• The messages of hope in Jeremiah’s prophecies can give class members hope in their own circumstances. Perhaps your class could discuss circumstances that might cause people in our day to feel hopeless like the people in Jeremiah’s time felt (see Jeremiah 30:5; 31:15; Lamentations 1:1–7; 3:1–5; and the quotation in “Additional Resources”). You could then divide class members into three groups and invite each group to review Jeremiah 30; 31; and 33 for messages that could bring hope to people today. How has hope in the Lord helped us endure trials?

• Reviewing Jeremiah 31:31–34; 32:37–42 can help your class ponder the covenants they have made. One way to encourage a discussion about these verses is to give class members a few minutes to read the verses and then write on a slip of paper a question they would like to ask the class about what they read. For instance, they might want to discuss what it means to have God’s law written in our hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33) or how covenants help us to come to know the Lord (see Jeremiah 31:34). You could collect the questions and pick a few to discuss together. What do we learn from these verses that inspires us to be valiant in keeping our covenants?

Jeremiah 36

The scriptures have power to turn us away from evil.

. . . HOPE IN CHRIST. . .

President M. Russell Ballard mentioned some situations that may cause some to lose hope, and he offered counsel about where to find hope:

“Some of us may find our lives laden with frustration, disappointment, and sorrow. Many feel helpless to deal with the chaos that seems to prevail in the world. Others anguish over family members who are being carried downstream in a swift, raging current of weakening values and declining moral standards. … Many have even resigned themselves to accept the wickedness and cruelty of the world as being irreparable. They have given up hope. …

“… Some among us may have lost all hope because of sin and transgression. A person can become so deeply immersed in the ways of the world that he sees no way out and loses all hope. My plea to all who have fallen into this trap of the adversary is to never give up! Regardless of how desperate things may seem or how desperate they may yet become, please believe me, you can always have hope. Always” (“The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31–32).

“Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. … Faith in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, is absolutely essential for us to maintain a balanced perspective through times of trial and difficulty” (“The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” 32). VIDEO BELOW