Lesson 12 Teacher Material

Finding Pure Truth in the Teachings of Jesus Christ

President Russell M. Nelson said: “The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone who understands it and seeks to implement it in his or her life” (“Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 6). In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to share how their lives have been influenced by the teachings of Jesus Christ. They will also discuss the meaning of the gospel and be invited to consider what they can do to become more focused on living it.

Suggestions for Teaching

Jesus Christ teaches truths that change lives.

You could display the accompanying picture, or another you choose of Jesus Christ teaching, and invite students to share possible reasons why “[Jesus Christ is] the greatest teacher who ever lived or ever will live” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Teaching, Preaching, Healing,” Ensign, Jan. 2003, 33).

To encourage meaningful discussion, you might ask some of the following questions:

• What impact did the Savior’s teachings have on those who heard Him teach? (You could review the examples found in section 1 of the preparation material.) What impact have His teachings had on your life?

• What must we do if we want the teachings of Jesus Christ to have a deep and lasting influence on our lives? (You may want to review John 3:21; 7:17; 13:17 and the statement by Elder Holland in section 1 of the preparation material. You could then invite students to identify a principle similar to the following: As we act on the Lord’s teachings, we can know of their truthfulness, increase in light, and experience happiness.)

Remind students that in section 1 of the preparation material they were invited to select a teaching of the Savior that has influenced their life. They also could have looked for a teaching they think may be relevant to their lives. Give students a few minutes to review their passage and the three corresponding questions in section 1 of the preparation material. Encourage students who did not do the activity yet to look for a teaching of the Savior they could share.

Invite students to share the teaching of Jesus Christ they chose and their answer to at least one of the three questions from the preparation material. You could do this activity as a class or divide the students into small groups and ask them to take turns sharing.

Jesus Christ teaches the Nephites the meaning of His gospel.

Read together the following scenario:

Amelia has recently returned to Church activity after years of being away. While people have been kind to her, she often feels lost and discouraged during talks and lessons. In frustration, she one day says to you, “The other day I heard someone say that the gospel means ‘good news.’ It sure doesn’t feel that way for me. The gospel sounds complicated, and there are so many expectations. It feels more like a burden than a blessing.”

• What can happen during talks, lessons, or gospel discussions that could leave someone feeling like Amelia?

• What possible misunderstandings might Amelia have about the meaning and purpose of the gospel?

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Learn with students. After experiencing the dire consequences of priestcraft, Church members in Alma’s day who remained faithful were “steadfast and immovable” (Alma 1:25) in their beliefs and recognized that “the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal” (Alma 1:26). As you treat students as your equals, you will be more open to learning with and from them. Ponder how your students may feel when you show genuine interest in what they think and feel.

Invite students to review 3 Nephi 27:13–14, 19–21 and look for key elements of the gospel as taught by the Savior.

To foster meaningful discussion, you could then ask questions similar to the following:

• According to the Savior, what are the fundamental elements and the ultimate blessing of living His gospel? (Help students identify the following truth: As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we can stand spotless before God at the last day.)

• How might placing Jesus Christ at the center of the gospel change how Amelia views and feels about it? How has focusing on the Savior influenced how you think about and live the gospel?

• What challenges can we encounter when we lose focus on Jesus Christ and the fundamental elements of His gospel? (You may want to review the statement by Brother Daniel K Judd in section 2 of the preparation material.) What things have caused you to lose focus on the fundamentals of the gospel? What has most helped you to keep focused on the fundamentals?

Invite students to review the statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in section 2 of the preparation material and record what they can do to better focus on the basic principles and applications of the gospel.

You could also ask if some students would be willing to share what they might do to focus on the most important things as they strive to live the gospel.

To conclude, you or a student could testify of the beauty and power of living Jesus Christ’s everlasting gospel.

For Next Time

Consider sending the following message to students during the week: Watch “Be a Minister: Become Part of Someone’s Life” (0:34), and think about what you can learn about ministering from the preparation material for lesson 13.