Lesson 22 – Alma Teaches about Faith  Purpose  To teach the children that the word of God, when nourished by faith, will grow in our hearts into a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Opening  Opening Prayer

Attention Activity  What can a seed become?  (A plant or tree, depending on the type of seed.)

Attention Activity  What must happen before a seed can begin to grow?

Attention Activity  What must happen before a seed can begin to grow?

Attention Activity  What does a tree look like when it is young?  What does it look like when it is mature?

Attention Activity  What does it look like when it is mature? ·  What nourishment does a seed need to help it grow into a plant or tree?  Nourishment means something that helps things grow or keeps them alive and well, such as water, fertilizer, sunshine, and soil.

Attention Activity  Just as a good seed with proper care and nourishment will eventually become a fruit-bearing tree, the word of God, planted in our hearts and properly nourished, will develop into a strong testimony.  In todays lesson you will learn how to you can gain a strong testimony.

Scripture Activity  Show the video Show the video

Discussion Questions  In the last lesson, we learned about the rich and proud Zoramites.

Discussion Questions  Why were the poor Zoramites humble? (Alma 32:2–3.)Alma 32:2–3  What are some afflictions that may make people humble enough to listen to the gospel?

Discussion Questions What does it mean to be “poor in heart”? (Humble, teachable, truly repentant, and free from pride.)

Discussion Questions  How was being poor a blessing for these people? (Alma 32:12–13)Alma 32:12–13  People can be humble even if they don’t suffer afflictions or poverty, but sometimes people with riches become proud.  Why is it necessary for us to be humble when we are taught the gospel?

Discussion Questions  What is faith? (Alma 32:21.)Alma 32:21  Why must we have faith to develop a testimony of the gospel? (Alma 32:26.)Alma 32:26  Explain that it takes time to gain a testimony.  Keeping the commandments can help us gain a testimony that they are true.

Discussion Questions  What did Alma tell us to do to develop faith? (Alma 32:27.)Alma 32:27  What can we do to increase our desire to believe?

Discussion Questions  How is obeying the commandments an “experiment” on the word of God?  When we experiment, it means to try something we are not sure about.  When we experiment, or keep commandments, such as the Word of Wisdom, we receive blessings for our obedience and our testimonies become stronger.  How has your faith increased through your obedience to the commandments?

Discussion Questions  How can we plant the word of God in our hearts so our testimonies will grow? By regularly studying the scriptures; listening in Primary, sacrament meeting, and family home evening; praying; and consistently applying the principles of the gospel in our lives

Discussion Questions  How will we know when the good seed, or a testimony of the gospel, is be-ginning to grow inside us? (Alma 32:28, 34.)Alma 32:28, 34  Invite class members to share their testimonies and describe how they gained them.  Encourage the children to gain and strengthen their testimonies.  Assure them that if they have faith they can gain strong testimonies of the gospel.

Discussion Questions  What does it mean to nourish a seed?  Nourish means feed or take care of.  What qualities did Alma tell us we must have to nourish our testimonies of the gospel? (Alma 32:41 –42.)Alma 32:41 –42  Why do you think patience and diligence are necessary in developing faith and a testimony?

Discussion Questions  How can studying the scriptures strengthen our faith and testimony? (Alma 33:14.)Alma 33:14  What important teaching should be part of our testimony? (Alma 33:22.)Alma 33:22

Discussion Questions  How is a strong testimony like a tree? (Alma 33:23.)Alma 33:23  How will having a testimony help you gain eternal life?  You may wish to tell how your testimony has made your problems easier to deal with and brought you joy.

Enrichment Activity  In Alma 32, the word of God is compared to a seed.

Enrichment Activity  The “Word of God” means the gospel, or the teaching of Jesus Christ  Just as a seed will grow into a tree, if we learn and obey the word of God, we will gain a strong testimony of the gospel

Enrichment Activity  Testimony of Jesus Christ  Just as a seed requires care an nourishment to grow into a tree

Enrichment Activity  Our testimony of the gospel requires faith and care to grow strong.  What can you do to strengthen your testimony.  Pray  Study the Scriptures  Obey the commandments  Give Service

Testimony  If you will learn the word of God and obey the commandments while you are young, you will gain strong testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Don’t just take my word for this, try it yourself so you can build a stronger testament and know the truth for yourself.

Closing  Closing prayer

THE END

Alma 32:2-3  2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the a poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—  3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as a dross; therefore they were b poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart. Return

Alma 32:12–13  12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn a wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding b poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.  13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh a repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and b endureth to the end the same shall be saved. Return

Alma 32:21  21 And now as I said concerning faith— a faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye b hope for things which are c not seen, which are true. Return

Alma 32:26  26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. Return

Alma 32:27  27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than a desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. Return

Alma 32:28,34  28 Now, we will compare the word unto a a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a b seed may be planted in your c heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your d unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to e enlighten my f understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.  34 And now, behold, is your a knowledge b perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your c faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your d mind doth begin to expand. Return

Alma 32:41 –42  41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with a patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree b springing up unto everlasting life.  42 And because of your a diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the b fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Return

Alma 33:14  14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye a disbelieve on the Son of God? Return

Alma 33:22  22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and a begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to b atone for their sins; and that he shall c rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the d resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be e judged at the last and judgment day, according to their f works. Return

Alma 33:23  23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall a plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, b springing up in you unto c everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your d burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye e will. Amen. Return

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