Lesson 10: “Take My Yoke upon You, and Learn of Me”

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  What are some examples of burdens we bear in this life? How can the Lord “give [us] rest” from these burdens? (See Matthew 11:28–30.) What does it mean to take Christ’s yoke upon you? (See the scripture chain in this section.)
• •The woman who entered the house of Simon the Pharisee carried the burden of sin (Luke 7:37). What did the woman do that allowed Jesus to take away her burden? (See Luke 7:38, 44–50.) What can we do so the Savior will remove the burden of sin from our lives?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Have a family member hold an open, empty container such as a bag or box. Ask other family members to put objects into the container, one at a time. When the container becomes heavy, invite a family member to help carry it. Explain that the objects represent burdens we carry, such as adversity and sorrow. The help from the second family member represents the rest the Savior offers us as we come to him when we “labour and are heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28). Read Matthew 11:28–30 and Mosiah 24:8–15, and help family members understand that when we follow the Savior, he will ease our burdens and make them light.

Scripture Chain: “Take My Yoke upon You, … and Ye Shall Find Rest”

• Matthew 11:28–30
  
• Mosiah 24:8–15
  
• Alma 12:33–35
  
• D&C 54:10
  
• D&C 59:23
  

Lesson 7: “[He] Took Our Infirmities, and Bare Our Sicknesses”

• A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by divine or spiritual power (Bible Dictionary, “Miracles,” 732–33). Why did Jesus perform miracles during his mortal ministry? (See Matthew 9:27–30; Mark 1:27; 2:10–11; 5:19 for some answers to this question.)
  
• • Why do you think faith must precede miracles? Why don’t miracles alone provide a firm foundation for faith?
  
• • Why are the miracles that Jesus performed during his mortal life important to you? Why is it important to know that he continues to perform miracles today? What are some examples of modern miracles?
  

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Invite family members to tell of miracles that have occurred in their lives or the lives of people they know.

Scripture Chain: Miracles and Faith in Jesus Christ

• 2 Nephi 27:23
  
• Mark 1:34
  
• 3 Nephi 17:5–10
  
• Ether 12:12
  
• Mormon 9:15–21
  

Related Talks

• Thomas S. Monson, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude,” Oct. 2010 general conference.
• Neil L. Andersen, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” Apr. 2010 general conference.
• Dallin H. Oaks, “Healing the Sick,” Apr. 2010 general conference.

Lesson 5: “Born Again”

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  Purpose

  To help class members understand that to receive everlasting life, we must be “born again” and continue to follow Jesus Christ.

  
  

  
  

  • Jesus told Nicodemus that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). What does it mean to be born again? (See the scripture chain in this section.)
  • Read and ponder Alma 5:14–31 as if Alma were speaking to you. What do you need to do personally to be “spiritually … born of God”? (Alma 5:14).
  • Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he could give her “living water” (John 4:10). What do you think “living water” means? (See 1 Nephi 11:25; D&C 63:23.) How can we obtain living water? How has this living water blessed you?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Give each family member a drinking glass. Pour water into each glass, and invite family members to drink the water. Ask family members if they think they will ever need another drink of water. Then read John 4:1–15, and discuss the questions in the third paragraph of this section. Testify that if we will come to Christ and live his gospel, we will receive “everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Scripture Chain: “Born Again”

• John 3:3–5
  
• John 3:16–17
  
• Mosiah 5:1–7
  
• Mosiah 27:25–26
  
• Alma 5:14–16
  
• Alma 22:15–18
  
  

  Related Talks

  • Robert D. Hales, “Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life,” Oct. 2010 general conference.
  • Body K. Packer, “Cleansing the Inner Temple,” Oct. 2010 general conference.
  
  

Lesson 3: “Unto You Is Born … a Saviour” New Testament Class Member Study Guide, (1997), 3

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  What were the circumstances of Jesus’ birth? (See Luke 2:7.) In what ways do people today refuse to make room for the Savior in their lives? What can you do to make room for him in your life?
• Why did Jesus come to earth? (See 3 Nephi 27:13–16.)
• What did the “wise men from the east” do when they found the child Jesus? (See Matthew 2:11.) What gifts can you offer to the Lord
• As a youth, Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). In other words, he developed intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. What are some specific things you can do to grow intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Read lines from several hymns or Primary songs about Jesus’ birth, and invite family members to identify the hymns or songs. Sing one of the hymns or songs as a family, and discuss the importance of remembering Jesus’ birth throughout the year rather than just during the Christmas season.

Scripture Chain: Jesus’ Birth

• Isaiah 9:6
  
• Helaman 14:1–8
  
• 1 Nephi 11:13–21
  
• Luke 2:7–14
  

Lesson 1: “That Ye Might Believe That Jesus Is the Christ”

• •What do you learn about Jesus Christ from John 1:1–3, 14? (Note that “the Word” in John 1:1, 14 refers to the Savior. Use the Joseph Smith Translation of these verses if it is available.)
• •The Apostle John said that “in [Jesus] was life” (John 1:4). He also testified that Jesus is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). How has the Savior given you life and light?
• •What accounts or teachings in the New Testament have particularly inspired or helped you? How might studying the New Testament this year help strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Read John 1:1–3 or Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:1–3. Explain that Jesus (“the Word” in John 1:1–3) created the earth under Heavenly Father’s direction. Take a walk as a family, giving close attention to the many beauties of creation.

Scripture Chain: Jesus Christ’s Foreordained Mission

• John 1:1–5
  
• John 1:9–17
  
• Abraham 3:22–27
  
• Mosiah 3:5–10
  
• Isaiah 61:1–2
  
• Luke 4:16–21
  

Advance Preparation for Sunday, January 10, 2010

Lesson 2: “Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born”

Please read Abraham 3; Moses 4:1–4

Please search the following scriptures for connections, patterns and themes:



a. Abraham 3:11–12, 22–23; Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–57. Abraham talks with the Lord face to face and learns that in the premortal life many “noble and great” spirits were foreordained to their mortal missions (Abraham 3:11–12, 22–23). President Joseph F. Smith learns more about the “noble and great ones” in a vision of the Savior’s visit to the spirit world before His Resurrection (D&C 138:53–57).

b. Abraham 3:24–28; Moses 4:1–4. Abraham and Moses are shown in vision that Jesus Christ was chosen in the Council in Heaven to be our Savior and that we chose to follow him. They are also shown that Lucifer (Satan) and the spirits who followed him were cast out of heaven.

• Whom did President Joseph F. Smith see in his vision of the spirit world? (See D&C 138:53.) What were these people foreordained to do? (See D&C 138:55–56.)

• In addition to foreordaining the prophets to their callings, God foreordained many “other choice spirits” to help build up his kingdom in different ways. What might you have been foreordained to do? (See D&C 138:56.)

• Who were the two spirits in the Council in Heaven who offered to be our Savior? (See Abraham 3:27; Moses 4:1–2.) How did their offers differ? Why did Heavenly Father choose Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer? (See Moses 4:2–3.)

Additional reading: Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 12:7–9; Alma 13:3–5; Doctrine and Covenants 29:36–39; and the rest of Abraham 3 and Doctrine and Covenants 138.

Gospel Doctrine Lesson One - Class Member Study Guide - January 3, 2010

Moses 1

Study the following scriptures:

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a. Moses 1:1–11. Moses sees God and talks with him face to face. Moses learns that he is a son of God in the similitude of the Only Begotten of the Father.
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b. Moses 1:12–23. Satan confronts Moses; Moses casts him out.
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c. Moses 1:24–39. God appears again and teaches of his work and glory.

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• What did Moses learn about God from the experiences described in Moses 1:1–7? What did Moses learn about himself? What difference can it make in our lives to know that we are children of God, created in the similitude of his Son?
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• How did Moses receive strength to resist the temptations of Satan? (See Moses 1:18, 20–21.) How did Moses get Satan to leave? How can prayer strengthen us to resist temptation? What else can we do to gain this strength?
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• Even though God has created worlds and people that are numberless to us, he assured Moses that he knows them all (Moses 1:35). How have you come to feel that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know you individually and love you?
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• Why is it important for us to know what God’s work and glory is? What are some specific ways we can assist him in this great work?