Focus on Jesus Christ

Help learners recognize the Lord’s love, power, and mercy in their lives.

Skill: Ask questions that focus on connecting the Lord’s love, power, and mercy to the truths being taught.

Define

There is power that comes when we connect our efforts to live gospel principles to our Savior Jesus Christ. Take time in your preparation to ponder what the gospel principles in the scripture block help you know and understand about Jesus Christ. Then carefully create questions that invite students to consider what they can learn about His love, power, and mercy from the truths being taught. In addition to helping students understand the doctrine, these types of questions can also help them see how living that doctrine will help them experience His love, power, and mercy, as well as become more like Him. These types of questions may also help students consider how Jesus Christ will help them live that doctrine.

Model

Instead of asking …

• Why is it important to live the law of tithing?

• Why should we repent daily?

Try asking instead …

• What has living the law of tithing taught you about your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• What have you learned about the Savior’s mercy through daily repentance?

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

Practice by changing the following questions in ways that help students connect the Lord’s love, power, and mercy to the truths being taught.

Instead of asking …

• Why is it important to study the scriptures daily?

• What power comes from attending the temple?

Try asking instead …

Discuss or Ponder

• How have you learned to see that doctrinal principles become more meaningful as you connect them to the Lord’s love, power, and mercy?

• How can this help our students better understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Incorporate

Look at your next lesson plan. Spend 10 minutes revising questions to help students connect the Lord’s love, power, and mercy to the truths being taught.

Want More?

• Chad H. Webb, “We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ” (Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 12, 2018), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Chad H. Webb, “Empathy” (Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, Jan. 26, 2021), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org