April 10

How Can I Strengthen My Faith in Jesus Christ Every Day?

Exodus 14–17

Counsel Together

Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; 10–20 minutes

At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then, in addition to counseling together about specific class or quorum business, you may want to discuss impressions and themes from general conference. The following questions may help.

• What themes or messages stood out to us? What strengthened our faith in Jesus Christ?

• What strengthened our testimonies of living prophets? What did we feel prompted to do because of what we learned or felt?

• What do we need to do as a class or quorum to remember and act on counsel we heard in general conference?

At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:

• Testify of the principles taught.

• Remind class or quorum members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.

Teach the Doctrine

Led by an adult leader or youth; 25–35 minutes

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

In order to survive in the wilderness, the children of Israel needed to learn how to rely on the Lord. They relied on Him for life-saving miracles, like parting the Red Sea, and also for life-sustaining miracles, like manna from heaven. The same is true for those you are teaching. If they are to survive their spiritual journey in the wilderness of mortality, they must exercise faith in Jesus Christ. And they must exercise that faith each day, not just occasionally. Some of those you teach may not feel that their faith is particularly strong. You can help them see that faith grows gradually, day by day. It is nourished through small and simple things that we do consistently. Ponder these things as you study Exodus 14–17 this week. You might also study President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “Small and Simple Things” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 89–92).

We can strengthen our faith each day in small and simple ways.

Learn Together

To start a discussion, you could ask the youth to share some of their daily habits that help them do good things. These things could include maintaining good health or strengthening their testimonies. What might happen if we didn’t maintain these habits? How can our daily efforts to do good things be compared to the instructions the Lord gave the Israelites to gather manna? (see Exodus 16:16–21). You could help the class or quorum compare the Israelites’ experience with our efforts to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ every day. For example, what does the Lord give us that is like the daily manna that He gave the Israelites? What can we do that is like gathering manna? To continue your discussion, use one or more of the activities below or one of your own.

• Read together Alma 37:6–7. As a class or quorum, list on the board some of the “small and simple things” that the Lord has invited us to do each day to come unto Him. Those you teach could then review President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “Small and Simple Things” to find additional small things that can have a great influence on our lives. What impact can these things have? What are we inspired to do to make these things a more consistent part of our daily lives?

• Why does faith in Jesus Christ need to be nourished daily? To help members better understand this, you could show one or more of the videos listed under “Supporting Resources.” In these videos, Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught about the need for daily efforts to sustain our faith. Invite those you teach to share things they learned that inspire them to increase their faith in Jesus Christ every day.

• Consistent daily efforts are the best way to strengthen our faith in Christ. To discuss this idea, read together Elder David A. Bednar’s third suggestion in his message “More Diligent and Concerned at Home” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 17–20). What lessons can we learn from his description of a painting in his office? How do these lessons apply to our efforts to build our faith in Jesus Christ? Reading together Alma 32:21, 26–43 could add to your discussion. What insights do we find about how to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ?

• We can increase our faith by choosing to learn from experiences that test it. You might show the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Discuss together what we can do during a trial to strengthen our faith. (See also Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18–21.) You might ask class or quorum members to share times when they felt that their faith in Christ was tested and what they did to strengthen their faith during that time. Point out that Exodus 14–17 describes the frequent murmuring, or complaining, of the Israelites when they experienced trials. How can murmuring during trials weaken our faith? What is the difference between murmuring and expressing our concerns to Heavenly Father during hard times?

Act in Faith

Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Supporting Resources

• “Daily Bread: Pattern,” “Daily Bread: Change,” “Daily Bread: Experience” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

Help class or quorum members understand how they can invite the Spirit to be present in their discussions. They can do this through their “attitudes … , the way they treat each other, and the way they feel about the gospel” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 15).