“Lesson 97: Alma 40,” Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual (2012)
“Lesson 97,” Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 97
Alma 40
Introduction
As Alma warned his son Corianton about the consequences of sin, he also taught about life after death. He explained that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind will be resurrected. He taught about the spirit world, where the dead, depending on their choices in mortality, wait in either paradise or prison until the resurrection.
Note: In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to teach one another. Before class, prepare handouts containing the accompanying instructions for companionships. Become familiar with each set of instructions so you can help students as they prepare to teach.
Suggestions for Teaching
Alma 40
Alma teaches Corianton about the spirit world and the resurrection
Write the following questions on the board before class:
Invite students to imagine that they are missionaries and that they have an appointment to meet with someone who is seeking answers to the questions written on the board. Explain that Alma 40 is a continuation of Alma’s teachings to his son Corianton and contains answers to those questions.
Invite students to read Alma 40:1 silently. Ask students to identify why Alma discussed resurrection with his son.
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Why did Alma teach Corianton about resurrection?
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As you recall Corianton’s choices, why might he have been worried about resurrection?
Divide the class into pairs. Assign each pair a number: 1, 2, or 3. Invite each pair to work as if they were a missionary companionship, preparing to teach a brief lesson to answer the questions on the board that correspond to their assigned number. To help them prepare, give them a copy of the instructions corresponding to their number (see below). As students work, you may want to walk around the room so you can listen and help as needed.
Companionship 1—Alma 40:1–5
Questions: What makes it possible for us to live after we die? Who will be resurrected?
Prepare to use Alma 40:1–5 to answer these questions. As you prepare, decide which parts of the lesson each companion will teach. Be ready to do the following:
Give some background for the passage you were assigned. (When you teach from the scriptures, explain who is speaking, who is being spoken to, and any other circumstances that might help learners understand the passage.)
Read the verses that answer the questions. Explain how the truths in these verses help answer the questions. As you do so, make sure everyone understands that because of Jesus Christ, all mankind will be resurrected. You might also suggest that those you teach write this truth in their scriptures next to Alma 40:1–5.
Share why the promise of resurrection is important to you. You might also ask those you teach why they appreciate the promise of resurrection.
Testify of the truths you have taught.
Companionship 2—Alma 40:6–14
Questions: Where will we go when we die? What is it like there?
Prepare to use Alma 40:6–7, 11–14 to answer these questions. As you prepare, decide which parts of the lesson each companion will teach. Be ready to do the following:
Give some background for the passage you were assigned. (When you teach from the scriptures, explain who is speaking, who is being spoken to, and any other circumstances that might help learners understand the passage.)
Read the verses that answer the questions. Explain how the truths in these verses help answer the questions. (It may be helpful to point out that when Alma used the phrase “outer darkness,” he did not refer to the final state of Satan and those who are damned. He referred to the state of the wicked between the time of their death and the time of their resurrection. Today we usually refer to this state as spirit prison.) As you read these verses, make sure everyone understands that between death and resurrection, the spirits of the righteous dwell in paradise and the spirits of the wicked dwell in prison. You might suggest that those you teach write this truth in their scriptures next to Alma 40:11–14.
Share how your understanding of this truth influences the choices you make in this life. You might also ask those you teach how their understanding of life after death has helped them.
Testify of the truths you have taught.
Companionship 3—Alma 40:21–26
Questions: What is resurrection? How will our resurrected bodies be different from our mortal bodies? What will we do after we are resurrected?
Prepare to use Alma 40:21–26 to answer these questions. As you prepare, decide which parts of the lesson each companion will teach. Be ready to do the following:
Give some background for the passage you were assigned. (When you teach from the scriptures, explain who is speaking, who is being spoken to, and any other circumstances that might help learners understand the passage.)
Read the verses that answer the questions. Explain how the truths in these verses help answer the questions. (As you prepare to teach, it may be helpful to understand that the word soul in these verses refers to a person’s spirit.) Make sure everyone understands that resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit and the body, with all things restored to their proper and perfect frame. You may want to suggest that those you teach write this truth in their scriptures next to Alma 40:21–23.
Share why you are grateful to know that your body and spirit will one day be restored to their proper and perfect frame. You might also describe how your choices are affected by your knowledge that you will one day stand before God and be judged. Ask those you teach to share their feelings about the doctrines of resurrection and final judgment.
Testify of the truths you have taught.
After students have prepared to answer their assigned questions, organize them into small groups so they can teach each other in a missionary role-play. Each group should consist of three companionships, with each companionship having prepared answers to a different set of questions. (If the class is small, have each group teach the entire class.) Encourage students to be themselves as they teach and as they learn from others during the role-play. Assure them that the Holy Ghost can inspire them and those they teach if they are sincere in their instruction and responses. Listen as they teach each other, and offer insights as you feel prompted.
After students have had time to teach each other in groups, consider asking the class some of the following questions:
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What did you learn as you prepared to answer your assigned questions? What did you learn as you were taught by other companionships?
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Knowing that Corianton had struggled to obey the law of chastity, how do you think understanding the nature of life after death might have helped him resist future temptations?
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Why do the truths we have discussed today matter to you?
Invite students to read Alma 40:25–26 silently, looking for the differences between the final state of the righteous and the final state of the wicked. After they describe what they have found, ask them to share how this passage influences their commitment to live the gospel. You may want to share your answer to the same question. Testify of Jesus Christ’s role in making available the blessings of the resurrection.