Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church
Priesthood ordinances point me to Jesus Christ for redemption.
Alma’s words in Alma 13 reveal powerful truths about God’s priesthood power and its purpose—to prepare us to enter into “the rest of the Lord,” or eternal life (Alma 13:16). Perhaps you could write down at least one truth for each verse in Alma 13:1–19. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Verse 1.The priesthood is also called “the order of [God’s] Son” (see also Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–4).
Verse 2.God ordains priests to help people look to His Son for redemption.
What else do you find? How do you feel about the priesthood as you ponder these truths?
Label your board with the numbers 1-19. Your students will read the scriptures and match them to the numbers. Your board may look like this when they are done:
You can purchase these with other materials in my lesson bundle. Or you are welcome to make your own.
Have you ever thought about priesthood ordinances as a gift from God to help you “look forward to his Son for redemption”? (verse 2; see also verse 16). Maybe you could make a list of ordinances you’ve received, such as baptism, confirmation, the sacrament, setting apart for a calling, a blessing of comfort or healing, a patriarchal blessing, and temple ordinances. Ponder your experiences with ordinances like these. Consider the symbolism involved and the Spirit you felt. How does each of these ordinances point you to Jesus Christ for redemption?
Some people mistakenly believe that ordinances—and the priesthood authority to perform them—aren’t necessary. How would you respond to this idea? Here are two general conference messages that could inform your thinking; pick one, and write down any answers that come to you: Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 76–79; Dale G. Renlund, “The Priesthood and the Savior’s Atoning Power,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 64–67.
See also Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–22; Gospel Topics, “Covenant,” Gospel Library.
The Lord invites me to enter into His rest.
The invitation to “enter into the rest of the Lord” (Alma 13:16) is repeated often in Alma 13. Maybe you could look for every verse where the word “rest” appears and ponder what each verse teaches you about what “the rest of the Lord” might mean. How is it different from physical rest? How do we find it?
See also Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 95–98; “Come unto Jesus,” Hymns, no. 117.
I like to have the paper pages available for them to read, circle, highlight. You are welcome to print them here:
In times of suffering, we must trust the Lord.
You might wonder, as many do, why terrible things happen to people who are trying to live righteously. You may not find all the answers to this difficult question in Alma 14, but there is much to learn from the way Alma and Amulek responded to tragedy. What do their words and actions teach you about why the Lord sometimes allows righteous people to suffer? What advice might Alma and Amulek give to us when we are experiencing difficult trials?
See also Romans 8:35–39; 1 Peter 4:12–14; Doctrine and Covenants 122:5–9; Dale G. Renlund, “Infuriating Unfairness,” Liahona, May 2021, 41–45.
OBJECT LESSON
Have the students draw a picture of Alma and Amulek on a plain piece of paper....it may look something like this:
You will also need a picture of the Savior from the library or you can use mine. It will be in the lesson bundle. Print it on card stock so it isn't see through.
Turn the picture of the Savior upside down on the floor, trying not to let the students see it.
Go around the room, taking turns letting the students read Alma 14. Each time a student reads about a trial that Alma and Amulek went through, rip a small part of the paper with the picture of Alma and Amulek, and let it land on the back side of the picture of Christ.
Continue this process until the entire story is read, and Alma and Amulek's picture is in pieces on the picture of Christ.
Review with the students some of the trials that tore Alma and Amulek apart.
Ask someone to read Romans 8:35–39.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Put this in your own words:
As you bring out the picture of Christ, testify that Alma and Amulek, through their trials, actually came closer to Christ. They could have chosen not to draw closer to Him, (put the pieces of in a pile away from the picture of Christ). Would that have made it easier? Would it have kept them from having trials? No, everyone faces trials. If we trust in God, He has the power to restore anything we have lost, make us whole, and heal us. If we choose to be angry and turn our hearts away from Christ, we remain in pieces, lacking the strength of being yoked with Him to make our burdens light.
I also think it's a good idea to invite a youth to testify, something they may have gone through that has brought them closer to Jesus Christ. It is really good to give them a heads up by texting 2-3 students the night before.
Discipleship requires sacrifice.
It might be interesting to make a list of the things Amulek gave up to embrace the gospel (see Alma 10:4–5; 15:16) and compare it to a list of what he gained (see Alma 15:18; 16:13–15; 34:8). What are you willing to sacrifice to become a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ?
Your board might look like this:
The printable's are in my lesson bundle.
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