Christus statue

March 29–April 4

Easter

“I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Nothing is more important for us to understand than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Think about the people who will be attending your class; what will help them deepen their faith in Jesus Christ?

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

As members of your class have studied the Doctrine and Covenants this year, they may have found passages about the Savior that are meaningful to them. Begin class by giving them opportunities to share these passages. How has our study of the Doctrine and Covenants so far deepened our faith in Jesus Christ?

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Teach the Doctrine

Jesus Christ accomplished a “perfect atonement.”

• Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is such an essential doctrine, consider spending sufficient time ensuring that class members understand it. To do this, you could write on the board questions like these: What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How does it affect my daily life? How does it affect my eternal life? How do I receive the Savior’s redeeming power in my life? Give class members a few minutes to ponder these questions and to look for scriptures that help answer them. Class members could write their scripture references on the board, and you could discuss a few of them as a class. Here are some examples: Luke 22:39–44; 1 John 1:7; 2 Nephi 2:6–9; Mosiah 3:5–13, 17–18; Alma 7:11–14; Moroni 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19; 45:3–5.

• It might be meaningful for class members to watch the video “The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) before reading the Savior’s own words about His suffering in Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19. How do these verses deepen our appreciation of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice? Other Easter videos you might share are listed in “Additional Resources.”

  Jesus Praying

  Lord of Prayer, by Yongsung Kim

Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–14, 20–24; 110:1–10

The Prophet Joseph Smith testified that Jesus Christ lives.

• Joseph Smith saw the risen Savior and bore a powerful witness that Jesus Christ lives. To help class members study Joseph Smith’s testimony, you could divide them into two groups and assign each group to read either Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–14, 20–24 or 110:1–10. Invite each class member to find at least one word in these verses that describes the Savior. Class members could take turns writing the words they found on the board, and you could use these words to guide a discussion about the Savior’s attributes and power. How does Joseph Smith’s testimony strengthen our faith in the divinity and mission of Jesus Christ?

• Some class members may have connected teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants with words and principles in the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136; see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Maybe they would be willing to share what they discovered. You could also read or sing this hymn as a class and look for connections with the following scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants 6:34; 45:3–5; 84:77; 98:18; 138:23. How have we come to know that our Redeemer lives?

Doctrine and Covenants 29:26–27; 42:45–46; 63:49; 88:14–17, 27–31; 93:33–34

Because of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected.

• To help class members discuss what the Doctrine and Covenants teaches about resurrection, you could invite them to imagine that a friend or family member asks what it means to be resurrected. How could we help that person understand what resurrection is? Encourage class members to search Doctrine and Covenants 88:14–17, 27–31 for something that might help. Other helpful scripture references include Alma 11:40–45 and Alma 40:21–23. What would we share to help our friend or family member feel the joy and hope that comes from the doctrine of resurrection?

• How might you help class members contemplate the Savior’s gift of resurrection? Perhaps you could write on the board Because of Jesus Christ … and invite class members to look in the following passages for words that could complete this phrase: Doctrine and Covenants 29:26–27; 42:45–46; 63:49; 93:33–34. How do the truths in these verses affect the way we view death? How do they affect our everyday lives?

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Additional Resources

Easter videos on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

“He Lives: Testimonies of Jesus Christ”

“Because He Lives”

“Because of Him”

“Hallelujah—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ”

“His Sacred Name—An Easter Declaration”

“For God So Loved the World”

Improving Our Teaching

Help class members search in the scriptures. “Ask questions that require learners to find answers in the scriptures. … Help them see that even though the scriptures were written many years ago, they contain the Lord’s answers to questions and problems we all face” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 30).