“Lesson 1 Class Preparation Material: Accepting the Savior’s Invitation to Learn of Him,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material (2023)
“Lesson 1 Class Preparation Material,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material
Lesson 1 Class Preparation Material
Accepting the Savior’s Invitation to Learn of Him
Welcome to Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel (Religion 250). The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of the Savior, “None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). This course will offer you the sacred opportunity to learn more of Jesus Christ so you can increase His influence in your life.
The preparation material in this course is designed to help you draw closer to the Savior by enhancing your personal study and preparing you to have edifying discussions with others. It includes relevant scriptures, supporting statements from Church leaders, related videos, and invitations to ponder and apply what you learn. Each lesson has an optional “Want More?” section that includes additional resources that can help you learn more about and strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.
Section 1
How can learning of Jesus Christ and His everlasting gospel change my life?
Imagine you lived in Palestine during the time of the Lord’s ministry. You have heard many amazing things about a teacher called Jesus of Nazareth and have a strong desire to go and hear Him for yourself. The day you find Him, Jesus is teaching a large group of people. He declares the greatness of John the Baptist and rebukes people for their unbelief (see Matthew 11:7–24). He then makes a potentially life-changing invitation.
Study in Preparation for Class
Read Matthew 11:28–30, and ponder how accepting this invitation has changed or could change your life.
Jesus Christ has extended a similar invitation in our day. After testifying of the incomprehensible price He paid to atone for our sins so we could repent, the Savior said, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:23).
Referring to this invitation, Elder Kim B. Clark of the Seventy taught:
The Savior’s invitation to “learn of me” has two interrelated meanings that correspond in a beautiful way to the Lord’s way to learn deeply.
The first meaning of “learn of me” is: Learn to know me.
… To know Him is to be spiritually born of Him, experiencing a mighty change of heart, becoming His sons and daughters. …
The second meaning of “learn of me” is: Learn from me.
… As we immerse ourselves in the scriptures, we learn from His perfect example. … We must act with faith in Jesus Christ to do our part, but as we do, … He promises to magnify our capacity for righteous action and help us become more like Him. (“Learn of Me” [address given to CES religious educators, Jan. 26, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org; emphasis added)
One vital way to learn of the Savior is to study and live His everlasting gospel. “The word gospel means ‘good news’” (Bible Dictionary, “Gospels”). So what is the good news of the gospel?
Near the end of His ministry to the Lamanites and Nephites in the land of Bountiful, the Savior explained in simple and clear terms the meaning and purpose of His gospel.
Study in Preparation for Class
Read 3 Nephi 27:13–16, 20–21, and look for reasons why the gospel is good news.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
The “good news” was that death and hell could be escaped, that mistakes and sins could be overcome, that there was hope, that there was help, that the insoluble was solved, that the enemy had been conquered. The good news was that everyone’s tomb could one day be empty, that everyone’s soul could again be pure, that every child of God could again return to the Father who gave them life. (“Missionary Work and the Atonement,” Ensign, Mar. 2001, 8–10)
Record Your Thoughts
Think about your current understanding and testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. What goals would you like to set to learn more of Him and His gospel? What could you do to increase His influence in your life? Consider writing your goals down and regularly reviewing them in the coming weeks.
Section 2
How can I increase my ability to learn of the Savior and His everlasting gospel?
We live in a world largely shaped by secular knowledge. Secular knowledge focuses on worldly matters that are not considered religious or spiritual. For example, scientific learning produces secular knowledge. This knowledge is important and has led to remarkable developments in technology, medicine, agriculture, transportation, and communication. Along with this secular learning is an even deeper, spiritual way to learn truth.
Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy distinguished between spiritual and scientific learning this way:
Learning spiritual things … requires a different approach than learning scientific things. The scientific method and intellect are very helpful, but they alone will never bring spiritual knowledge. Learning spiritual things involves the intellect, but that is not enough. We only learn spiritual things by the Spirit. (“A Pattern for Learning Spiritual Things” [Seminaries and Institutes of Religion satellite broadcast, Aug. 7, 2012], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Addressing spiritual learning, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that “as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118).
Most of us know how to learn by study. But how do we learn by faith? President Russell M. Nelson explained:
We strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ as we strive to keep His commandments and “always remember him” [Moroni 4:3]. Further, our faith increases every time we exercise our faith in Him. That is what learning by faith means.
For example, each time we have the faith to be obedient to God’s laws—even when popular opinions belittle us—or each time we resist entertainment or ideologies that celebrate covenant-breaking, we are exercising our faith, which in turn increases our faith.
Further, few things build faith more than does regular immersion in the Book of Mormon. No other book testifies of Jesus Christ with such power and clarity. …
Of course, our ultimate security comes as we yoke ourselves to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Life without God is a life filled with fear. Life with God is a life filled with peace. This is because spiritual blessings come to the faithful. Receiving personal revelation is one of the greatest of those blessings. (“Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75)
Record Your Thoughts
Think of people in the scriptures or people you know who exemplify the principle of learning by faith. List a few examples so you are prepared to share in class. You might also record what you have learned by exercising faith in Christ.