Alma 5–7

Overview

Alma asked the Church members in Zarahemla a series of questions that encouraged them to reflect on the focus of their hearts and their standing before God. He invited them to come unto Christ using tender imagery such as “[His] arms of mercy are extended” (Alma 5:33), “repent, and I will receive you” (Alma 5:33), and “the good shepherd doth call you” (Alma 5:38). He taught that the Savior willingly suffered all things for us “that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). He also taught how to continue on “the path which leads to the kingdom of God” (Alma 7:19).

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Alma 5:1–32

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students evaluate their spiritual progress and strengthen their conversion to Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to scan through Alma 5 and mark all the question marks in the chapter. Students could also ask themselves some of the questions Alma asked his people in this chapter.
Video: “Return and Receive” (16:10; watch from time code 8:14 to 8:58)
Videoconference teaching suggestion: A main purpose of this lesson is to allow students to read and reflect on a number of questions about Alma 5. One way to do this is to give students time during class to turn off their microphones and cameras, study, reflect, and write their responses to the questions in their study journals. It can be helpful to let them know when they have two minutes of this time left and then when they have 30 seconds left.

Alma 5:33–62

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students in their efforts to come unto Jesus Christ and receive the blessings He offers them.

Student preparation: Invite students to study Alma 5:33–34 and come to class prepared to share what they learned about the Savior from these verses.
Images: A few images that would be interesting for students to look at; a few images of Jesus Christ with His arms outstretched
Video: “Hearts Knit Together” (15:10; watch from time code 13:56 to 14:51)

Alma 7:1–13

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students rely on and feel greater love for their Savior.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to study Alma 7:11–13 and to look in these verses for what Jesus Christ suffered through His Atonement and why He suffered these things.
Content to display: The chart about the Savior’s suffering, either displayed or copied on the board so that students can copy it in their journals
Video: “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (15:54; watch from time code 3:13 to 4:01)
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using a digital whiteboard or a shared document to allow students to fill in the chart together.

Doctrinal Mastery: Alma 7:11–13

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for Alma 7:11–13, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to real-life situations.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to prayerfully ponder what they can do to receive the help and strength Jesus Christ provides through His Atonement.
Videoconference teaching suggestion: To help students memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase, consider inviting them to type in the chat as much of the reference and phrase as they can from memory. Then review the reference and phrase a few times, and invite the students to type the reference and phrase into the chat again to see how much more they remember. Continue this until most of the students can recite the reference and phrase correctly from memory.

Alma 7:14–27

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students in their efforts to acquire Christlike attributes as they follow the path that leads back to God.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about Christlike attributes they would like to develop more fully and to come prepared to share why.
Content to display: Instructions for the Christlike attribute activity at the end of the lesson
Images: A path; a representation of the path that leads to the kingdom of God; various pictures of Jesus Christ
Video: “Daily Restoration” (13:43; watch from 1:40 to 3:25)
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using the whiteboard feature on your videoconferencing software. Place the image of the path on it, and invite students to write actions, attributes, and behaviors around the image during the lesson, as instructed.