Study Guide for "Is There No Balm in Gilead?"

In his talk, "Is There No Balm in Gilead?", Elder Brent H. Nielson shares a deeply personal experience about his father's battle with pancreatic cancer and the family's earnest prayers for a miracle. Elder Nielson explores the theme of healing, not just physical, but more importantly, spiritual healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He uses scriptures and teachings from the Savior to illustrate the healing power of Christ and how it applies in our lives, even when the outcomes aren't what we expect.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What does the "balm of Gilead" represent and how does it apply in our lives?
What does Elder Nielson teach about the healing power of Jesus Christ?
How does Elder Nielson relate his personal experience with his father's illness to the teachings of Christ?
How does Elder Nielson define true healing?
What does Elder Nielson learn about faith and God's will in the context of healing?

Topics

Understanding the Balm of Gilead

Elder Nielson discusses the Balm of Gilead, an aromatic spice or ointment used for healing wounds in Old Testament times. He connects it to the Savior Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the Balm of Gilead because of His remarkable healing power.

The Old Testament teaches of an aromatic spice or ointment used for healing wounds that was made from a bush grown in Gilead. In Old Testament times, the ointment came to be known as the "balm of Gilead."

What is the "balm of Gilead" and what does it represent?
How is Jesus Christ referred to as the Balm of Gilead?
How can you apply the concept of the "balm of Gilead" in your personal life?
Can you recall a time when you felt Jesus Christ's healing power in your life?

Recognizing the Savior's Healing Power

Elder Nielson teaches that the Savior's healing power is not just about physical healing, but more importantly, spiritual healing. He uses the story of the man with palsy in the New Testament to illustrate this principle.

Was it possible that I had not fully understood—that the Savior’s healing power was not just His ability to heal our bodies but, perhaps even more important, His ability to heal our hearts and the broken hearts of my family?

He can heal our eyes and our ears and our legs, but most important of all, He can heal our hearts as He cleanses us from sin and lifts us through difficult trials.

How does Elder Nielson define the Savior's healing power?
What is the lesson we can learn from the story of the man with palsy in the New Testament?
How can you seek the Savior's healing power in your life?
Can you recall an instance where you experienced spiritual healing from the Savior?

Accepting God's Will in Healing

Elder Nielson shares his personal experience with his father's illness and his struggle to understand why his father wasn't healed, despite their faith. He teaches the importance of accepting God's will and understanding that physical healing may not always be part of His plan.

I learned that the object of my faith must be Jesus Christ and that I needed to accept what was expedient to Him as I exercised faith in Him. I understand now that my father’s passing was expedient to God’s plan.

Now, as I lay my hands upon the head of another to bless him or her, my faith is in Jesus Christ, and I understand that a person can and will be physically healed if it is expedient in Christ.

What does Elder Nielson learn about faith and God's will in the context of healing?
Why is it important to accept God's will in our prayers for healing?
How can you exercise faith in Jesus Christ while accepting His will in your life?
Can you recall a time when you had to accept God's will, even when it wasn't what you expected or hoped for?

Experiencing the Savior's Healing Power

Elder Nielson reflects on how the Savior's healing power worked in his family's life, even though it wasn't in the way they expected. He shares how his family was strengthened and lifted through their trial and how his father was spiritually healed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

As I now look back with more mature eyes and experience, I see that the Savior’s healing power was evident in the lives of each of my family members.

The Lord strengthened and lifted my mother beyond her capacity through this difficult trial, and she led a long and productive life.

As with all who will repent, he was spiritually healed as he sought and received the blessings available because of the Savior’s Atonement.

How does Elder Nielson describe the Savior's healing power in his family's life?
What does it mean to be spiritually healed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
How have you experienced the Savior's healing power in your life?
How can you seek spiritual healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Embracing the Savior's Sufficient Grace

Elder Nielson teaches about the Savior's sufficient grace, using the miracle of feeding the 5,000 as an example. He testifies that the Savior's redeeming and healing power can cover any sin, wound, or trial, no matter how large or difficult.

His grace is sufficient.

The Savior’s redeeming and healing power can cover any sin, wound, or trial—no matter how large or how difficult—and there are leftovers.

What is the lesson we can learn from the miracle of feeding the 5,000?
What does it mean that the Savior's grace is sufficient?
How have you experienced the Savior's sufficient grace in your life?
How can you move forward with faith, knowing the Savior's grace is sufficient?