March 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” increase your faith in God and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

The Enabling Power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement

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 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). “Though we all have weaknesses, we can overcome them,” says President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. “Indeed it is by the grace of God that, if we humble ourselves and have faith, weak things can become strong.”1

Our Savior says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).

“Nephi is an example of one who knew, understood, and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior,” says Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Nephi’s brothers bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Please note Nephi’s prayer: ‘O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound’ (1 Nephi 7:17).

“… Nephi did not pray to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And I believe he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew, understood, and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement.

“I do not think the bands with which Nephi was bound just magically fell from his hands and wrists. Rather, I suspect he was blessed with both persistence and personal strength beyond his natural capacity, that he then ‘in the strength of the Lord’ (Mosiah 9:17) worked and twisted and tugged on the cords, and ultimately and literally was enabled to break the bands.”2
 

Additional Scriptures and Information

Isaiah 41:10; Ether 12:27; reliefsociety.lds.org

Consider This

How can the enabling power of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice help our weaknesses be made strong?

Notes

1. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign, May 2015, 108.
2. David A. Bednar, “Strength beyond Our Own,” New Era, Mar. 2015, 4.


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Some other sites to check
Sugardoodle
The Idea Door
Inkablinka
My Happy Tribe 

Still looking for ideas? Google 'Visiting Teaching Message March 2017'

February 2017

Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” increase your faith in God and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

Christ’s Atonement Is Evidence of God’s Love

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Understanding that our Heavenly Father gave His Only Begotten Son that we might have immortality and the potential for eternal life helps us feel of God’s infinite and incomprehensible love for us. Our Savior also loves us.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 38–39).

Of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement of Jesus Christ also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure. ‘For behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam’ (2 Nephi 9:21; see also Alma 7:11–12).”1

Christ has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands” (Isaiah 49:16). Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President, says, “That supreme act of love ought to send each of us to our knees in humble prayer to thank our Heavenly Father for loving us enough that He sent His Only Begotten and perfect Son to suffer for our sins, our heartaches, and all that seems unfair in our own individual lives.”2

Additional Scriptures and Information

John 3:16; 2 Nephi 2:6–7, 9;

Consider This

How can we express our gratitude and love to God and to Jesus Christ for the gift of our Savior’s Atonement?

Notes

  1. D Todd Christofferson, “Redemption,” Ensign, May 2013, 110.
  2. Linda K  Burton, “Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 114 

Suggested handout (download)

The file will download automatically and is 6x4 suitable for a photo print if you wish

Some other sites to check
Sugardoodle
The Idea Door
Inkablinka
My Happy Tribe 

Still looking for ideas? Google 'Visiting Teaching Message February 2017'