Seminary
Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

Overview

Before Jesus Christ began His public ministry, John the Baptist sought to prepare others to accept and follow the Savior. John invited them to repent and be baptized. Jesus Christ was baptized by John, and both the Father and the Holy Ghost bore witness of Him. This week’s material also includes a doctrinal mastery lesson on seeking further understanding through divinely appointed sources.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students consider how they have accepted and followed the Savior, how they can strengthen their commitment to accept and follow Him, and how they can help others prepare to accept and follow Him.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to ponder what they would do and say to help someone else prepare to accept and follow the Savior.

  • Materials for students: Access to recent general conference addresses

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: After students do one of the activities labeled A, B, or C, invite them to show by raising fingers whether they did the first, second, or third activity. Invite students to share what they learned and felt.

Luke 3:7–14

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students better understand repentance and the joy that repenting regularly brings.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on their own attitudes and experiences with repentance. Students could ask themselves questions like the following: “What feelings or emotions do you have when you think of repentance? Why?” “What experiences have you had with repentance?” “What questions do you have about repentance?”

  • Videos: “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” from time code 00:50 to 3:26, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • Materials for students: For the Strength of Youth (booklet, 2011) or Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • Content to display: The statements by President Russell M. Nelson

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: At the beginning of the lesson, consider using the chat feature or other available technology to allow students to share the things that bring them joy.

Matthew 3:13–17, Part 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students understand and explain the importance of baptism in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to prepare for class by thinking about how they would explain the importance of baptism to someone they love who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  • Video: “The Baptism of Jesus” (2:54), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • Content to display: Bible Maps, no. 11, “The Holy Land in New Testament Times”; the list of questions and scripture references about baptism

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to share in breakout rooms their explanations of the importance of baptism. This will give every student a chance to share their explanation. Afterward, invite them to share how it went and what they felt.

Matthew 3:13–17, Part 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students deepen their understanding of each member of the Godhead, which in turn can impact their choices in life.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to come to class prepared to share what they know about the Godhead, how they know it, and what questions they might have.

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 3

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students understand the importance of seeking truth through sources that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have lovingly provided for us.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think about where they normally turn for information when they have questions about God or the Church. Encourage them to ponder this statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God” (“Joseph Smith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 28, 30).

  • Handout: “Some Questions for Evaluating New Information”