Welcome to November!
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November, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Mormon 1 and Mormon 2:1-15.
2. The Nephites became wicked, and things started to fall apart for them, fast. That may be one reason that Mormon received so much responsibility when he was so young. How do you think you would feel if a prophet came to you when you were ten years old and gave you responsibility for the sacred records of your people?
3. Watch the video “Mormon the Prophet.”
4. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Mormon.
Youth
1. Today read Mormon 1 and Mormon 2:1-15.
2. The Nephites became wicked, and things started to fall apart for them, fast. That may be one reason that Mormon received so much responsibility when he was so young. How do you think you would feel if a prophet came to you when you were ten years old and gave you responsibility for the sacred records of your people? By the time he was sixteen, Mormon was asked to lead the Nephite armies. Despite the wickedness around him, he grew into a faithful and righteous young man. Because of Mormon’s righteousness, he received amazing blessings from God as a teenager.
3. Mormon said that he was a sober child who later became a sober young man. (Sober can mean reverent, serious, and thoughtful.) Read the following statement by President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
We have watched patterns of reverence and irreverence in the Church. While many are to be highly commended, we are drifting. We have reason to be deeply concerned. …
Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit. (Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22)
4. How can we overcome our fears about standing out as a disciple of Christ? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous. …
There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee. (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40–41)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Mormon.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Mormon 3.
2. Mormon loved the Nephites and led them in battle many times. He pled with them to repent of their wickedness and turn to the Savior. However, they rejected the Lord and boasted in their own strength, so Mormon refused to lead them for a time. He then taught about the Final Judgment that all mankind would face. We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged of our works, whether they be good or evil.
3. Listen to the song “Dare to Do Right.”
Youth
1. Read Mormon 3.
2. Mormon loved the Nephites and led them in battle many times. He pled with them to repent of their wickedness and turn to the Savior. However, they rejected the Lord and boasted in their own strength, so Mormon refused to lead them for a time. He then taught about the Final Judgment that all mankind would face. We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged of our works, whether they be good or evil.
3. What will our judgment be based on? President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:
The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2000, 32)
4. How can repentance prepare us for the Final Judgment? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Our ultimate quest in life is to prepare to meet our Maker. We do this by striving daily to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. And we do that as we repent daily and receive His cleansing, healing, and strengthening power. (Russell M. Nelson, “Opening Message,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 6)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Mormon 6.
2. Speaking of the people around him, Mormon said, “I had led them … and had loved them … with all my heart” (Mormon 3:12). Yet Mormon worried about and mourned for his people as they moved toward destruction because they refused to turn to God for help. Eventually, the Nephites were all but destroyed.
3. Watch the video “Mormon and His Teachings.”
4. Listen to the song “I Believe in Christ.”
Youth
1. Read Mormon 6.
2. Speaking of the people around him, Mormon said, “I had led them … and had loved them … with all my heart” (Mormon 3:12). Yet Mormon worried about and mourned for his people as they moved toward destruction because they refused to turn to God for help. Eventually, the Nephites were all but destroyed.
3. After loving, teaching, and leading the Nephite armies for decades, Mormon was severely wounded in the final battle with the Lamanites. From the top of a hill, he surveyed what was left of the Nephite nation. Only 24 Nephite soldiers survived the slaughter, including Mormon and his son Moroni. Imagine being in Mormon’s position, mourning the loss of the people you love but knowing that you could still leave a short message for future generations. What would you want people in the latter days to know?
4. What can you learn from the imagery of Jesus standing “with open arms to receive you”? Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:
My brothers and sisters, it is my promise to you that increasing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will bring you added strength and greater hope. For you, the righteous, the Healer of our souls, in His time and His way, will heal all your wounds. No injustice, no persecution, no trial, no sadness, no heartache, no suffering, no wound—however deep, however wide, however painful—will be excluded from the comfort, peace, and lasting hope of Him whose open arms and whose wounded hands will welcome us back into His presence. (Neil L. Andersen, “Wounded,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 86)
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Mormon 7.
2. Imagine what Mormon may have felt as he witnessed the sorrow and destruction caused by the final battles between the Nephites and Lamanites. Before these battles claimed his own life, Mormon concluded his writings by teaching of Jesus Christ and the eternal happiness that awaits those who follow Him.
3. Listen to the song “Dare to Do Right.”
Youth
1. Today read Mormon 7.
2. Imagine what Mormon may have felt as he witnessed the sorrow and destruction caused by the final battles between the Nephites and Lamanites. Before these battles claimed his own life, Mormon concluded his writings by teaching of Jesus Christ and the eternal happiness that awaits those who follow Him.
3. You may have noticed that as Mormon was surrounded by wickedness and war, he looked to the Resurrection and redemption of Jesus Christ. He taught that because of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and thus prepared to live with God in a state of happiness.
4. How can knowing I am of the house of Israel make a difference in my life? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
One of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.” Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul! …
When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become nonissues! You know how best to groom yourself. You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate. You know what you want to accomplish. You know the kind of person you really want to become. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92, 94)
5. What does it mean to be of the house of Israel? Being a part of the house of Israel means that you have a covenant relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It means that you, like Abraham, are meant to “be a blessing” to God’s children (Genesis 12:2; Abraham 2:9–11). It means, in the words of Peter, that “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It means that you are one who “perseveres with God” as you honor your covenants with Him. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022, 41)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Mormon 8:1-26.
2. What would you do if you were entrusted with something as valuable as the gold plates? When Moroni received the plates, he did all he could to protect them. He eventually buried them in the earth, trusting that they were “hid up unto the Lord” (title page of the Book of Mormon), to be brought forth one day “by the hand of the Lord” (Mormon 8:26).
3. Imagine that someone gave you a bag full of diamonds and rubies as a gift. How would you respond? How might this gift bless your life? If the Book of Mormon is more valuable than gemstones, how should we treat it? How should we read it?
Youth
1. Read Mormon 8:1-26.
2. What would you do if you were entrusted with something as valuable as the gold plates? When Moroni received the plates, he did all he could to protect them. He eventually buried them in the earth, trusting that they were “hid up unto the Lord” (title page of the Book of Mormon), to be brought forth one day “by the hand of the Lord” (Mormon 8:26).
3. Imagine that someone gave you a bag full of diamonds and rubies as a gift. How would you respond? How might this gift bless your life? President Russell M. Nelson gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to an African tribal king and explained how it is another testament of Jesus Christ. The king responded:
“You could have given me diamonds or rubies, but nothing is more precious to me than this additional knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 60–61)
4. The Book of Mormon was preserved for our day to convince us that Jesus is the Christ. What is valuable about the Book of Mormon? President Russell M. Nelson gave several examples.
The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period.
The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary. The Book of Mormon teaches true doctrine to dispel false religious traditions—such as the erroneous practice of performing infant baptisms. The Book of Mormon gives purpose to life by urging us to ponder the potential of eternal life and “never-ending happiness” [Mosiah 2:41; see also Alma 28:12]. The Book of Mormon shatters the false beliefs that happiness can be found in wickedness and that individual goodness is all that is required to return to the presence of God [special sacred ordinances and covenants are also required]. It abolishes forever the false concepts that revelation ended with the Bible and that the heavens are sealed today. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without it?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 62)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Mormon 8:27–41; 9:1–6, 27–37.
2. Before Mormon died, he entrusted his son Moroni with the gold plates (see Mormon 8:1). Jesus Christ inspired him to write with our day in mind. That’s why the lessons in the Book of Mormon can still help us today.
3. Listen to the song “I Believe in Christ.”
Youth
1. Read Mormon 8:27–41; 9:1–6, 27–37.
2. Before Mormon died, he entrusted his son Moroni with the gold plates (see Mormon 8:1). Jesus Christ inspired him to write with our day in mind.
3. Read the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) about Book of Mormon prophets:
If they saw our day, and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6)
4. How did Moroni describe the last days? Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President, taught:
Moroni says he has seen our day, and it includes wars and rumors of wars, great pollutions, murders, robbing, and people who tell us that there is no right or wrong in God’s eyes. He describes people who are filled with pride, caught up in the wearing of expensive clothing, and who make fun of religion. He is shown people who are so obsessed with worldly things that they allow “the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by” [Mormon 8:39] without being noticed.
Moroni asks a soul-searching question of us—we who are living in these times. He says, “Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?” [Mormon 8:38]. This indictment accurately describes the increasingly secular condition of our world. (Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 12)
5. Watch the video “All May Know the Truth.”
Day 4
Primary
1. Mormon 9:7-27.
2. Sometimes when reading about the miracles in the scriptures, we may wonder why we don’t have similar miracles in our day. Moroni knew that some people would have this question in the last days. Having faith in God can allow Him to perform miracles in your life.
3. Two truths Moroni taught are that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that God is a God of miracles.
Youth
1. Mormon 9:7-27.
2. Sometimes when reading about the miracles in the scriptures, we may wonder why we don’t have similar miracles in our day. Moroni knew that some people would have this question in the last days. Having faith in God can allow Him to perform miracles in your life.
3. Two truths Moroni taught are that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that God is a God of miracles. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about how we might recognize miracles in our day.
Miracles, signs, and wonders abound among followers of Jesus Christ today, in your lives and in mine. Miracles are divine acts, manifestations and expressions of God’s limitless power, and an affirmation that He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” …
Many of you have witnessed miracles, more than you realize. They may seem small in comparison to Jesus raising the dead. But the magnitude does not distinguish a miracle, only that it came from God. (Ronald A. Rasband, “Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” Liahona, May 2021, 109–10)
4. Read the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson.
The Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith. I promise that you can experience for yourself that Jesus Christ “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022, 100)
5. What if I pray for a miracle and it feels like it never comes? Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
There are times we hope for a miracle to heal a loved one, to reverse an unjust act, or to soften the heart of a bitter or disillusioned soul. Looking at things through mortal eyes, we want the Lord to intervene, to fix what is broken. Through faith, the miracle will come, though not necessarily on our timetable or with the resolution we desired. Does that mean we are less than faithful or do not merit His intervention? No. We are beloved of the Lord. (Ronald A. Rasband, “Behold! I Am a God of Miracles,” Liahona, May 2021, 111)
Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Ether 1.
2. At this point in the Book of Mormon, Moroni included the book of Ether. This contains the story of the Jaredites. It was translated from the 24 gold plates found by people sent by Limhi (see Mosiah 8:7–11; Ether 1:1–2). This book begins with the account of the brother of Jared and his prayers to the Lord.
3. When wicked people attempted to build a tower to reach heaven, the Lord confounded their language (see Genesis 11:1–9). The brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, pleading that He would spare his family and friends this confusion (see Ether 1:34–37), and the Lord responded with compassion.
4. Watch the video “The Jaredites Leave Babel.”
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Ether.
Youth
1. Today read Ether 1.
2. At this point in the Book of Mormon, Moroni included the book of Ether. This contains the story of the Jaredites. It was translated from the 24 gold plates found by people sent by Limhi (see Mosiah 8:7–11; Ether 1:1–2). This book begins with the account of the brother of Jared and his prayers to the Lord. When wicked people attempted to build a tower to reach heaven, the Lord confounded their language (see Genesis 11:1–9). The brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, pleading that He would spare his family and friends this confusion (see Ether 1:34–37), and the Lord responded with compassion.
3. As we cry unto God in faith, He will have compassion on us. It is important to realize that we do not know how long it took for the brother of Jared to receive his answers. Elder Brook P. Hales of the Seventy shared the following:
The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store. And sometimes our righteous desires are not granted in this life. (Brook P. Hales, “Answers to Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 12)
4. How are we blessed by sincere and consistent prayers? Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Seventy explained:
Pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ every day, every day, every day. It is through prayer that we can feel the love of God and show our love for Him. Through prayer we express gratitude and ask for the strength and the courage to submit our will to God’s and be guided and directed in all things. (Peter M. Johnson, “Power to Overcome the Adversary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 111)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Ether.
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Ether 2.
2. Have you ever faced a difficult decision or problem and you were confused about what to do? As the brother of Jared and his people built barges to cross the ocean, they encountered several significant problems. The brother of Jared acted with faith in the Lord and sought His guidance in each challenge.
3. Watch the video “Jared and His Family.”
4. Listen to the song “I Believe in Christ.”
Youth
1. Today read Ether 2.
2. Have you ever faced a difficult decision or problem and you were confused about what to do? As the brother of Jared and his people built barges to cross the ocean, they encountered several significant problems. The brother of Jared acted with faith in the Lord and sought His guidance in each challenge.
3. The Jaredites followed the Lord’s direction and built barges to “cross many waters” (Ether 2:6) until they arrived at the shores of the “great sea” (Ether 2:13). The Lord then commanded them to again build barges “after the manner of the barges which [they had] hitherto built” (Ether 2:16) to cross the “great sea” to the promised land. The brother of Jared encountered several serious challenges as he sought to follow the Lord’s instructions for such a long journey. What did the brother of Jared and his people do? What questions or concerns did the brother of Jared have? How did the Lord respond to his questions?
4. As we call upon Heavenly Father in prayer and do our part to solve our problems, we can receive the Lord’s help. According to President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), the Lord’s question in Ether 2:23, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?,” was similar to saying the following:
“What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light?” …
… It was as though the Lord were saying to him, “Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you’ve done all you can, I’ll step in to help you.” …
… If you want the blessing, don’t just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek. (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places [1974], 243–44)
5. Why is it important for us to do our part to solve our problems? President Russell M. Nelson said that he often heard President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) say the following:
“I don’t know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Capacity,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 16)
President Nelson also taught:
The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it. (Russell M. Nelson, in Joy D. Jones, “An Especially Noble Calling,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 16)
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read Ether 3.
2. Last time, you learned that the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to build barges and cross the ocean to the promised land. However, the barges had no light. The Lord asked the brother of Jared to suggest a solution. The brother of Jared made 16 small stones and asked the Lord to touch them so they would shine. When He did, the brother of Jared saw Jesus’s finger. He was afraid at first, but then he learned important truths about Jesus Christ.
3. Watch the video “The Jaredites Travel to the Promised Land.”
Youth
1. Today read Ether 3.
2. In the previous lesson, you learned that the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to build barges and cross the ocean to the promised land; however, the barges had no light. The Lord asked the brother of Jared to propose a solution. The brother of Jared made 16 small stones and asked the Lord to touch them so they would shine. When He did, the brother of Jared saw Jesus’s finger. He was afraid at first, but then he learned important truths about Jesus Christ.
3. Herer are some of the things that he learned:
- Jesus Christ was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem us (see Ether 3:14)
- God created us in His own image (see Ether 3:15)
- Jesus Christ showed Himself in the spirit before He was born in the flesh (see Ether 3:16)
- Jesus Christ’s physical body is in the likeness of His spirit body (see Ether 3:16–17)
- Jesus Christ ministers to people to help them know that He is God (see Ether 3:18)
4. The Lord could easily have solved the problem of the light in the boats without help from the brother of Jared. . Why does the Lord ask us questions even when He knows the answers? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
God “knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it” [2 Nephi 9:20]. … Nevertheless, God has frequently asked questions of mortals, usually as a way to test their faith, measure their honesty, or develop their knowledge. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 19–20)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Ether 4 and Ether 5 (it’s short.)
2. The Lord commanded Moroni to seal up the record of the brother of Jared’s vision and explained that these writings will be revealed when people have faith as the brother of Jared did. Did you know that part of the Book of Mormon was not translated by Joseph Smith and included in the Book of Mormon we have? We call them the ‘sealed’ plates. Some time in the future, when we are ready for them, they will be revealed to us.
3. Listen to the song “Dare to Do Right.”
Youth
1. Read Ether 4 and Ether 5 (it’s short.)
2. The Lord loves to reveal truths to us, but He waits until we are ready to receive them. An example of the Lord waiting to reveal truth until we are ready is the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith was commanded not to open or translate that portion. It contains a record of the vision given to the brother of Jared.
3. What else can I do to receive further revelation from the Lord? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work. …
… I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95–96)
4. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” … Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives. (David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 87)
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Ether 6.
2. Imagine what it might have felt like for the Jaredites to enter their barges and cross the great waters as they journeyed to the promised land. Although their journey was long and difficult, the Jaredites recognized that the Lord was helping them along the way. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ provide us with guidance and light to help us during our journey through mortality.
3. Listen to the song “Dare to Do Right.”
Youth
1. Read Ether 6.
2. Imagine what it might have felt like for the Jaredites to enter their barges and cross the great waters as they journeyed to the promised land. Although their journey was long and difficult, the Jaredites recognized that the Lord was helping them along the way. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ provide us with guidance and light to help us during our journey through mortality.
3. Read Ether 6:4. What does it mean that the Jaredites commended themselves unto God? Elder L. Todd Budge of the Seventy taught:
It is recorded that the Jaredites then “got aboard of their … barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God” [Ether 6:4; emphasis added]. To commend means to entrust or to surrender. The Jaredites did not get into the barges because they knew exactly how things would work on their journey. They got aboard because they had learned to trust in the Lord’s power, goodness, and mercy, and they were therefore willing to surrender themselves and any doubts or fears they may have had to the Lord. (L. Todd Budge, “Consistent and Resilient Trust,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 47)
4. How can I be protected during the trials and challenges I face in life? President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught:
We all face furious winds of evil and tides of the sordid not unlike the situation faced by the Jaredites as they traveled to the promised land. They were tossed upon the waves of the sea and “many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind” (Ether 6:6). But they were protected because “when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish” (Ether 6:7). In our time there are vessels that protect against these terrible spiritual tempests, and they are our temples, homes, quorums, wards, and stakes. (James E. Faust, “We Believe in You!,” New Era, Oct. 2006, 8–9)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Ether 7.
2. Because God loves us, He calls prophets to warn us of evil and encourage us to keep the commandments. Despite the brother of Jared’s warning, the people still chose to have a king. After several of their sons refused, Jared’s son Orihah finally agreed to become king and reigned in righteousness throughout his life. However, the brother of Jared’s prophecy that having a king would lead to captivity was fulfilled many times throughout the history of the Jaredites.
Youth
1. Read Ether 7.
2. Because God loves us, He calls prophets to warn us of evil and encourage us to keep the commandments. Despite the brother of Jared’s warning, the people still chose to have a king. After several of their sons refused, Jared’s son Orihah finally agreed to become king and reigned in righteousness throughout his life. However, the brother of Jared’s prophecy that having a king would lead to captivity was fulfilled many times throughout the history of the Jaredites.
3. Rejecting the Lord’s prophets can lead to captivity. Why do you think people choose to ignore the counsel and warnings the Lord gives through His prophets?
4. Why should we hearken to the words of the prophets? Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Why are we so willing to follow the voice of our prophet? For those diligently seeking eternal life, the prophet’s voice brings spiritual safety in very turbulent times. …
Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends. Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day. (Neil L. Andersen, “The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 26)
5. How can ignoring prophetic warnings lead to captivity? Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
God intended that men and women would be free to make choices between good and evil. When evil choices become the dominant characteristic of a culture or nation, there are serious consequences both in this life and the life to come. People can become enslaved or put themselves in bondage not only to harmful, addictive substances but also to harmful, addictive philosophies that detract from righteous living.
Turning from the worship of the true and living God and worshipping false gods like wealth and fame and engaging in immoral and unrighteous conduct result in bondage in all its insidious manifestations. These include spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage and sometimes bring destruction. (Quentin L. Cook, “Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 88–89)
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Ether 8.
2. You might recall that after the Jaredites arrived in the promised land, they appointed a king to rule over them despite the brother of Jared’s warnings that doing so would lead to captivity. In the generations that followed, wicked kings caused divisions and suffering among the people. Read Ether 8:1–10, looking for what took place when a man named Omer became king. Jared agreed to his daughter’s wicked plan. When Akish asked for Jared’s daughter in marriage, Akish, Jared, his daughter, and other family members entered into a secret combination to kill Omer.
3. A secret combination is “an organization of people bound together by oaths to carry out the evil purposes of the group.” Satan is the originator of secret combinations. As the narrator of this story, the prophet Moroni shared several important teachings and warnings about secret combinations. Secret combinations are abominable in the sight of God.
4. Listen to the song “I Believe in Christ.”
Youth
1. Today read Ether 8.
2. You might recall that after the Jaredites arrived in the promised land, they appointed a king to rule over them despite the brother of Jared’s warnings that doing so would lead to captivity. In the generations that followed, wicked kings caused divisions and suffering among the people. Read Ether 8:1–10, looking for what took place when a man named Omer became king. Jared agreed to his daughter’s wicked plan. When Akish asked for Jared’s daughter in marriage, Akish, Jared, his daughter, and other family members entered into a secret combination to kill Omer.
3. A secret combination is “an organization of people bound together by oaths to carry out the evil purposes of the group.” Satan is the originator of secret combinations. As the narrator of this story, the prophet Moroni shared several important teachings and warnings about secret combinations. Secret combinations are abominable in the sight of God.
4. What are ways we see secret combinations today? President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
The Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families but to entire civilizations. Among today’s secret combinations are gangs, drug cartels, and organized crime families. The secret combinations of our day function much like the Gadianton robbers of the Book of Mormon times. They have secret signs and code words. They participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their purposes are to “murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God” (Helaman 6:23).
If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and just as completely as they did in Book of Mormon times. (M. Russell Ballard, “Standing for Truth and Right,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 38)
5. Why do we need to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord about our sins? Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:
In our desire to repent, honesty becomes critically important. First and foremost, we must be honest with our Heavenly Father and with ourselves. Dishonesty and deception are at the foundation and root of almost all sin. Sometimes when someone begins to repent, he or she begins by exposing only a part of a larger issue. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking the whole picture need not be told, or that part of what occurred was another’s fault. Good people can deceive themselves and be deceived. Any deception delays the repentance process. (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 194)
