Matthew 11:28–30

“I Will Give You Rest”

During His ministry, the Savior taught the higher law of the gospel and healed the sick. While pressures mounted against the Savior and His teachings, He denounced wickedness and promised rest to all who come to Him. This lesson can increase your confidence that the Lord will help you with your challenges and burdens.

Your burdens and challenges

Draw a stick figure representing a teenager. Draw a backpack on the stick figure’s back to represent the burdens and stresses teenagers today face. Write at least five of those burdens or stresses in, on, or around the backpack.

• On a scale of one to five, with five being extremely well and one being not well at all, how well do you feel you are dealing with your burdens and stressful events?

If you haven’t already, consider taking a moment now to invite your Heavenly Father to assist you in finding principles that can help you with the specific burdens you are currently carrying. Read Matthew 11:28–30, looking for truths the Savior taught that might help someone who is weighed down by burdens.

Matthew 11:28–30 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily.

• What truths did you find?

• How might these truths help someone who is having a difficult time?

“Take my yoke upon you”

Sometimes words or phrases in the scriptures can be difficult to understand. Learning what words and phrases mean can help us come to learn what the Savior wants us to know. Practice this with the phrase “Take my yoke upon you” (Matthew 11:29).

A yoke is “a device put around the necks of animals or men to harness them together” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Yoke,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). The animals in this picture are wearing a yoke.

Elder Edward Dube of the Seventy related the following experience:

In December 2015 in Madziva, Zimbabwe, Naume [my wife] and I saw a man plowing his field with a team of two oxen. I was amazed to see that one animal was a huge ox and the other was a small bullock. I was perplexed. I wondered aloud, “Why would a farmer plow with two unequal animals in the yoke?”

Naume’s mother, who was standing nearby, pointed to the yoke. I looked more closely and saw traces [ropes or chains] connecting the yoke to the bullock. The large ox was pulling all the weight, and the tiny bullock was being broken in, learning how to plow.

(Edward Dube, “Learn of Me,” Liahona, Oct. 2020, Africa Southeast Local Pages, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• How might our relationship with the Savior be like that of the large ox and the small bullock?

• How does knowing the meaning of yoke deepen your understanding of how Christ feels about you?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

(David A. Bednar, “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 88)

• How do you think making and keeping covenants yokes us to and with the Savior?

Elder Dube explained:

When we are yoked with Jesus Christ, He bears the load, and we share in the joy of the labor. The Lord’s invitation to each of us to learn of Him is the only sure source which brings peace, joy and provides answers to the troubled mind.

(Edward Dube, “Learn of Me,” Liahona, Oct. 2020, Africa Southeast Local Pages, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• How has learning of Jesus Christ this year helped you bear your load and brought you peace and joy?

Coming unto Christ and receiving His rest

1. Complete either activity A or B in your study journal. Follow the instructions associated with the activity you choose.

Activity A: “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28). How can I come unto Christ?

In order to receive the Savior’s help and the rest He offers, we must come unto Him.

• If someone asked you what it means to come unto Christ, what would you say?

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles identified several ways we can come unto Christ.

When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.”

(Richard G. Scott, “Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 94)

Consider watching “Come unto Christ: 2014 Theme Song” (4:48) to see examples of how someone can come unto the Savior. This video is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

2. Answer the following questions in your study journal:

• What are some things you have done to come closer to Jesus Christ? (This could include covenants you have made and kept.)

• What do you feel like you could do to more fully come unto Christ and access His divine help?

Activity B: “I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). How might Christ lift my burdens?

A powerful example of the Savior easing burdens is recorded in the Book of Mormon. Alma and his people were taken captive, were forced to work, and were severely persecuted.

Read Mosiah 24:12–16. You may also want to watch the video “Chapter 17: Alma and His People Escape” from time code 0:01 to 1:29. This video is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

3. Record your responses to the following questions and writing prompt in your study journal.

• What did you learn about ways the Savior can help you carry your burdens?

• What did the people of Alma do to access the Savior’s help?

• How might understanding our role in reaching out to the Savior help someone who is facing challenges?

Think about your own experiences or the experiences of people you know, and record a time when the Savior lifted a burden. Be sure to include what you or someone you know did to reach out to the Savior and how He helped.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

How does Jesus Christ help us as we come unto Him?

Elder John A. McCune of the Seventy explained some of the blessings that can come as we come unto Jesus Christ.

As we accept the Savior’s invitation to “come unto me,” (Matthew 11:28) He will provide the support, comfort, and peace that are necessary. … Even in our deepest trials, we can feel the warm embrace of His love as we trust Him and accept His will.

(John A. McCune, “Come unto Christ—Living as Latter-day Saints,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 36)

The video “Living with Depression” (3:13) provides an example of how Jesus Christ can help us even if it means that we are not delivered from difficult trials.