How Can I Find Comfort in Jesus Christ When a Loved One Dies?
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
When someone we care about dies, it can be devastating. Separation from our loved one brings feelings of profound grief and sadness. But Paul taught that ultimately “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54) because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, the “sting of death”—the pain and hopelessness we feel in mortality—“is swallowed up in Christ” (Mosiah 16:7–8; see also 1 Corinthians 15:54–57).
At some point, everyone will experience the death of a loved one. How will you help those you teach find comfort during those difficult times through their faith in Jesus Christ? Think about this question as you prepare to teach by reading 1 Corinthians 15, Mosiah 16:7–9, and Doctrine and Covenants 42:44–46.
Before I got released from YW I saw this lesson coming. I knew I was going to invite someone to come talk to the girls about loosing a loved one. I thought of my friend Saedi Oldham who lost her son Ethan recently. She openly shares here feelings on Facebook, her willingness to be vulnerable in the hope of helping someone makes it hard not to love her. I did get released, and as I was looking at this lesson, the spirit kept pushing me to invite her to share her story here. I'm so glad that she was willing. Her testimony of the Savior is so tender and has often lifted me, and I know it is something that can help others.
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Here are pictures you can share with your students, of Ethan and Saedi and their beautiful eternal family.
Maybe this will prompt you to find a guest speaker from your ward or area to come speak to your youth. I encourage you to have them read the lesson, and pick someone who will focus on the Resurrection and our Savior, much like Sadie did.
Learn Together
You might invite class or quorum members to share when they have felt something that stings. You could then ask them why they think Paul used the word “sting” to describe death (see 1 Corinthians 15:54–56). Give them a few minutes to review 1 Corinthians 15 and share truths they find about how the sting of death is overcome. Then consider activities like those below to help the youth better understand how the Savior can comfort us when someone we care about dies.
Pass out the scriptures in the beginning, so they students are ready when called on.
You might divide class or quorum members into pairs and ask each pair to review together some of the scripture passages in “Supporting Resources.” They could write answers to a question like “What important truths do I hope to remember when I lose a loved one?” Ask them to include information from the scripture passages in their answer. Then invite them to share with the class the truths that are most meaningful to them and why.
Consider reviewing together an account from a general conference message showing how a person found hope in Jesus Christ when someone they cared about died. Examples include Sister Reyna I. Aburto’s message “The Grave Has No Victory” (Liahona, May 2021, 85–86) or Elder S. Mark Palmer’s message “Our Sorrow Shall Be Turned into Joy” (Liahona, May 2021, 88–89). You may be impressed to share your own experience or to invite the youth to share how they found comfort and hope in Jesus Christ after a loved one died.
After considering the needs of members of your class or quorum, show one or more of the videos in “Supporting Resources.” Invite the youth to share their impressions. How does knowing that Jesus Christ was resurrected affect how we view death? Invite members of your class or quorum to share their testimonies about the Savior and His Resurrection and how this knowledge brings them hope.
John 11 describes the Savior’s experience with the death of a loved one—His friend Lazarus. Perhaps the class or quorum could read verses 1–45 together, and as they read, they could share things they learn from the Savior’s example. What can we learn from this account that can give us comfort when someone we care about dies? How can we follow the Savior’s example of “mourn[ing] with those that mourn … and comfort[ing] those that stand in need of comfort”? (Mosiah 18:9). What do we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 42:45–46 that can help us do this? You may want to show the video “One-on-One (Ministering with Love)” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Click on image to be taken to the churches website to watch this.
Click on the images to be taken to Etsy.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful lesson. I will be using this information but will be telling my story of loosing my own son. Thank you once again.