Lesson 10 Teacher Material

Repentance and Forgiveness

The Book of Mormon offers unique insights into the doctrine of repentance and forgiveness. The experiences of Enos, King Benjamin’s people, and Alma the Younger illustrate that the Savior is the ultimate source of our forgiveness and peace of conscience. In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to discuss questions about the repentance process and learn to better recognize when the Savior has forgiven them. Students will also consider how they can continue to repent and become more like Jesus Christ.

Suggestions for Teaching

Alma explains how he received the Savior’s forgiveness.

Display the following three questions in different areas of the classroom. Arrange a handful of chairs in a circle near each question. Point out that these questions are similar to those in section 1 of the preparation material.

• What does it really mean to repent? What counsel would you give to someone who has gone through the steps of repentance, but doesn’t feel any different?

• How can we find the strength to truly change? What would you say to someone who is discouraged because they have really tried hard to do better but just keep making the same mistakes?

• What if someone feels like they are a lost cause? How could you help someone who feels that they shouldn’t bother with repentance because their sins are so bad they could never be forgiven?

Invite students to imagine they are missionaries preparing to answer one of the above sets of questions for their investigators or that they are preparing to help a loved one who is struggling to repent. Then ask students to sit in a chair near the questions they would like to discuss. Encourage students to draw on the account of Alma’s experience and other passages from the Book of Mormon that could help answer their questions.

Designate a discussion leader for each group, and give each leader a copy of the instructions found at the end of this lesson material. Give groups sufficient time to have meaningful discussions.

After allowing students time to discuss, you may want to invite one or more volunteers from each group to provide brief summaries of what their groups learned and felt during their discussions.

Enos, King Benjamin’s people, and Alma experience the joy of forgiveness.

Ask students to consider if they, or people they know, have ever wondered how to know if the Savior has forgiven them of their sins. Invite students to search Enos 1:4–8; Mosiah 4:1–3; and Alma 36:19–21, looking for ways to know that we have been forgiven.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Recognize the power of Christ-centered teaching. Chad H Webb, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion administrator, said to teachers: “The single most important way in which we can help increase faith in the rising generation is to more fully place Jesus Christ at the center of our teaching and learning by helping our students come to know Him, to learn from Him, and to consciously strive to become like Him” (“We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ” [address given at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 12, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org). As you prepare to teach, ask yourself: How can I help students to more fully know, love, and follow the Savior through this learning experience?

• Which words or phrases in these verses stood out to you? Why do you think those phrases caught your attention?

• Why is it important to believe and accept that Jesus Christ is willing, able, and eager to forgive our sins and remove our guilt? (Consider inviting students to review section 3 of the preparation material.)

• How can we know that the Savior has forgiven us of our sins? (Help students identify a principle such as the following: When we sincerely repent and have faith in Jesus Christ, He forgives us and blesses us with joy and peace of conscience.)

• When have you experienced the joy and peace of forgiveness from the Lord, and how did this experience influence your life? (Encourage students to talk about their feelings of forgiveness and not the specifics of their sins.) What are your thoughts and feelings about the Savior’s ability and desire to forgive you?

During your discussion, you might find it helpful to share the following statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen:

For those who are truly repentant but seem unable to feel relief: continue keeping the commandments. I promise you, relief will come in the timetable of the Lord. Healing also requires time. (“Repent … That I May Heal You,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 42)

Note: For students who may feel discouraged about the repentance process because their efforts have not yet resulted in relief, offer words of encouragement and invite them to continue to turn to the Lord and perhaps share their specific concerns with their bishop.

Provide time for students to assess their lives and to identify anything they need to repent of. Invite students to record any impressions they receive.

Share your testimony of the doctrine of repentance and forgiveness. Consider inviting students to share their testimonies as well.

For Next Time

Ask students how their baptismal and other covenants have blessed their lives. Invite them, as they study the preparation material for the next class, to think about their covenant path and how honoring covenants binds them to the Savior and His power.

Small-Group Discussion on Repentance

Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material—Lesson 10

Note to discussion leader: Please use these instructions to facilitate a discussion with the members of your group. Encourage all members of your group to participate. However, do not push; no one should feel pressured to share.

Invite group members to take a few minutes to review section 1 of the preparation material and the related scripture passages (see Mosiah 27:35; Alma 36:12–13, 17–21, 24). Ask students to look for principles that apply to your group’s question. Also invite group members to be prepared to share any additional scripture passages they may have found as they prepared for this class.

Decide together which of the following questions will be most important for your group to discuss. To understand these ideas more deeply, it may be better to discuss one or two questions more thoroughly than to try to cover all of the questions superficially.

• What principles that we can learn from Alma’s experience relate to our question? In what ways have you been blessed by following these principles?

• What other scripture passages or teachings from the Book of Mormon could help answer this question? How have the truths taught in these passages helped you to experience the power of repentance?

• What role does Jesus Christ play in our repentance? How do you feel about the Savior’s willingness to forgive you of your sins?

• How does the commandment to offer the Savior “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20) relate to our question? (If you discuss this last bulleted question, you may find it helpful to review 3 Nephi 9:19–20 and the statement by Elder Bruce D. Porter from section 2 of the preparation material.)

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Small-Group Discussion on Repentance