What Does Jesus Christ’s Atonement Mean to Me?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)
At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2). Plan ways to act on what you discuss.
(1) Live the gospel.
How have we come closer to the Savior? How are we trying to be more like Him?
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. IN HIS FOOTSTEPS mirror motivators. Youth can follow these feet to see the path that Jesus Walked: Resist temptation, Be obedient, Love and serve others, and Be meek and humble. As they visualize Christ beside them they will make better choices. READ MORE
(2) Care for those in need.
Who has been on our minds lately? How can we help these individuals?
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. FAITHFUL SERVANT Service Planner. Here youth can record WHO they want to serve, WHY does one need to be served, WHAT to do, WHERE they will go to serve, and WHEN to serve. To be a faithful serv”ant” they can answer questions to create their plan. READ MORE
(3) Invite all to receive the gospel.
How can we answer our friends’ questions about the Church in a way that strengthens their faith in the Savior?
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. I “BEE” LIEVE SWEET TESTIMONY SHARING. Share with youth that they can gain a testimony through the Holy Ghost as they study and pray. Then, BEAR THEIR TESTIMONY spontaneously about the gospel: Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, Temples (forever families), Joseph Smith, the True Church, the Living Prophet, and the Priesthood. READ MORE
(4) Unite families for eternity.
What are some ways we can better connect with extended family members, such as grandparents and cousins?
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. EXTENDED FAMILY CLOSENESS: Be a Friend checklist and postcard. Youth can send this “You’re a STAR of the family!” postcard to an extended family member with a note of admiration and friendship. Then, use the FAMILY CLOSENESS CHECKLIST for ideas to gather that family member closer. READ MORE
Teach the Doctrine
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Elder David A. Bednar has observed that some Latter-day Saints “seem to have faith in the Savior, but they do not believe His promised blessings are available to them” (“If Ye Had Known Me,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 104). SEE VIDEO BELOW
In other words, even though we believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world, we might wonder if He suffered and died specifically for our sins. Have you ever felt that way? How would the people in your class or quorum benefit from understanding that the Savior’s Atonement applies to them personally? How can you help them?
As Jesus taught, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION. JOHN 14:6 scripture poster/card set. Youth can know from this verse that Jesus Christ is the only way we can reach heaven, get back to heaven, or feel God’s light. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” READ MORE
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. GIFTS OF RESURRECTION & ETERNAL LIFE gift package. Prophets foretold of Jesus Christ coming to bring these gifts. Create these gift packages to hold treats: #1 Gift of Resurrection (a free gift given to all men). #2 Gift of Eternal Life to live with God again (a gift we must earn through living God’s commandments). READ MORE
Ponder these questions as you read about the Savior’s Crucifixion this week. As you prepare to teach about the personal nature of Christ’s Atonement, you might study President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “What Has Our Savior Done for Us?” (Liahona, May 2021, 75–77). VIDEO BELOW
“Jesus Christ has done everything that is essential for our journey through mortality toward the destiny outlined in the plan of our Heavenly Father.”
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION. ARTICLES OF FAITH 1:3 “ATONEMENT” Jesus Is Our Savior and Example scripture poster/card set. Youth can memorize Articles of Faith 1:3: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” With the Savior’s taking upon our sins and through our doing the above, we can become as He is through our daily effort to become like Him. READ MORE
YOUTH ACTIVITY. JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD little lamb block. Youth can read John 1:29 to learn that Jesus Christ is the lamb to take away “the sins of the world.” Several blocks can be made to push around pretending to herd sheep (and more). READ MORE
Learn Together
Invite class or quorum members to share something they learned about the Savior’s Crucifixion this past week in the New Testament and their feelings about the Savior. To help prompt them, you could ask a question like “What do we learn about Jesus Christ from the things He said and did during His final hours?” For example, you could explore instances when the Savior, while suffering for all, still viewed those around Him with compassion (see, for example, Luke 23:34, 39–43; John 19:25–27). This could lead to a discussion about how Jesus Christ’s Atonement is both universal and personal. Activities like the following can help you further discuss the Savior’s Atonement.
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In the first paragraph of his message “What Has Our Savior Done for Us?,” President Dallin H. Oaks described a conversation with a woman who wasn’t convinced that Jesus Christ had done anything for her. Perhaps class or quorum members could read that paragraph, putting themselves in President Oaks’s place. What might we say to this woman? You could give each class or quorum member one of the numbered sections of President Oaks’s message. Using what they learn, along with their own experiences, they could then share their own answers to the question “What has Jesus Christ done for me?”
“The Prophet Joseph Smith summarized all of this in our third article of faith: ‘We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.’” SEE BELOW
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To inspire a discussion about how the Savior’s Atonement affects us personally, you could write on the board a phrase like Because Jesus Christ suffered and died for all people … . Class or quorum members could suggest ways to complete the sentence. Then you could change the phrase to read Because Jesus Christ suffered and died for me … and invite any additional suggestions. As class or quorum members discuss these statements, encourage them to read the scriptures in “Supporting Resources.” What do these scriptures teach us about the influence of the Savior’s Atonement in our individual lives?
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Another way to study the scriptures in “Supporting Resources” could be to invite the youth to replace words in the verses so that the verses are addressed directly to them. How does doing this affect our feelings about the truths in the verses? How can we show our gratitude for the Savior’s sacrifice for us?
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Sacred music can testify powerfully of Jesus Christ. Consider inviting class or quorum members to come prepared to share hymns that help them feel the power of the Savior’s Atonement in their own lives. (They could look at sacrament hymns or the entry “Jesus Christ—Savior” in the topics index of Hymns.) Ask class or quorum members to identify phrases in the hymns that help them feel the Savior’s love for them personally. (See the “Redeemer of Israel” Hymn song visuals below or in the ATONEMENT Index (HERE). You might also talk about how the Savior’s sacrifice affects our daily lives. For example, how does it affect the choices we make?
This is a great TEACHING TOOL for youth to teach children at home/church or in the future as missionaries (about Jesus).
LESSON ACTIVITY. JESUS IS MY HERO be like Him doorknob sign. Youth can strive to be like Jesus as they: THINK what Jesus would think, SAY what Jesus would say, and DO what Jesus would do. Share scripture stories about Jesus and His parables. Also, youth can share ways they follow Him. READ MORE
The Lord’s Atonement affects our choices.
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. WISE CHOICES Thumbs Up or Down game. Youths cannot always know the consequences of their decisions unless they think ahead. With this voting game they can. Toss a coin or button onto the board and then tell the good or bad consequence of that decision. Voting can help them think ahead like Joseph tempted by Potiphar’s wife, knowing ahead of time what would happen if he stayed … he ran! (Genesis 39) READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “MY REDEEMER LIVES” song visuals. Youth can know from this song that Jesus Christ is their KING. He is their bright hope to “walk the lonely road that leads to eternity.” Write words on backs of cue cards (written Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley). READ MORE
YOUTH GOAL PLANNER. INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ATONEMENT. Youth can record their feelings about the Savior and what He has done for them. They start by reading six faith-filled testimonials of apostles and prophets. Then youth and leaders can have a testimony meeting where they can testify of His love for us and their love for Him. READ MORE
Act in Faith
Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Supporting Resources
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1 Corinthians 15:20–22; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9; Alma 7:11–12; 3 Nephi 11:10–11
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Tad R. Callister, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 85–87
