Though Jacob needed to call his people to repentance for their sins, the heart of his message was one of reconciliation and joy. This Book of Mormon FHE lesson teaches about how we are brought back to the presence of God because of Jesus Christ.
Scripture
Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
Hymn
Where Can I Turn for Peace? | Hymn #129
1. Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?
2. Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.
3. He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.
Lesson
FOR CHILDREN
Before the lesson begins, choose someone your children are close to that lives far away. It can be a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a sibling on a mission, or a friend they’ve moved away from.
Begin the lesson with a discussion on how they feel when they are separated from that person. Then, discuss how they feel when they get to see that person again.
Read aloud: Right now, we are separated from God. He wants to bring us home again so we can be joyful. But He knows we sin and make mistakes. We need to be clean to live with God, so He sent His son Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, we can go back to be with God.
Ask: How does Jesus help us live with God again? [forgives our sins, teaches us truth, shows us the way back]
Read aloud: Sometimes, it feels hard to go to Jesus for help. When we make a mistake, we feel bad and guilty. But remember how good it feels to see someone again after a long time? We need to have faith Jesus is so excited and happy to help us.
Ask: How can we have faith and ask Jesus for help?
Finish the lesson by sharing a personal experience when you need to go to Christ for help and how you felt afterward. If fitting for your family, have children share their experiences. Finish with your testimony.
FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Begin the lesson by watching the following video. Before pressing play, ask everyone to think about how this video could relate to being reconciled with God.
Read aloud: Just as in this video, there is so much joy that comes to being reconciled with the one who loves us the most of all, our Heavenly Father. Reuniting with Him will be more glorious than we can imagine. God is so serious about helping us come home that He gave His son, Jesus Christ, for us.
Have someone read Jacob 4:11:
Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
Ask: What are some of the things promised to us if we are reconciled through Christ in this scripture?
Read aloud: The process of reconciliation isn’t easy. Our very natures need to be changed. This is especially true when we sin or make mistakes. Instead of running into the arms of Christ, we may want to run away from Him.
Ask: What holds us back from turning to Christ? How can we overcome these things?
Finish the lesson by sharing any relevant personal experiences and bearing your testimony.
FOR SINGLE STUDY
Read through Jacob 4. Note all of the blessings that come from following Jesus Christ. Write down a list of things that are holding you back from accepting the grace of Christ in your life. Make a plan to work on overcoming those things in the following week.
Featured Products
Treat
Treat
Pizza Toast
Ingredients:
6 slices soft bread
6 tablespoons prepared pizza sauce (1 tablespoon sauce per toast)
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (1/4 cup cheese per toast)
1 (5 ounce) package mini pepperonis (about 16 mini pepperonis per toast)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and space the bread slices out on it. Bake the bread slices for 5 minutes until just starting to toast.
- Remove toasted bread from oven and spread each slice with 1 tablespoon pizza sauce, sprinkle with ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and garnish with about 16 mini pepperonis. Return to oven for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
(Courtesy of thebakermama.com)
Activity
ActivityWatch the following Book of Mormon video together as a family.
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
