Mosiah 3:1–17

Salvation through Jesus Christ

Throughout history, angels have visited the earth to testify of Jesus Christ and declare “glad tidings of great joy” (Mosiah 3:3; Alma 13:22; Helaman 16:14). King Benjamin received such a visit. He shared with his people the angel’s testimony of Jesus Christ, the things the Savior would experience, and the truth that salvation comes only through the name of Christ. This lesson can help you understand the importance of what Jesus Christ did so that you can be saved.

Helping students learn to ponder. “To ponder” means to meditate or think deeply about something, and it often includes prayer. As students learn to ponder during their personal scripture study, the Spirit will reveal truth to them and help them know how they can become more like Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: You could invite students to discuss with a family member, friend, or Church leader blessings that are possible only because of Jesus Christ.

Possible Learning Activity

Glad tidings of great joy

Consider displaying an image of angels announcing the Savior’s birth.

• Can you think of times when angels came to earth to testify of Jesus Christ?

One example is in Luke 2:10–12. Read these verses or watch the video “Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Christ” from time code 0:00 to 1:47, looking for what the angel said to announce the Savior’s birth. This video is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

An angel also appeared to King Benjamin. Read Mosiah 3:3–4, looking for the similarities between what the angel told the shepherds and what the angel told King Benjamin.

• What do you know about Jesus Christ that would be considered “glad tidings of great joy”?

In his discourse to his people included in Mosiah 3:1–17, King Benjamin shared some of the angel’s message. This message addressed the life and mission of Jesus Christ, how they could receive joy, and what Jesus offers that no one else can.

The only name by which salvation comes

Read Mosiah 3:17, looking for what Jesus Christ offers.

• What truth can you identify from verse 17?

Students may identify a variety of truths—for example, salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. Thank students for sharing truths they found, and consider writing one or more on the board.

• What impressions did you have as you studied these verses?

• What are some phrases in these verses that stand out to you?

• What did you find that causes you to rejoice?

Read the following statement from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles looking for what Jesus Christ saves us from:

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the incalculable gift of His Atonement, not only saves us from death and offers us, through repentance, forgiveness for our sins, but He also stands ready to save us from the sorrows and pains of our wounded souls. (Neil L. Andersen, “Wounded,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 85)

The following questions are intended to help students feel their need for the Savior. Invite students to silently ponder their answers. Seek guidance from the Spirit to know other ways you can help students sense their individual need for Jesus Christ.

Think about what you need to be saved from. Are there sins you are striving to overcome? Are there sorrows or pains you are experiencing? As you study Mosiah 3, seek inspiration through the Holy Ghost to help you know how you can receive the salvation Jesus Christ offers.

Read Mosiah 3:5–10, looking for what Jesus Christ did so that you can be saved. Take time to read slowly and to ponder. Pondering is one way to invite the Holy Ghost to teach you. You may want to write down ideas and thoughts in your scriptures or study journal.

Ensure that students have sufficient time to read and ponder the scriptures. As some students finish reading before others, consider inviting them to reread certain verses, look up footnotes, or take more time to ponder.

After sufficient time, encourage students to share what impressed them from their study. Consider using some or all of the following questions. You could also invite students to ask questions about the verses.

You may want to watch the video “Jesus Christ Suffered for Us,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, looking for how various individuals were blessed through the Savior’s Atonement.

Invite students to share any thoughts or feelings they had if they watched the video. Consider sharing a personal experience or testimony of the Savior and the salvation He offers. Invite willing students to share experiences and testimonies as well.

Read Mosiah 3:11–13, looking for what you need to do to receive joy and salvation through Jesus Christ. Read slowly and ponder these verses. The following questions can help you ponder.

Use some of the questions below, or other questions you feel inspired to ask, to help students discuss the joy that can come through repentance. You could also share Elder Dale G. Renlund’s statement about joy and repentance in the “Commentary and Background Information” section.

Students may benefit from identifying the following principle: If we exercise faith in Jesus Christ and repent, we can be saved from our sins and rejoice with exceedingly great joy.

• What have you learned or felt about Jesus Christ that motivates you to repent?

• Why do you think the remission of sins brings joy?

Recall what you need to be saved from. Think about what you studied in Mosiah 3 and the impressions you received from the Spirit. Strive to exercise faith, to repent, and to believe in Christ so that you can receive the Savior’s help and the joy that comes from being forgiven.

Commentary and Background Information

Mosiah 3:7. How much did Jesus Christ suffer so I could be saved?

Elder James E. Talmage (1862–1933) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. … In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, “the prince of this world” [John 14:30] could inflict. …

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world. (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 613)

Mosiah 3:8. Why was Jesus born of an immortal father and a mortal mother?

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Why could Jesus Christ, and only He, atone for the sins of the world?. …

Only Jesus Christ could make the atoning sacrifice—being born of a mortal mother, Mary, and having received the power of life from His Father (see John 5:26 ). Because of this power of life, He overcame death, the grave’s power was nullified, and He became our Savior and Mediator and the Master of the Resurrection—the means whereby salvation and immortality are given to us all. We will all be resurrected and become immortal because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Robert D. Hales, “The Savior’s Atonement: Foundation of True Christianity,” Ensign, April 2017, 23)

What is the Savior’s role in repentance, and what is my role?

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us. It is not by our sincere and honest change of behavior alone that we are saved, but “by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). True repentance, however, is the condition required so that God’s forgiveness can come into our lives. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 100)

How can I experience joy through repentance?

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

I invite you to feel more joy in your life: joy in the knowledge that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real; joy in the Savior’s ability, willingness, and desire to forgive; and joy in choosing to repent. Let us follow the instruction to “with joy … draw water out of the wells of salvation” [Isaiah 12:3]. May we choose to repent, forsake our sins, and turn our hearts and wills around to follow our Savior. (Dale G. Renlund, “Repentance: A Joyful Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 124)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Book of Mormon video

Consider showing the video “King Benjamin Delivers an Angel’s Prophecy of Jesus Christ” from time code 0:00 to 3:28.

The suffering of Jesus Christ

Students could read the following scripture passages to better understand the suffering of Jesus Christ: Matthew 26:38–39; Luke 22:42–44; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19.

Planning to sin now and repent later

To help students see the danger of deliberately sinning with a plan to repent later, consider using this activity.

Read Mosiah 3:12 and discuss what it means to rebel against God. You could share the following statement from Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Those who deliberately choose wickedness, who consciously procrastinate repentance, or who in any premeditated or knowing way break the commandments, planning for easy repentance, will be judged by God and a ‘bright recollection of all [their] guilt’ [Alma 11:43]. We cannot knowingly sin on Saturday, then expect automatic forgiveness by partaking of the sacrament on Sunday” (“Happy and Forever,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 84).

Discuss how deliberate sin mocks the Savior’s Atonement and how sincere repentance shows that we appreciate what the Savior has done for us. You could reference Mosiah 3:7 during this discussion.

The salvation of little children

If students would benefit from understanding how little children are saved through the Savior’s Atonement, this activity may help.

Read Mosiah 3:16–18, looking for what King Benjamin taught about little children and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Students could also read and discuss Moroni 8:8–12 and Doctrine and Covenants 137:10. Invite students to share what the salvation of little children teaches about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.