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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2

Faith in Jesus Christ

"Lesson 3: Faith in Jesus Christ," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2, 7

OBJECTIVE

Each young man's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be strengthened as he understands the Atonement better.

PREPARATION

NOTE

This lesson provides you an opportunity to help each young man understand the life and mission of the Savior. Some young men are entering the mission field without understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ and the ways it blesses their lives and the lives of others.

You may need more than one priesthood meeting to teach the ideas in this lesson adequately. Make every effort to ensure that the young men develop increased love for the Lord Jesus Christ and increased appreciation for his life and atoning sacrifice.

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Discussion

Ask the young men how each of the following situations is an example of faith.

Explain that faith is a strong belief that motivates us to do something and to be something.

We Should Have Faith in Jesus Christ

Scripture, chalkboard, and discussion

Have the young men read in unison the fourth article of faith, located at the end of the Pearl of Great Price.

Put the following illustration on the chalkboard, omitting the words Atonement of Christ.

Results of the Fall
Physical Death (a separation of the spirit from the body)
Spiritual Death (a separation from God)

 

Atonement of Christ

 

Results of the Atonement
We will all be resurrected (our bodies and spirits will be joined together eternally)
We will return to live with God if we have faith, repent of our sins, and obey all God's commandments

 

Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom

 

Explain that the diagram illustrates how to gain eternal life.

Label the bridge Atonement of Jesus Christ. Explain that Christ's atonement bridges our way back to God's presence. We cannot gain eternal life through our efforts alone but must believe in the Atonement and obey God's commandments.

Lead the discussion to the conclusion that we must have faith in Christ's atonement, which makes repentance possible. This faith will lead us to repent and allow us to overcome spiritual death. Through Christ's resurrection we all can overcome physical death.

Story

Ask the young men to imagine what it was like for the Savior to take our sins upon himself. Read the following description by Elder Orson F. Whitney:

"Then came a marvelous manifestation, an admonition from a higher Source, one impossible to ignore. It was a dream, or a vision in a dream, as I lay upon my bed in the little town of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior's agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: 'Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.'

"As He prayed the tears streamed down his face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to Him; I loved Him with all my soul, and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else.

"Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling-fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or impatience, asked them plaintively if they could not watch with Him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world's sins upon His shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through His sensitive soul-and they could not watch with Him one poor hour!" (Through Memory's Halls [Independence, Mo.: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co., 1930], p. 82).

Scriptures and discussion

Write on the chalkboard Helaman 14:13, and ask a young man to read this verse aloud.

Write D&C 58:43 on the chalkboard, and ask a young man to read this verse aloud.

Write D&C 19:16-19 on the chalkboard. Have a young man read these verses aloud.

Faith in Jesus Christ Can Motivate Us to Fulfill Our Responsibilities Better

Scripture and discussion

Read together James 2:17-18. Have the young men mark this verse.

Emphasize that Heavenly Father expects more of Aaronic Priesthood bearers than just believing.

Case studies

To show more clearly how an Aaronic Priesthood bearer can demonstrate his faith in Jesus Christ by magnifying his priesthood calling, have the young men consider the following case studies.

Conclusion

Adviser presentation

Explain to the young men that if they have faith that Jesus is the Savior they will repent and live worthy of receiving the blessings of the Savior's atonement. If they have faith that Jesus has the power to bless the lives of others, they will honor their priesthood and seek to use the priesthood power he has given to them to bless the lives of others. They can be effective agents of the Savior by showing their faith in him by obeying the commandments by teaching others to have faith in him, and by using priesthood ordinances to help others.

Challenge

Challenge the young men to develop their faith in Jesus Christ. You might ask them to do the following things:

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« Previous Chapter: Lesson 2: Knowing Our Father in Heaven

Next Chapter: Lesson 4: Companionship of the Holy Ghost »

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