Repentance I am sorry is not always easy to say When I know I ve been thoughtless and done something wrong. I ll try to repent, to do better, to pray That Heavenly Father will help me be strong. Words: Sylvia Knight Lloyd, b. 1933. 1974 IRI, Music: Robert P. Manookin, 1918 1997. 1974 IRI
What happens when water boils? What happens when water freezes?
When water changes to ice or steam, we say that it has been converted. It is different from the original water.
How are people converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ? How do their lives change when they are converted? This lesson is about one man s miraculous conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Conversion of Saul Lesson 42: The Conversion of Saul, Primary 7: New Testament, 147 & Saul Learns about Jesus, New Testament Scripture Stories, Chapter 59, 154-155
Saul had watched the people kill Stephen. One day Saul was walking to the city of Damascus with some friends. He wanted to put some of Christ s disciples in prison.
Suddenly a bright light from heaven surrounded him and he fell to the ground. Then Saul heard the voice of Jesus asking him why he was trying to hurt the Saints. Saul was afraid.
Saul asked Jesus what he should do. The Savior said Saul should go to Damascus. There Saul would be told what he needed to do.
Saul opened his eyes, but he could not see. He was blind. His friends took him to Damascus. While Saul was in Damascus he fasted and prayed for three days. A disciple of Jesus Christ named Ananias lived in Damascus.
In a vision, Jesus told Ananias to go to Saul. Ananias had the priesthood. Ananias was afraid. He had heard about Saul and how he had been putting Jesus disciples in prison. However, Ananias was obedient to the Lord.
Ananias went to the home Saul had been staying at. Ananias called him Brother Saul and told Saul he had been sent by the Lord. He put his hands on Saul s head and blessed him that Saul s sight would come back.
After being healed, Saul was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. He became known as Paul. He was called to be an Apostle.
Paul became a missionary for the Church. He preached the gospel in many lands. He wrote many letters to Christ s disciples. Many of these letters are in the New Testament.
How did Saul persecute the members of the Church? Let s read Acts 7:57 60; 8:1 3; 9:1 2
How might the members of the Church have felt about Saul? How would you feel if someone persecuted you for your beliefs? How should we respond when someone does this? Has someone made fun of you or been unkind to you because of your beliefs?
What happened on the road to Damascus that helped Saul realize he needed to repent of his sins? Let s read Acts 9:3 6
Who did Saul speak with in this vision? Let s read Acts 9:5 How do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us know when we need to repent?
What does it mean to kick against the pricks? Let s read Acts 9:5
A prick was a sharp spear people used on animals to make them move. Often the animals would kick back when pricked, which made the spear hurt them even more.
Jesus Christ was telling Saul that his actions were harming himself more than anyone else. When we fight against what is right, we hurt ourselves the most. How could someone be hurt by fighting against the truth?
What did Saul do to repent and turn to Jesus Christ? He recognized his sins (Acts 9:6). He fasted and prayed for forgiveness (Acts 9:9, 11). He was baptized (Acts 9:18). He tried to correct the things he had done wrong (Acts 9:20). He changed and never persecuted people again.
Saul was not wicked in his heart; he was deceived. He needed to repent and be baptized. What do we need to do to repent of our sins?
Why is it important to repent when we do something wrong? How does repentance make us feel?
The Ananias in this lesson is different from the one who was struck dead for dishonesty. What did the Lord ask Ananias to do? Why? Let s read Acts 9:10 12
Why was Ananias afraid to do what the Lord asked? Let s read Acts 9:13 14 Why did the Lord call Saul a chosen vessel? Let s read Acts 9:15 16
What important things did Heavenly Father want Saul to do? Let s read Acts 26:18 What important things might Heavenly Father want you to do? How can you learn of these things?
How did Saul lose his eyesight? Let s read Acts 9:8 & 22:11 What happened when Ananias blessed Saul? Let s read Acts 9:17 18
After Saul s conversion, why would neither the people nor the disciples believe him when he preached? Let s read Acts 9:21, 26 Why did Saul have to leave the country? Let s read Acts 9:23, 29 30
What does Heavenly Father do when we repent of our sins? Let s read D&C 58:42 How can we help others who are trying to repent and follow Jesus?
What was Saul s testimony of Jesus Christ? Let s read Acts 9:20 & 26:22 23 How do we know when we are truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let s read Mosiah 5:2
President Ezra Taft Benson, thirteenth President of the Church, said this: When we have undergone this mighty change, which is brought about only through faith in Jesus Christ and through the [working] of the Spirit upon us, it is as though we have become a new person. You have forsaken lives of sin and have become clean. You have no more [desire] to return to your old ways. You are in reality a new person (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 470).
Enr. Act. 1
As I point to each item on the list, silently ask yourself, Do I need to repent of this? Review the steps that Saul took to repent. Enr. Act. 1
Let s review and memorize the Fourth Article of Faith: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Enr. Act. 3
We have a special guest today who will tell us about how someone s life can be changed as he or she came to believe in Christ, repented, and was baptized. Enr. Act. 4
I need a volunteer! Y Please draw a picture of a forked road on the chalkboard. I need another volunteer! Please write the name of a city you would like to visit at the top of one road. Enr. Act. 5
What would you do if you took a Y wrong turn and found yourself on the wrong road? Could you get to the city from where you are? What would you have to do now to get to the city you wanted to go to? Enr. Act. 5
How is repentance like getting back on the right road? Enr. Act. 5
I bear testimony of how important repentance is in our lives and how important it is to be truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the gospel and have enjoyed learning more while being your teacher!
The lesson is from lds.org. The scripture stories are from lds.org and paraphrased from various articles on lds.org and from the scriptures. Images and clipart are from lds.org, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public domain or permitted for church and home use. Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference. This presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.