Balm of Gilead, by Annie Henrie

October 30–November 5

Hebrews 1–6

Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation”

Consider sharing with members of your class some of the impressions you receive from the Holy Ghost about Hebrews 1–6. Doing so may inspire them to seek their own impressions as they study the scriptures.

Invite Sharing

Some class members who do not share often in class may simply need a specific invitation and a little time to prepare. You could contact a few of them a day or two in advance and ask them to come prepared to share a verse from Hebrews 1–6 that is meaningful to them.

Teach the Doctrine

Hebrews 1–5

Jesus Christ is “the author of eternal salvation.”

• How can you encourage class members to share meaningful scriptures about Jesus Christ that they found in their personal and family study this week? Consider creating five columns on the board, one for each of the first five chapters in Hebrews. Invite class members to write in the appropriate column phrases from these chapters that taught them about Jesus Christ and the verse number where each phrase is found. How does knowing these things about the Savior affect our faith in Him and willingness to follow Him?

Hebrews 2:9–18; 4:12–16; 5:7–8

Jesus Christ suffered all things so that He can understand and help us when we suffer.

• Hebrews 2:9–18; 4:12–16; 5:7–8 can help people who observe the suffering in the world and wonder if God notices or even cares. Perhaps class members could search these verses to find truths that would help with such questions. What do these verses teach about how the Savior responds to humanity’s suffering? It may also be helpful to invite class members to share examples from the scriptures where Jesus Christ supported and comforted people in their sufferings (see “Additional Resources”) or show the video “Mountains to Climb” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Class members could discuss what they learn about how the Savior can help us when we face difficult challenges.

Hebrews 3:7–19; 4:1–2

God’s blessings are available to those who “harden not [their] hearts.”

• Hebrews 3 and 4 contain a plea to the Saints not to harden their hearts and thereby reject the blessings God wanted to give them. As you and your class read Hebrews 3:7–19; 4:1–2, discuss ways the experiences of the ancient Israelites could apply to us today, just as they applied to the Hebrews in the early Church (see the study material about these verses in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). What can we do to keep our hearts soft and responsive to the will of the Lord? (see Proverbs 3:5–6; Alma 5:14–15; Ether 4:15). Class members could share how they or others they know have been blessed because they have had soft and contrite hearts.

Hebrews 5:1–5

Those who serve in God’s kingdom must be called of God.

• The message in Hebrews 5 about priesthood holders being called of God can apply to all who are set apart by priesthood authority to serve in Church callings. To help your class learn what it means to “be called of God as was Aaron,” consider inviting them to review the account of Aaron receiving his calling in Exodus 4:10–16, 27–31; 28:1. What insights from this account help us understand Hebrews 5:1–5? Class members could share how they have received confirmation that someone was called of God to fulfill a specific calling—including, perhaps, themselves. How did that confirmation help them better sustain the person in his or her calling?

“No man taketh this ​​​honour​ unto himself, but he that is ​​​called​ of God, as ​was​ ​​​Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4). Moses Calls Aaron to the Ministry, by Harry Anderson

Additional Resources

Scriptural examples of people comforted by Jesus Christ.

• John 8:1–11: The Lord comforted the woman taken in adultery.

• John 11:1–46: The Lord comforted Mary and Martha after the death of their brother, Lazarus.

• Enos 1:4–6: The Lord forgave Enos’s sins and removed his guilt.

• Mosiah 21:5–15: The Lord softened the hearts of the Lamanites so that they eased the burdens of the people of Limhi.

• Mosiah 24:14–15: The Lord strengthened Alma’s people so they could bear their burdens.

• Ether 12:23–29: The Lord’s words comforted Moroni.

• 3 Nephi 17:6–7: The Savior healed the Nephites of their infirmities.

• Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–10: The Lord comforted Joseph Smith (see also Doctrine and Covenants 123:17).

Improving Our Teaching

Create a spiritual environment. When you foster a peaceful, loving environment in your classroom, the Spirit can more easily touch the hearts of those you teach. What can you do to invite the influence of the Spirit into your classroom? Could you rearrange the seats or use pictures or music to invite the Spirit? (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 15.)