“Assess Your Learning 5: Mosiah 18–Alma 16,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Assess Your Learning 5,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Assess Your Learning 5
This lesson is intended to help you evaluate the goals you have set and the growth you have experienced thus far during your study of the Book of Mormon.
Helping students accept and respect one another. Create experiences that allow students to draw strength from one another and from their shared desire to access the Savior’s healing, grace, and peace. As students recognize what they have in common, they become more likely to contribute in empathetic ways.
Student preparation: Students could be invited to find a scripture in Mosiah 18–Alma 16 about the Atonement of Jesus Christ that is meaningful to them.
Possible Learning Activities
This lesson is intended to help students assess goals they have set, their ability to explain teachings in the Book of Mormon, or how their attitudes, desires, and ability to live the gospel are changing. The class’s study of Mosiah 18 through Alma 16 may have emphasized truths other than those in the following activities. If so, the activities could be adapted to include those truths.
Looking back, moving forward
Consider sharing a personal experience of going on a hike or bike ride, seeing your progress, and continuing to your destination. If possible, share pictures of your outing. Students could also be invited to share their own similar experiences.
Think about a time when you went on a hike, bike ride, or journey of some distance. As you look ahead and begin traveling, it might feel like you are making very little progress. What happens when you take a moment to look back at where you’ve been? You will likely notice that you have traveled farther than you realized.
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What is the benefit of knowing where you have been and where you are going?
Our life can be compared to a journey. Reflecting on where you are and where you are going on a journey can be like periodically reflecting on goals you have for your personal development.
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How have you benefited from taking time to evaluate your goals and progress?
This lesson will help you evaluate progress you have made in your journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost as you reflect on your progress.
Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ
This activity is intended to help students reflect on what they have studied so far in the Book of Mormon. It is also designed to help students think of goals they might want to make to direct their study and learning in the rest of the Book of Mormon. You could display or draw a simple image like the one below on the board and share the instructions that follow. Consider adapting the activity as needed to help students have meaningful experiences as they reflect on their learning. Encourage students to identify scripture verses from the Book of Mormon that support their responses.
Draw a pathway that represents the covenant path and your journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Include the celestial kingdom at the end of the path. Draw yourself in the middle of the path.
Review what you have studied in the Book of Mormon and your study journal notes to help you recall what you have learned. Behind the drawing of yourself, write down what you have learned during your study of the first half of the Book of Mormon that has helped you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You could include knowledge you have gained, attitudes or desires you are developing, or actions you have taken.
When students have finished, allow them to share. You might have willing students list some of their responses on the board behind the person on the path. You could then begin a general discussion by having them share whatever they felt was most meaningful. Or you could ask students about knowledge they have gained that they can explain better now, attitudes or desires they feel have adjusted or changed because of what they have learned, or behaviors they are applying to their lives from the Book of Mormon. You could also point to one of the responses written on the board and invite the students to share the specific scripture passages or accounts that inspired their response. You could also ask willing students to select a response on the board that is not their own and share why it impresses them. Encourage students to not share anything too personal or private.
After students have shared, have them think about what additional knowledge they hope to gain as they continue studying the Book of Mormon. You could share the following instructions and have students add to their page in their study journal.
Refer again to the image in your study journal. On the path in front of the figure that represents you, write down actions you would like to take or continue taking as you strive to become like Jesus Christ.
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What else do you hope to learn as you study the next half of the Book of Mormon?
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What do you hope you will know, feel, or do at the end of this year as a result of your study of the second half of the Book of Mormon?
Experiencing a change of heart
This activity can help students reflect on ways they are experiencing a change of heart.
Recently you have read about many individuals who experienced a change of heart. For some, like Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah, the change was immediate and dramatic. For others, like Amulek and the people of Limhi, their change of heart happened over time.
Alma asked the people of Zarahemla, “Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14). And if so, “can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26). Ponder the progress of your own change of heart. Is it sometimes difficult to recognize how the Lord may be helping you to change? In what ways did you see yourself in some of the accounts you studied?
Read Alma 5:14–19, 26–29, and prayerfully ponder Alma’s questions.
You may have recorded your responses to Alma’s questions in your study journal when you first studied those verses. Compare what you wrote then to how you would answer the questions now. What do you notice? What do you think your Father in Heaven would want you to recognize, feel, or do after comparing your responses?
Consider recording your new responses or your feelings about your progress.
Help students understand that sometimes it may be difficult to perceive personal growth. Look for opportunities to help individual students see their growth and progress. If you notice ways a certain student has experienced a change of heart, share that with him or her.
Explaining the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ
The following activity can help students practice explaining the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One way to help students do this is to have them work in pairs. Each student could write down a situation or a question in which understanding the Savior’s Atonement could help. After writing the situation or question, students can exchange papers and then write a response. When they finish writing, students can share their responses with each other.
Write a scenario or situation in which knowing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ would help someone. For example, a young woman wonders if she can be forgiven, or a young man feels alone in his trials. Or, instead of a situation, you could write down a question you or someone else may have about the Savior’s Atonement.
Think about what you have learned about the Atonement of Jesus Christ by studying the Book of Mormon. Look at scriptures you have marked or notes in your study journal. You may have marked some scriptures or made notes from your study of Mosiah 26 or Alma 7 (see also 2 Nephi 9; Mosiah 14–16).
Write what you would say in response to the situation or question. Explain how understanding the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ could help in the situation or answer the question. Try to use one or more passages from the Book of Mormon.
Consider sharing your testimony and inviting students to testify of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.