“Alma 34:1–17: Jesus Christ’s Infinite and Eternal Atonement,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Alma 34:1–17,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Alma 34:1–17
Jesus Christ’s Infinite and Eternal Atonement
Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without Jesus Christ and His Atonement? Amulek taught the Zoramites that all people are hardened, fallen, and lost without the infinite and eternal sacrifice of the Son of God. This lesson is intended to help you understand how Jesus Christ can bless you through His infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice.
Set high expectations. When students know that you have high expectations for them as learners, they will generally strive to meet those expectations. Some students may occasionally become distracted by a peer or an electronic device. Consistently provide gentle and loving correction when these or other disruptive behaviors occur. Doing so can help the entire class understand your expectations and provide more opportunities for students to have meaningful experiences.
Student preparation: Invite the students to find and study scriptures that help them better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Topical Guide and Guide to the Scriptures could be useful resources.
Possible Learning Activities
How would life be different?
Consider displaying the following incomplete question. Invite students to share examples of how their life might be different without some of the people or things they rely upon the most. To help students think of examples, bring a few objects or pictures of items that you value.
How would life be different without …?
Think about a few ways you could answer this question with people or things you rely on. For example, you might think about how your life would be different without a particular person, some of the technology or tools you often use, or an activity that you enjoy.
After students share some of their responses, consider displaying the following image and adjusting the previous statement to say: How would life be different without Jesus Christ and His Atonement?
Invite students to reflect on how they would answer this question and to make a list in their study journals of ways their life would be different without Jesus Christ and His Atonement. They will have an opportunity to share their answers to this question later in the lesson.
Amulek testifies to the Zoramites about Jesus Christ
You might recall that Alma and Amulek preached among the Zoramites, who believed there would “be no Christ” (Alma 31:16). After Alma finished his messages recorded in Alma 32–33, Amulek shared his own testimony of the Savior.
Read Alma 34:1–10, looking for what Amulek shared about Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
Alma 34:9–10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.
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Which words or phrases about Jesus Christ and His Atonement did you find especially meaningful? Why?
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What did you learn from these verses about why we need Jesus Christ to atone for us?
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How would you summarize Amulek’s teachings in Alma 34:8–10 as a statement of truth?
You may have identified a truth similar to the following: Without the infinite and eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind would be lost forever.
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Why would all people “unavoidably perish” or become lost forever without Jesus Christ and His Atonement?
Consider asking students to think of some of the ways they would personally be lost without Jesus Christ and His Atonement. One way to do this would be to invite them to study 2 Nephi 9:6–12, looking for teachings that describe why we need a Savior.
Infinite and eternal
Consider marking the words “infinite and eternal” at the end of verse 10 and copying the following diagram in your study journal:
Consider drawing this diagram on the board for students to copy.
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What do you think it means that Jesus Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal?
President Russell M. Nelson shared the following insights:
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is Infinite and Eternal
His Atonement is infinite—without an end. It was also infinite in that all humankind would be saved from never-ending death. It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. … It was infinite in scope—it was to be done once for all. And the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by Him. It was infinite beyond any human scale of measurement or mortal comprehension. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 35)
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What did this statement help you learn or feel about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice?
How does it relate to you?
As part of the following explanation, it might be helpful to share the statement by Elder Michael John U. Teh of the Seventy that is found in the “Commentary and Background” section.
While the Savior can bless an infinite number of people through His Atonement, He can also bless you personally. Consider updating the diagram in your study journal to look like the following:
The following activity can help students better understand how the Savior can personally bless them because of His Atonement. Display or print the following resources and give students time to study them alone or in groups. Invite students to identify words or phrases from these resources that describe how Jesus Christ can bless them personally through His Atonement.
In addition to scriptures and statements in the list, students could find different scriptures or other statements by Church leaders.
President Tad R. Callister, former Sunday School General President, taught:
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
On occasion, I have met with good Saints who have had trouble forgiving themselves, who have innocently but incorrectly placed limits on the Savior’s redemptive powers. Unwittingly, they have converted an infinite Atonement to a finite one that somehow falls short of their particular sin or weakness. But it is an infinite Atonement because it encompasses and circumscribes every sin and weakness, as well as every abuse or pain caused by others. (Tad R. Callister, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 85–86)
Discuss with the students what they learned and felt from their studies. Invite them to share specific words or phrases they found that describe how Jesus Christ can bless them personally through His Atonement. For example, students might point out phrases such as “he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name” (Alma 34:15); “God … prepareth a way for our escape from … death and hell” (2 Nephi 9:10); or “I, the Lord, remember [repented sins] no more” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42).
After this discussion, refer students to the list they created in their study journals about what their life would be like without Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The students could update their lists based on what they have learned. Invite students to share their lists with a partner or with the whole class. Ask students to share something they added to their list because of what they learned today. They could also share something they had already included on their list that means more to them because of what they have learned, then explain why.
Testify of the truths you have discussed. Encourage students to act on any promptings they have received during the lesson.