Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

“Lesson 35: Jesus Christ Heals the Sick and Blesses the Children,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),126

Jesus Christ loves each of us and encourages us to experience joy by having faith in him. The Savior’s love for us is so great that words can not express it.

Just as it would be difficult to explain the taste of salt to someone who had never tasted it before, it is sometimes hard to describe things you have experienced in words others can understand. The Nephites had such great joy when Jesus Christ appeared to them that they said, “No tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard” (3 Nephi 17:17). If you will picture in your mind the events described in this lesson, you may be able to feel and understand through the spirit some truths that words cannot describe.

Read 3 Nephi 17.

Jesus Christ had been teaching the people and told them, to help them understand the things he had taught them, they should "ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand" (3 Nephi 17:3). To ponder, or think deeply about something, and pray about what we are taught by Jesus Christ will help us better understand them.

After visiting the Nephites, Savior said he was going "unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father" (3 Nephi 17:4). This concern for all of Heavenly Father’s children shows that Jesus loves all of us.

As the Savior was leaving he "beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them" (3 Nephi 17:5). To show that he loved them Jesus ask them to "Bring [the sick] hither and I will heal them" (3 Nephi 17:6–8).

Jesus Christ said the people could be healed because their "faith is sufficient" (3 Nephi 17:8). Sometimes miracles do not occur because "if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them" (Ether 12:12, 18).

The Nephites show their thanks as "they did all . . . bow down at his feet, and did worship him" (3 Nephi 17:10). We should always thank Heavenly Father and Jesus, and show our thanks for the blessings we receive.

Jesus Christ then command "that their little children should be brought" (3 Nephi 17:11). He then told the people to knell and "he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father" (3 Nephi 17:13–15). ". . . so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man . . ." (3 Nephi 17:16–17).

Jesus weep because his "joy [was] full" (3 Nephi 17:20–21). Jesus then showed his love for the children by blessing them (3 Nephi 17:21). How would you feel if Jesus Christ held you in his arms, blessed you, and prayed to Heavenly Father for you?

When the Savior told the parents "Behold your little ones . . . they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them." (3 Nephi 17:23–24).

Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love all of us and if we have faith in Jesus Christ and obey the commandments, we will know the joy of living with them again.

Labels: Book of Mormon, Children, Ether, Heal, Jesus Christ, Lesson 35, Nephi