This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me reading inMatthew 4 andLuke 4-5. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Living for additional resources and suggestions.
Thought
“The Savior is our Good Samaritan, sent ‘to heal the brokenhearted.’ He comes to us when others pass us by. With compassion, He places His healing balm on our wounds and binds them up. He carries us. He cares for us. He bids us, ‘Come unto me … and I shall heal [you].’ … No injustice, no persecution, no trial, no sadness, no heartache, no suffering, no wound—however deep, however wide, however painful—will be excluded from the comfort, peace, and lasting hope of Him whose open arms and whose wounded hands will welcome us back into His presence.”
(Neil L. Andersen, “Wounded,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018)
Song
“To Think about Jesus,” Children’s Songbook, no. 71
Scripture
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Lesson
Ask your family if they have ever had an experience when they really wanted something from another person but were afraid to ask. Invite some family members to share what happened. Then read together 3 Nephi 17:5–6 and ask your family to tell what the people wanted from Jesus but didn’t ask for out loud. How did Jesus respond to their unspoken desires? What does that teach you about the Savior?
Hand each family member a sheet of paper and a pencil. Give them two minutes (you might set a timer) to search 3 Nephi 17:7–10 and write those things that show the Savior’s compassion. After the lists are complete, ask family members these questions:
What quality did the Nephites possess that enabled the Savior to perform miracles among them? (Verse 8)
How did the Nephites show their gratitude for the Savior’s blessings? (Verse 10)
What do you think the Savior would say to you if you approached him with the same kind of faith?
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012])
Story
Read in John 5:5-9 about the Savior healing a man who had endured a debilitating infirmity for 38 years. Now read in Luke 8:43-47 about the woman with an issue of blood 12 years.
Then read Elder Matthew L. Carpenter’s testimony of Christ’s healing power:
Through His ministry, Christ taught that He had power over the physical body. We cannot control the timing of when Christ’s healing of our physical ailments will occur. Healing occurs according to His will and wisdom. In the scriptures, some suffered for decades; others, their entire mortal lives. Mortal infirmities can refine us and deepen our reliance upon God. But when we allow Christ to be involved, He will always strengthen us spiritually so we can have greater capacity to endure our burdens. Ultimately, we know that every physical ailment, malady, or imperfection will be healed in the Resurrection. That is a gift to all mankind through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ can heal more than just our physical bodies. He can heal our spirits as well. Throughout scripture we learn how Christ helped those whose spirits were weak and made them whole. As we ponder these experiences, our hope and faith in the Savior’s power to bless our lives increases. Jesus Christ can change our hearts, heal us from the effects of injustice or abuse we may experience, and strengthen our capacity to bear loss and heartache, bringing us peace to help us endure the trials of our lives, healing us emotionally. (Matthew L. Carpenter, “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2018).
Discuss any experiences you or your family members might have had with being healed, whether physically or emotionally, by the Savior.
Lead image from Shutterstock
