received help from angels. The key is to recognize [these blessings] and to appreciate them. I know that I have received many tender mercies from the Lord. They have strengthened me and have helped me to be more resilient through my trials and the times when Tom is away from us.”

—Andrea Helms, wife of Thomas S. Helms, U.S. Army

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Whatever our current direction or distance to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can choose to turn toward Them and draw closer to Them. They will help us” (“That I Might Draw All Men unto Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 41).

What can you do to draw closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior?

Principle 2: God is mindful of the challenges we are facing, and often He answers our plea for help by inspiring others to reach out to us in our hour of need.

The Lord can give us comfort in a variety of ways—sometimes through the Holy Ghost, sometimes through others who reach out to us in our time of need. Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 and the following statement from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“When we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day” (“The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 30).

Who are the people who can help you through difficult times? How have you received answers to prayers through the actions and service of others?

As we draw nearer to God, we begin to recognize His tender mercies through the acts of kindness we receive from others. Read Doctrine and Covenants 81:5, and then read the following statement from President Spencer W. Kimball:

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

When has God met your needs through other people?

How has the service of others helped you to draw nearer to God?

Elder Holland also reminds us that insofar as we pray for help, we should “try to be a little more angelic ourselves—with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith” (“The Ministry of Angels,” 31). How has God inspired you to reach out to other military families as they struggle with challenges? How has your service given you comfort?

Principle 3: You can have faith that your Heavenly Father and the Savior love you, even though you experience adversity.

Watch the first six minutes of Elder Holland’s talk “Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet” from the April 2015 general conference. What does the story of the two brothers teach you about the Savior’s love for you? How have you seen that love in your life?

The greatest manifestation of Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency said:

“I marvel to think that the Son of God would condescend to save us, as imperfect, impure, mistake-prone, and ungrateful as we often are. I have tried to understand the Savior’s Atonement with my finite mind, and the only explanation I can come up with is this: God loves us deeply, perfectly, and everlastingly. I cannot even begin to estimate ‘the breadth, and length, and depth, and height … [of] the love of Christ’ [Ephesians 3:18–19]” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 107).

How can gratitude for the Savior’s sacrifice change your attitude about your challenges? What can you do to show your gratitude and love for the Savior?

President Henry B. Eyring taught the following about how to endure severe trials:

“Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith” (“Walk in the Light,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 125).

Think of the ways you have shown faith during your trials, and think of ways you can build your faith in the Savior’s love for you. Then watch the video “Lifting Burdens.”

How can you rely more on Jesus Christ and His Atonement in your everyday life?

President Thomas S. Monson has promised that we will never be alone:

“As we seek our Heavenly Father through fervent, sincere prayer and earnest, dedicated scripture study, our testimonies will become strong and deeply rooted. We will know of God’s love for us. We will understand that we do not ever walk alone. I promise you that you will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you. …

“I leave with you my blessing. I leave with you my gratitude for all the good you do and for the lives you lead” (“We Never Walk Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 124).

Decide to act

What do you learn about the Atonement from studying the scripture passages in the Topical Guide under “Jesus Christ, Atonement through”?

What friends or family members do you know who are experiencing a difficult trial in their life, and what can you do to reach out to them?

Share your testimony of the Savior and how He has lifted your burdens and given you strength to weather the storms of life. What impressions came to you as you shared your testimony?

When facing trials, what can you do that will enable you to “act for [yourself] and not to be acted upon”? (see 2 Nephi 2:26).

End of the week

What did you learn from this experience?

Summary of Key Points from Lesson 8

1. The Savior will not leave you alone during your trials. He will comfort and guide you.

2. You can receive strength beyond your natural capacity through Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

3. Remember that trials do not mean that Heavenly Father has forgotten you. The Father and the Savior love you with a perfect love.

Notes