Lesson 27 Teacher Material

Finding Hope in the Light and Life of the World

Students can feel darkness, discouragement, and despair for a lot of reasons. In contrast, they can be filled with the power of hope when they focus on the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to consider what they can do to increase their hope in Him.

Suggestions for Teaching

Jesus Christ declares He is the Light and Life of the World.

To begin the lesson, you could display the following picture:

• The scriptures speak of people “walking in darkness” or “sit[ting] in darkness” (see Psalm 82:5; Doctrine and Covenants 95:6, 12; Psalm 107:10–11; Luke 1:79). What do you think this darkness could represent?

Read aloud John 8:12 and Mosiah 16:9, and ask students to look for how Jesus Christ can help us overcome darkness. Display the following truth on the board: As we follow Jesus Christ, He will be the light and life of our lives.

• In what ways is Jesus Christ both the light and the life of our lives? (If needed, invite students to review President Dallin H. Oaks’s statements from section 1 of the preparation material.)

To help students find relevance in this lesson, you could display and read aloud the questions below. Invite students to ponder these questions while they watch the video “The Light That Shineth in Darkness” (2:19).

• How might following Jesus Christ as the Light and Life of the World bless, strengthen, and help you?

• When have you experienced the light or the life Jesus Christ provides? What difference has it made, or could it make, in your life?

After they watch the video, invite students to record some of the thoughts they had about the questions. You might invite them to discuss their answers as a class or in small groups.

You could display the accompanying image of the Salt Lake Temple and read together the statement by Sister Sharon Eubank in section 1 of the preparation material. Or you could show the corresponding video segment (0:00–1:17) from her talk “Christ: The Light That Shines in the Darkness” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 73–74).

• What are some ways the adversary “works to dim our light, short-circuit the connection,” or cut us off from the Savior’s light? (Sharon Eubank, “Christ: The Light That Shines in the Darkness,” 73).

• What are some ways we can connect or stay connected to Jesus Christ, the true source of light and life? (You could invite students to record what they could do.)

Hope increases as we fix our focus on Jesus Christ.

Display the following truth from “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”: Jesus Christ “is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.”

Depending on the needs of your students, it may be helpful to briefly review the definition of hope and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s second statement in section 2 of the preparation material. Then you could ask:

• How are we blessed when we look to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as our ultimate source of hope? Why is it helpful to know that hope is also a gift?

You could invite students to think about someone they know who may be feeling discouraged, sad, lonely, overwhelmed, or worried. Invite students to review Moroni 7:40–42 and Ether 12:4, looking for truths about hope in Christ that could change how we experience life.

After allowing students enough time to study, invite some students to share the truths they found and how these truths could increase someone’s hope in Christ.

Consider asking students to refer to the scripture account they chose to study from section 2 of the preparation material. Give them a few minutes to review what they studied. Divide the class into small groups and ask students to share their scripture account and what they learned from it about hope in Christ.

To help students feel the significance of having hope in Christ, you might display all or part of the following statement by President Uchtdorf, who was then serving in the First Presidency. After students have had a minute to read and ponder this statement, you could invite a student or two to testify of their hope in Jesus Christ and how it affects their lives.

With Jeremiah I proclaim, “Blessed is the man … whose hope the Lord is” [Jeremiah 17:7].

With Joel I testify, “The Lord [is] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” [Joel 3:16].

With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” [2 Nephi 31:20]. …

And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in.

Never surrender.

Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.

Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart. (“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 24)

Invite students to reflect on the following questions and record their insights, impressions, or feelings:

• What have you learned today that could help you find hope during times of struggle or despair?

• What are simple things you can do to increase your faith and hope in Jesus Christ?

For Next Time

To help prepare students for the final class in this course, you could send the following message during the week: As you study the preparation material for our last class, ponder what you have learned from this course. How has what you have learned influenced your understanding of and faith in Jesus Christ?