Welcome to November!
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November, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Hebrews 1.
2. The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to strengthen the Hebrew Saints’ faith in Jesus Christ. In this chapter, we read that Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth, He speaks for the Father, and He is the heir of the Father. How can having faith in Jesus Christ help us keep the commandments and do what we are supposed to do?
3. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Listen to the whole song.
Youth
1. Today read Hebrews 1.
2. Hebrews 1 contains many truths about Jesus Christ. For example,
- Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth (see Hebrews 1:2, 10)
- Jesus Christ speaks for the Father (see Hebrews 1:2)
- Jesus Christ is the heir of the Father (see Hebrews 1:2)
- Jesus Christ is in the express image of the Father (see Hebrews 1:3)
- Jesus Christ upholds all things by the word of His power (see Hebrews 1:3)
- Jesus Christ purges our sins (see Hebrews 1:3)
- Jesus Christ reigns at the right hand of the Father (see Hebrews 1:3)
3. The phrase “express image of the Father” means that Jesus Christ both physically and spiritually personifies Heavenly Father and shares His divine character, and the phrase “upholding all things by the word of His power” indicates that Jesus Christ is all powerful. President Joseph F. Smith taught the following about the image of Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is ‘the express image’ of His Father’s person (Hebrews 1:3). He walked the earth as a human being, as a perfect man, and said, in answer to a question put to Him: ‘He that hath seen me hath seen the Father’ (John 14:9). This alone ought to solve the problem to the satisfaction of every thoughtful, reverent mind. The conclusion is irresistible, that if the Son of God be the express image (that is, likeness) of His Father’s person, then His Father is in the form of man; for that was the form of the Son of God, not only during His mortal life, but before His mortal birth, and after His resurrection. It was in this form that the Father and the Son, as two personages, appeared to Joseph Smith, when, as a boy of fourteen years, he received his first vision. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 334)
4. How can Jesus’s role as Creator influence my life? Chad H Webb, administrator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, explained:
You may remember that President Boyd K. Packer was an accomplished artist who enjoyed carving wooden birds. One day he was a passenger in a car driven by Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, and one of his carvings rested on the backseat of the car. At an intersection, Elder Tuttle slammed on the brakes and the carving tipped upside down on the floor and broke into pieces. Elder Tuttle was devastated, but President Packer was not. He simply said, “Forget it. I made it. I can fix it.” And he did. He made it stronger than it was and even improved it a bit. President Packer explained, “Who made you? Who is your Creator? There is not anything about your life that gets bent or broken that He cannot fix and will fix.”
(Chad H Webb, “We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ,” Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Annual Training Broadcast, June 12, 2018, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Hebrews 2.
2. In this chapter, Paul continues to talk about Jesus Christ. One of the things he called Jesus is the “captain of our salvation.” Think about a time you played a game that had captains or team leaders. Why did you choose that person to be your leader? How can letting Jesus Christ lead us help us to reach salvation?
3. Listen to the song “Tell Me, Dear Lord.”
Youth
1. Today read Hebrews 2.
2. What qualifications do you look for when selecting a captain or a leader for a team, club, or activity? In Hebrews 2, Paul explained more about the nature and identity of Jesus Christ to the Jewish converts to help them see why they should continue to follow Jesus Christ. Read Hebrews 2:10. How is Jesus Christ the “captain of our salvation”?
3. According to verse 9, what did Jesus Christ do for all people?
4. According to verse 14, who did the Savior conquer through His Atonement?
5. Paul not only referred to the Savior as the Captain of our salvation, but he also called Him “a merciful and faithful high priest” (verse 17). Paul likened Jesus Christ to a Jewish high priest because the high priest was viewed as a mediator between the people and God. Because Jesus Christ suffered and was tempted in all things, He understands us perfectly and can help us in times of need.
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 4.
2. The Israelites were hardening their hearts by rejecting the Lord’s blessings. Paul told them not to harden their hearts. Think about the difference between something soft, like a sponge, and something hard, like a rock. When water is dripped on them, which thing will be able to soak up the water? How is that like accepting blessings from Heavenly Father when our hearts are hard or soft?
3. Listen to the song “Kindness Begins With Me.”
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 4.
2. What do you think it means to “harden not your hearts”? (Hebrews 4:7). It means to keep your heart open, willing, and obedient to God and His commandments. If we remain faithful to the Savior and harden not our hearts, we will enter into the rest of the Lord.
3. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to enter into the Lord’s rest.
True saints enter into the rest of the Lord while in this life, and by abiding in the truth, they continue in that blessed state until they rest with the Lord in heaven. … The rest of the Lord, where mortals are concerned, is to gain a perfect knowledge of the divinity of the great latter-day work. … The rest of the Lord, in eternity, is to inherit eternal life, to gain the fulness of the Lord’s glory. (D. & C. 84:24.) (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 633)
4. How does keeping our hearts open to God’s purpose and plan for us prepare us to enter into the rest of the Lord?
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 5.
2. The priesthood is the power and authority to act in God’s name. Take a look at Hebrews 5:4. How do people get the priesthood? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “We believe that no man can administer salvation through the gospel, to the souls of men, in the name of Jesus Christ, except he is authorized from God, by revelation, or by being ordained by some one whom God hath sent by revelation. … Hebrews 5:4 [states], ‘And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.’—And I would ask, how was Aaron called, but by revelation?” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 110; see also D&C 42:11). Priesthood authority and callings are given by the word of God.
3. Listen to the song “Search, Ponder, and Pray.”
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 5.
2. The priesthood is the power and authority to act in God’s name. Take a look at Hebrews 5:4. How do people get the priesthood? The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:
We believe that no man can administer salvation through the gospel, to the souls of men, in the name of Jesus Christ, except he is authorized from God, by revelation, or by being ordained by some one whom God hath sent by revelation. … Hebrews 5:4 [states], ‘And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.’ — And I would ask, how was Aaron called, but by revelation? (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 110; see also D&C 42:11).
3. Those who are ordained to the priesthood must be called of God by revelation through His authorized servants. In the Church today, authorized priesthood leaders are to interview each candidate for ordination and seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to determine a candidate’s readiness and worthiness to be ordained to the priesthood. How does this truth relate to the process of calling people to serve in positions in the Church? Why is it important to know that priesthood authority can be received only in this way?
4. According to Hebrews 5:9, what did the Savior become? How is Jesus Christ “the author of eternal salvation” to all who obey Him?
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 7.
2. Abraham was a righteous prophet in Old Testament times. Abraham paid tithing to Melchizedek. Melchizedek held the priesthood, which is God’s power, and Melchizedek used it to bless Abraham. Just like Melchizedek in ancient times, modern church leaders follow the Savior and use their priesthood to bless others.
3. Listen to the song “Search, Ponder, and Pray.”
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 7.
2. Sometimes we can identify something just from seeing its shadow. Old Testament records ceremonies and ordinances functioned as types and shadows, symbolizing and foreshadowing the Savior and His Atonement. Every aspect of the law of Moses was intended to function as a type or shadow that pointed the Israelites to Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. Paul explained how several parts of the law did this. He wanted to help the Jewish Saints remain faithful to Jesus Christ instead of reverting to following the law of Moses.
3. Paul cited an Old Testament prophecy about the coming of a priest “after the order of Melchizedek”. He taught that Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy. Melchizedek was a righteous king and the high priest who presided over Abraham. Paul used Melchizedek as a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. He taught that Jesus Christ and His priesthood were necessary because the Levitical Priesthood, along with the law of Moses it administered, could not perfect God’s children (see Hebrews 7:11). The Levitical Priesthood refers to the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood held by members of the tribe of Levi. As recorded in Hebrews 7, Paul compared the Levitical priests to Jesus Christ. One role of a Levitical priest was to act as a mediator, symbolically standing between the people and God to resolve their differences.
4. Melchizedek was ‘a great Old Testament high priest, prophet, and leader who lived after the flood and during the time of Abraham. He was called the king of Salem (Jerusalem), king of peace, king of righteousness (which is the Hebrew meaning of Melchizedek), and priest of the most high God’ (Guide to the Scriptures, ‘Melchizedek’; scriptures.lds.org). Other scriptures relate that Melchizedek conferred the priesthood upon Abraham, received tithes from Abraham, and was unsurpassed in his greatness (see D&C 84:14; Hebrews 7:4; Genesis 14:18–20; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:25–40 [in the Bible appendix]; Alma 13:19). In the Epistle to the Hebrews, Melchizedek stands as a prototype of the Son of God (see Hebrews 7:15–16).
5. Hebrews 7:23–28 contains phrases describing Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ and His priesthood are “unchangeable,” or eternal [Hebrews 7:24]
- He can save those who “come unto God by him” [Hebrews 7:25]
- He lives to “make intercession for [us]” (the Savior’s mission is to intervene on our behalf to help us return to God)[Hebrews 7:25]
- He was sinless and therefore “needeth not offer sacrifice for his own sins” [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:26]
- He only had to offer one sacrifice, which was “for the sins of the people” [Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:26]
- He is “consecrated for evermore” [Hebrews 7:28]
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 10.
2. Jesus Christ offered His own life as a sacrifice for our sins. In the Old Testament, the people offered animal sacrifices in the temple. Paul told the people that the blood of animals did not have the power to take away sins, but the blood of Jesus Christ, through the Atonement, was able to do exactly that.
3. Listen to the song “Tell Me, Dear Lord.”
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 10.
2. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest performed special animal sacrifices before entering the portion of the tabernacle known as the most holy place (or Holy of Holies). This part of the tabernacle symbolized the celestial kingdom, or the presence of God. These sacrifices and the actions of the high priest were intended to symbolize how Jesus, the Great High Priest, would make a sacrifice that would prepare a way for the people to enter God’s presence.
3. What could Jesus Christ’s sacrifice do that the “blood of bulls and of goats” (Hebrews 10:4) could not? Why, then, did the high priests perform these sacrifices on the Day of Atonement? To demonstrate “a shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1), or to point to the Savior’s Atonement.
4. Because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, we can enter the celestial kingdom if we hold fast to our faith in Him. What can we do to hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ? What does it mean to “cast not away … your confidence”? (verse 35).
5. Read the following statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in which he explains what it means to “cast not away [our] confidence”:
In Latter-day Saint talk that is to say, Sure it is tough—before you join the Church, while you are trying to join, and after you have joined. That is the way it has always been, Paul says, but don’t draw back. Don’t panic and retreat. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t forget how you once felt. Don’t distrust the experience you had. That tenacity is what saved Moses and Joseph Smith when the adversary confronted them, and it is what will save you. (“Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 8)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 11.
2. Even though we can’t see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can develop faith in Them and Their promises, following the examples of faithful people described in Hebrews 11. How does it feel when the wind blows on your face? We can’t see air, but we can feel it. Similarly, we can’t see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but we can feel Their love and have faith that They are real.
3. Listen to the song “Kindness Begins With Me.”
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 11.
2. Many people talk about having faith—in themselves, in others, and even in events or objects. So, what makes having faith in Jesus Christ empowering and important? In Hebrews 11 we read the Apostle Paul’s teachings on developing faith in Jesus Christ. How did Paul define faith? (Hebrews 11:1) What do you think it means to have assurance or trust in things you hope for? How is it possible to have evidence of things you cannot see?
3. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Faith does not fall upon us by chance or stay with us by birthright. … Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it. Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker. Faith is a principle of power, important not only in this life but also in our progression beyond the veil. By the grace of Christ, we will one day be saved through faith on His name [see Ephesians 2:8 ]. The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice.
(Neil L. Andersen, “Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 65)
4. Why should I try to increase my faith in Jesus Christ? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
My call to you … is to start today to increase your faith. Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life [see 1 Nephi 7:12], even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.
Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. …
Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life. All things are possible to them that believe [see Mark 9:23 ].
(Russell M. Nelson, “Christ is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, May 2021, 102–3, 104)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Hebrews 12.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Hebrews 12:9.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
3. When is the last time you were corrected by a parent or a teacher? Paul wrote to the Hebrew Saints and explained to them that our Heavenly Father often shows His love by correcting us. Humbly submitting to correction from Heavenly Father can help you have peace and become more like Him.
Youth
1. Read Hebrews 12.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Hebrews 12:9.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
3. When is the last time you were corrected by a parent or a teacher? Paul wrote to the Hebrew Saints and explained to them that our Heavenly Father often shows His love by correcting us. Humbly submitting to correction from Heavenly Father can help us have peace and become more like Him.
4. What did Paul teach about how to successfully “run the race of life?” (Hebrews 12:1-2) Paul noted in verse 2 that the Savior endured the challenge of crucifixion by focusing on “the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). President Russell M. Nelson explained:
What was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home—clean and worthy—to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.
(Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 83)
5. If we submit to chastening from Heavenly Father, we will become more like Him and have the peace that comes from righteousness. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the following insights about chastening we receive from the Lord:
Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path. …
… If we are open to it, needed correction will come in many forms and from many sources. It may come in the course of our prayers as God speaks to our mind and heart through the Holy Ghost [see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2]. It may come in the form of prayers that are answered no or differently than we had expected. Chastening may come as we study the scriptures and are reminded of deficiencies, disobedience, or simply matters neglected.
(D. Todd Christofferson, “‘As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,’” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 98, 100)
Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read James 1.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, James 1:5-6. (There is a song to listen to for this scripture!)
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
3. Joseph Smith read James 1:5 and was inspired to approach Heavenly Father in prayer. The result was the First Vision. If we seek His help, Heavenly Father will help us learn the truth.
4. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through James.
Youth
1. Today read James 1.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, James 1:5-6. (There is a song to listen to for this scripture!)
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
3. Watch the video “Joseph Smith’s First Vision.”
4. Do you feel that you can ask God for help when you have unanswered questions or need His wisdom in making important decisions? James declared that anyone who lacks wisdom can “ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally … and it shall be given him”. Think about your personal habits of praying and asking for wisdom and answers from God. When was the last time you asked your Heavenly Father for wisdom or for answers to your questions? What can you do today to begin asking more sincerely and more frequently?
5. What does it mean to “ask in faith”? Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles referred to James 1:5–6 and explained:
Notice the requirement to ask in faith, which I understand to mean the necessity to not only express but to do, the dual obligation to both plead and to perform, the requirement to communicate and to act. …
Joseph’s questions focused not just on what he needed to know but also on what was to be done! His prayer was not simply, “Which church is right?” His question was, “Which church should I join?” Joseph went to the grove to ask in faith, and he was determined to act.
True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. … We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say “amen,” by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father.
Asking in faith requires honesty, effort, commitment, and persistence.
(David A. Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 94–95)
6. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through James.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read James 2.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter! James 2:17-18. (There is a song to listen to for this scripture, as well.)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
3. Imagine you have a flashlight with no batteries, or a mechanical pencil with no lead in it. Will they work? In James 2 we learn that it doesn’t matter how much faith we have if we never do anything about it. In James 1:22 we read, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” It’s important to ACT on the the things we learn at church and in the scriptures. How can we show our faith through what we do?
4. Listen to the song “Search, Ponder, and Pray.”
Youth
1. Read James 2.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter! James 2:17-18. (There is a song to listen to for this scripture, as well.)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
3. Can there be a difference between a person who says that they believe in Jesus Christ and a person who exercises faith in Jesus Christ? James offered an important distinction that true faith in Jesus Christ is reflected not just in what a person thinks or says, but also in what they do. Are you seeking a blessing or an answer to prayer from Heavenly Father? It may help to compare the process of seeking these blessings to starting a fire in order to receive light and heat from it. What steps would you take to build a fire? How important is the action of lighting a match?
4. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about how receiving blessings is like lighting a fire.
Let us liken heavenly blessings to a massive pile of wood. … [It] contains an enormous amount of fuel, capable of producing light and heat for days. …
For the energy in the woodpile to be released, the match needs to be struck and the kindling lit. The kindling will quickly catch fire and cause the larger pieces of wood to burn. …
Striking the match and lighting the kindling are small actions that enable the potential energy of the wood to be released. Until the match is struck, nothing happens, regardless of the size of the woodpile. …
In a similar way, most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. … The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive.
(Dale G. Renlund, “Abound with Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 70)
5. True faith in Jesus Christ requires righteous action. Why do you think Jesus Christ wants us to put our faith into action? President Russell M. Nelson gave the following challenge with regards to our faith and our actions:
To do anything well requires effort. Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is no exception. Increasing your faith and trust in Him takes effort. …
…What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.
(Russell M. Nelson, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, 2021, 103)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read James 3.
2. The words we say to each other may seem unimportant, but as James testified, they can have a powerful influence, for good or bad. James taught that we need to control our speech, just like a rider needs to control the horse he is on, so that we do not hurt others with our words. Why is it so important to speak to others kindly?
3. Listen to the song “Kindness Begins With Me.”
Youth
1. Read James 3.
2. Take a look at James 3:2-5. What does James compare a those who can control their words to?
A bit (verse 3) is a small piece of metal placed in a horse’s mouth that connects to the reins, allowing a rider to direct the horse. In this verse, the word helm (verse 4) refers to a ship’s rudder, which helps someone to steer or turn the ship.
3. According to James, what do a horse’s bit and a ship’s helm have in common? (Both are relatively small, and both steer or control the larger entities to which they are attached.) How can James’s comparison of these objects to a tongue, or the words we speak, help us understand the power of our words? As we learn to control our speech, we can learn to control the rest of our actions.
4. Referring to James’s powerful teachings, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following:
Obviously James doesn’t mean our tongues are always iniquitous, nor that everything we say is “full of deadly poison.” But he clearly means that at least some things we say can be destructive, even venomous—and that is a chilling indictment for a Latter-day Saint! The voice that bears profound testimony, utters fervent prayer, and sings the hymns of Zion can be the same voice that berates and criticizes, embarrasses and demeans, inflicts pain and destroys the spirit of oneself and of others in the process. …
… May we try to be “perfect” men and women in at least this one way now — by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, … so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 16, 18)
5. One truth we can learn is that followers of God strive to use their language for righteous purposes, not to spread evil.
Reflect for a moment on how you have seen language used for both good and evil in the following situations:
- in texting or social media
- at church on Sundays
- at school with your friends
- on a team or in a club
- at home with your family
What experiences have you had that illustrate the powerful effect words can have on people, for good or for evil?
Day 4
Primary
1. Read James 5.
2. Think of times when you have had to wait for something that you really wanted. Waiting for something we want without complaining is called being patient. Why do we have to be patient when we are growing plants? What would happen if we tried to pull on the seedling to make it grow faster? James teaches that God can help us learn to be patient.
3. Listen to the song “Tell Me, Dear Lord.”
Youth
1. Read James 5.
2. James had counsel for the sick and afflicted. Read James 5:13-16. What did James counsel the sick and afflicted to do? What did James instruct elders to do for the sick? (To administer to the sick by the authority of the priesthood and to anoint them with oil.)
3. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “when elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted” (“Healing the Sick,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 48). Through the prayer of faith and the power of the priesthood, the sick can be healed.
4. Elder Oaks taught about the prayer of faith and the healing power of the priesthood.
As we exercise the undoubted power of the priesthood of God and as we treasure His promise that He will hear and answer the prayer of faith, we must always remember that faith and the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him whose priesthood it is. …
… Even the servants of the Lord, exercising His divine power in a circumstance where there is sufficient faith to be healed, cannot give a priesthood blessing that will cause a person to be healed if that healing is not the will of the Lord.
As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust. … I felt that same trust in the words of the father of [a] choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He declared, ‘Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes.’ Those teachings ring true to me. We do all that we can for the healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome. (“Healing the Sick,” 50)
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read 1 Peter 1.
2. Peter wrote to strengthen the faith of the Saints as they were suffering intense persecution from the Roman Empire. He emphasized that they had been redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus Christ and reminded them of their divine heritage as God’s peculiar people. We may not have the same trials today that the saints did in Peter’s day, but as we go through our trials we can make sure we remember that Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to be resurrected and return to live with God.
3. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through “Peter, Peter.”
Youth
1. Read 1 Peter 1.
2.
A crucible is a container in which metals or other substances are refined, which means they are heated and melted in order to remove impurities and strengthen the final product. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
As I travel throughout the Church, I see members being tried in the crucible of affliction. (“Hyrum Smith: ‘Firm As the Pillars of Heaven,’” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 9)
What do you think Elder Ballard meant by the term “crucible of affliction”? (The challenging trials or adversities of life.)
3. Peter wrote his First Epistle to strengthen and encourage the Saints as they experienced a crucible of affliction. Explain that until approximately A.D. 64, about the time when Peter wrote this epistle, the Roman government displayed a general tolerance for Christianity. In July of that year a fire destroyed much of Rome. Some prominent Romans accused the Christians of starting the fire. This led to the intense persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Some of the mistreatment experienced by Christians came from their former friends and neighbors.
4. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who explained how we can remain steadfast and immovable during a trial of faith:
How do you remain ‘steadfast and immovable’ [Alma 1:25] during a trial of faith? You immerse yourself in the very things that helped build your core of faith: you exercise faith in Christ, you pray, you ponder the scriptures, you repent, you keep the commandments, and you serve others.
When faced with a trial of faith — whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view. (“Trial of Your Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 40)
5. Although we experience trials, we can rejoice in Jesus Christ’s Atonement and in the future blessings God has promised to give us.
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read 1 Peter 4.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 1 Peter 4:6.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
3. This verse teaches that the gospel is preached to the dead so that they might have the same opportunities as those who hear the gospel in life. Why do you think it is important to know that people who have died will have the chance to hear the gospel?
4. Listen to the song “Tell Me, Dear Lord.”
Youth
1. Today read 1 Peter 4.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 1 Peter 4:6.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
3. What will happen to the billions of Heavenly Father’s children who lived and died without the opportunity to hear of Jesus Christ or accept authorized ordinances in His name? The Apostle Peter taught that Jesus Christ preached the gospel in the spirit world after His death, making the blessings of the gospel available to all of Heavenly Father’s children.
4. While the knowledge of salvation for the dead was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Bible contains passages that show us that those truths were understood and taught by the early Apostles. For example, the Apostle Peter taught about what Jesus Christ did for those who died without a knowledge of the gospel.
5. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the responsibility we have to assist the Savior in His work of redeeming the dead.
As Church members, we do have a divinely appointed responsibility to seek out our ancestors and compile family histories. This is far more than an encouraged hobby, because the ordinances of salvation are necessary for all of God’s children. We are to identify our own ancestors who died without receiving the ordinances of salvation. We can perform the ordinances vicariously in temples, and our ancestors may choose to accept the ordinances. We are also encouraged to help ward and stake members with their family names. It is breathtakingly amazing that, through family history and temple work, we can help to redeem the dead.
(Dale G. Renlund, “Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 46–47)
6. How can we do that? President Russell M. Nelson declared:
Anytime you do anything that helps anyone — on either side of the veil — take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.
(Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], supplement to the New Era and Ensign, 15, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
