Welcome to March!
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March, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 12.
2. Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi make the effort of copying so many of the writings of the prophet Isaiah into his record? He did it because he wanted us to believe in Jesus Christ. “My soul delighteth,” he wrote, “in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ” (2 Nephi 11:4). Nephi had seen what would happen to his people in future generations. He saw that, despite their great blessings, they would become prideful, contentious, and worldly. He also saw similar problems in our day. Isaiah’s writings warned against such wickedness. But they also gave Nephi hope for a glorious future — an end to wickedness, a gathering of the faithful, and “great light” for people who had “walked in darkness”. All this would happen because “a child [was] born” who could end all strife — “The Prince of Peace”.
3. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 12.
2. Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi make the effort of copying so many of the writings of the prophet Isaiah into his record? He did it because he wanted us to believe in Jesus Christ. “My soul delighteth,” he wrote, “in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ” (2 Nephi 11:4). Nephi had seen what would happen to his people in future generations. He saw that, despite their great blessings, they would become prideful, contentious, and worldly. He also saw similar problems in our day. Isaiah’s writings warned against such wickedness. But they also gave Nephi hope for a glorious future — an end to wickedness, a gathering of the faithful, and “great light” for people who had “walked in darkness”. All this would happen because “a child [was] born” who could end all strife — “The Prince of Peace”.
3. One of the truths we can learn from 2 Nephi 11 is that Heavenly Father sends witnesses to testify of the reality of His Son. Why do you think Heavenly Father uses witnesses to testify of His Son? Take a moment to ponder your own beliefs and feelings about the Savior Jesus Christ. Think about witnesses of the Savior and how they have affected you and your beliefs about Him.
4. How can I gain or strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ? President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:
We receive this testimony when the Holy Spirit speaks to the spirit within us. We will receive a calm and unwavering certainty that will be the source of our testimony and conviction irrespective of our culture, race, language, or socioeconomic background. These promptings of the Spirit, rather than human logic alone, will be the true foundation upon which our testimony will be built.
The core of this testimony will always be the faith in and the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His divine mission, who in the scriptures says of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
So how do we receive a personal testimony rooted in the witness of the Holy Ghost? …
First: Desire to believe. …
Second: Search the scriptures. …
Third: Do the will of God; keep the commandments. …
Fourth: Ponder, fast, and pray.
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Power of a Personal Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 38–39)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.”
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 15.
2. Read again 2 Nephi 15:20. How does Satan try to make things that are evil look good? How would you feel if you opened a candy wrapper and saw something very sour inside, like a lemon slice? What can we do to know which things are actually good?
3. Listen to the song “I Love to See the Temple.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 13, 2 Nephi 14, and 2 Nephi 15.
2. The Lord has revealed both blessings and warnings about living in the last days to many ancient prophets. One of those prophets was the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, who lived in Jerusalem a little more than 100 years before Lehi and his family. Nephi knew Isaiah was a special witness of Jesus Christ and delighted so much in his words that he took the time to include many of Isaiah’s prophecies in his own records.
3. How are Isaiah’s prophecies being fulfilled today? President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught:
Ever since the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated, we have interpreted that scripture from Isaiah, repeated again in Micah (see Micah 4:1–2), as applying to this sacred house of the Lord. And of this place, since the day of its dedication, an ever-increasing number from across the world have said in effect, “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He might teach us of His ways, that we might walk in His paths.”
I believe and testify that it is the mission of this Church to stand as an ensign to the nations and a light to the world. We have had placed upon us a great, all-encompassing mandate from which we cannot shrink nor turn aside. We accept that mandate and are determined to fulfill it, and with the help of God we shall do it.
(Gordon B. Hinckley, “An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 82–83)
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 16.
2. Have you ever had an experience that was hard to put into words? That may have been true for Isaiah when he wrote about seeing the Lord in all His glory. To help communicate this experience, Isaiah used symbolic language to describe the Lord’s power and holiness and Isaiah’s personal feelings of inadequacy. The Lord cleansed him of his sins and called him to be a prophet.
3. Listen to the song “When I am Baptized.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 16.
2. Have you ever had an experience that was hard to put into words? That may have been true for Isaiah when he wrote about seeing the Lord in all His glory. To help communicate this experience, Isaiah used symbolic language to describe the Lord’s power and holiness and Isaiah’s personal feelings of inadequacy. The Lord cleansed him of his sins and called him to be a prophet.
3. Read 2 Nephi 16:1–4, looking for how Isaiah described what he saw. Because Isaiah used symbolic language to describe his experience, the following explanations might be helpful:
- Train: The lower part of the Lord’s robe, which could symbolize His righteousness, power, and purity. It is significant that Isaiah saw that it “filled the temple.”
- Seraphim: Angelic beings that minister in the courts of God (see Bible Dictionary, “Seraphim”). The wings of the seraphim are symbolic of their power to move or to act.
- Smoke or Cloud: Often a symbol of God’s presence.
What words or phrases from these verses help you understand the glory of the Lord? How do you think you might have reacted if you saw this?
4. Read 2 Nephi 16:5 to find out Isaiah’s reaction to seeing the Lord. Which words or phrases help you understand that Isaiah was aware of his sins and weaknesses? What are some reasons people today might feel unclean or unworthy before God? In what ways can it be good for us to recognize our faults as we come closer to the Lord?
5. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
God does not need people who are flawless. He seeks those who will offer their “heart and a willing mind” [Doctrine and Covenants 64:34], and He will make them “perfect in Christ” [Moroni 10:32–33].
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Five Messages That All of God’s Children Need to Hear” [Brigham Young University devotional, Aug. 17, 2021], 3, speeches.byu.edu)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read 2 Nephi 19.
2. Jesus Christ has many roles and titles. Each of them teaches us something important about Him and His ability to help us. 2 Nephi 19:6 calls him “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” What can these names teach you about Jesus Christ?
3. Listen to the song “Easter Hosanna.”
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 19.
2. Many of Isaiah’s teachings about the Savior are conveyed through symbols. For example, how is the Savior represented in 2 Nephi 19:2? What does this symbol teach you about Him?
3. Jesus Christ has many roles and titles. Each of them teaches us something important about Him and His ability to help us.
4. What do the Savior’s titles in 2 Nephi 19:6 mean? Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
The fact that the government would eventually be upon [Jesus Christ’s] shoulders affirms what all the world will one day acknowledge—that he is Lord of lords and King of kings and will one day rule over the earth and his Church in person. …
As “Wonderful Counselor,” he will be our mediator, our intercessor, defending our cause in the courts of heaven. …
“Mighty God” conveys something of the power of God, his strength, omnipotence, and unconquerable influence. …
“Everlasting Father” underscores the fundamental doctrine that Christ is a Father—Creator of worlds without number, the Father of restored physical life through the Resurrection, the Father of eternal life for his spiritually begotten sons and daughters, and the One acting for the Father (Elohim) through divine investiture of authority.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 80–81)
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 20.
2. The writings of Isaiah include strong warnings, but they also offer hope and joy. This is one reason Nephi included them in his record: “I write some of the words of Isaiah,” he said, “that whoso … shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice” (2 Nephi 11:8). In a sense, the invitation to read Isaiah’s writings is an invitation to rejoice. You can take delight, as Nephi did, in Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the peace promised to the righteous.
3. Listen to the song “When I am Baptized.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 20.
2. The writings of Isaiah include strong warnings, but they also offer hope and joy. This is one reason Nephi included them in his record: “I write some of the words of Isaiah,” he said, “that whoso … shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice” (2 Nephi 11:8). In a sense, the invitation to read Isaiah’s writings is an invitation to rejoice. You can take delight, as Nephi did, in Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the peace promised to the righteous.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read 2 Nephi 21 and 2 Nephi 22.
2. Lehi’s children had a problem with contention. The problem got worse in future generations, leading to division, captivity, sorrow, and destruction. And contention continues to be a problem today. With all of that in mind, think about the prophecies in 2 Nephi 21–22. Consider how the Savior is fulfilling these prophecies. What does the prophecy that the wolf will “dwell with the lamb” mean to you? (2 Nephi 21:6). Ponder what you can do to be a peacemaker.
3. Listen to the song “I Love to See the Temple.”
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 21 and 2 Nephi 22.
2. Imagine what life would be like if there was no evil in the world. One day the world will be this way. It will happen during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Many prophets, including Nephi and Isaiah, prophesied about the 1,000 years of peace called the Millennium.
3. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency described another blessing of the Millennium:
Singleness, childlessness, death, and divorce frustrate ideals and postpone the fulfillment of promised blessings. … The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right.
Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is incomplete in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father’s worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be true of family relationships and experiences.
(President Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75)
4. In 2020, renovations began on the Salt Lake Temple. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about these renovations.
It is the sincere hope of Church leaders that the significant renovations to the Salt Lake Temple will contribute to the fulfillment of Brigham Young’s desire to see “the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the millennium.” During the coming years, may we allow these improvements made to the Salt Lake Temple to move and inspire us, as individuals and families, so that we too — metaphorically — will “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium.”
(Gary E. Stevenson, “A Good Foundation against the Time to Come,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 51–52)
What do you think it means to “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium”?
5. What will life be like in the Millennium? President Brigham Young (1801–1877) taught:
The Millennium consists in this — every heart in the Church and Kingdom of God being united in one; the Kingdom increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of heaven, and Satan being bound, and having a seal set upon him. All things else will be as they are now, we shall eat, drink, and wear clothing. …
In the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth in power, glory, and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that has so long prevailed is subdued, the Saints of God will have the privilege of building their temples, and of entering into them, becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God [see Revelation 3:12], and they will officiate for their dead. Then we will see our friends come up, and perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here. … And we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them. Then [children] will be sealed to [parents] until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of Priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene.
This will be the work of the Latter-day Saints in the Millennium. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [2007], 333–4)
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 23 and 2 Nephi 24.
2. In these chapters we read of the destruction of Babylon and the peace of the Millennial reign of Christ. When you think about the Savior’s millennial reign, what do you feel? What can you do now to prepare for the Millennium? What challenges might you face as you make these preparations?
3. Listen to the song “Easter Hosanna.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 23 and 2 Nephi 24.
2. In these chapters we read of the destruction of Babylon and the peace of the Millennial reign of Christ. When you think about the Savior’s millennial reign, what do you feel? What can you do now to prepare for the Millennium? What challenges might you face as you make these preparations?
3. Will The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exist in the Millennium? President Russell M. Nelson declared:
This Church will not be moved from its place, even through the Millennium.
(Russell M. Nelson, “How Firm Our Foundation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2002, 76)
4. Will only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be on earth during the Millennium? President Joseph Fielding Smith (1878–1972) taught:
Some members of the Church have an erroneous idea that when the millennium comes all of the people are going to be swept off the earth except righteous members of the Church. That is not so. There will be millions of people … of all classes, and of all beliefs, still permitted to remain upon the face of the earth, but they will be those who have lived clean lives, those who have been free from wickedness and corruption. …
Eventually, however, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do the sea. But there will be need for the preaching of the gospel, after the millennium is brought in, until all men are either converted or pass away. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:86–87)
Day 4
Primary
1. Read 2 Nephi 25.
2. Nephi was open about sharing his beliefs, especially his testimony of Jesus Christ. He desired to “persuade [his] children … to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God” (verse 23). What did Nephi want people to know about the Savior? (see verses 12–13, 16). How did Nephi try to persuade people to believe in Him? (see verses 19–29).
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 25.
2. In 2 Nephi 25, Nephi reminded his people that prophets testified that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, which means the Anointed One or Deliverer, of all people. Nephi recorded that even though the Jews will be scattered because of their unbelief, if they believed in Jesus Christ, the Lord would gather and “restore [them] from their lost and fallen state” (2 Nephi 25:15–17). Read 2 Nephi 25:18–20, looking for what Nephi taught about how the Jews (and all of God’s children) will be saved. It may help to know that in the scriptures, the word name can be used to represent a person’s power or authority. This is particularly true in reference to the Savior.
3. Grace is the divine help or strength extended to us through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is a gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, explained:
I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase “after all we can do.” We must understand that “after” does not equal “because.”
We are not saved “because” of all that we can do. Have any of us done all that we can do? Does God wait until we’ve expended every effort before He will intervene in our lives with His saving grace?
Many people feel discouraged because they constantly fall short. They know firsthand that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” [Matthew 26:41]. They raise their voices with Nephi in proclaiming, “My soul grieveth because of mine iniquities” [2 Nephi 4:17].
I am certain Nephi knew that the Savior’s grace allows and enables us to overcome sin [see Alma 34:31]. This is why Nephi labored so diligently to persuade his children and brethren “to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God” [2 Nephi 25:23].
After all, that is what we can do! And that is our task in mortality! …
Today and forevermore God’s grace is available to all whose hearts are broken and whose spirits are contrite [see 3 Nephi 9:19–20].
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 110)
Week 3
Day 1
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 26.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 2 Nephi 26:33.
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
3. Every day we are faced with messages and information meant to influence our feelings and perspectives. In 2 Nephi 26, Nephi taught of God’s perspective. Nephi saw the Savior’s ministry among the Nephites, as well as the wickedness and final destruction of his people. He also saw the wickedness of the Gentiles in the last days. In contrast, he then emphasized God’s care for all His children.
4. How can I be more like God in seeing and loving others? President Russell M. Nelson taught how Jesus Christ can help us in our efforts to improve:
We have not yet achieved the harmony and mutual respect that would allow every man and woman and every boy and girl to become the very best version of themselves.
The cure for what ails us was prescribed by the Master Healer, Jesus the Christ. When a taunting Pharisee challenged Him to identify the greatest commandment in the law, the Savior’s response was most memorable and brief. It was filled with truth that leads to a joyful life. His instruction was first to love God with all our hearts and, then, to love our neighbors as ourselves (see Matthew 22:35–39). …
We are all connected, and we have a God-given responsibility to help make life better for those around us. We don’t have to be alike or look alike to have love for each other. We don’t even have to agree with each other to love each other. If we have any hope of reclaiming the goodwill and sense of humanity for which we yearn, it must begin with each of us, one person at a time.
(Russell M. Nelson, “NAACP Convention Remarks” [address given at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Detroit, Michigan, July 21, 2019], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Day 2
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 27.
2. Jesus Christ promised to perform the marvelous work of restoring His gospel, including the Book of Mormon, to the earth in the latter days. The Lord performed a marvelous work and a wonder through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of His gospel.
3. Emma Smith (1804–1879), the wife of the Prophet, testified of the divine assistance Joseph received in his translation of the Book of Mormon:
Joseph Smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, … it is marvelous to me, “a marvel and a wonder.” …
My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. … It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.
(Emma Smith, in “Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” The Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 290)
4. How is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon a marvelous work and a wonder? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Think of the short time Joseph took to translate the Book of Mormon. Working from April to June of 1828, Joseph translated the 116 pages that Martin Harris later lost. Joseph began translating again on Tuesday, April 7, 1829, with Oliver Cowdery as scribe. The manuscript was completed eighty-five days later, on June 30 of that year. Of course, not all of that time was spent working on the translation. The Prophet and his scribes also took time to eat, to sleep, to seek employment, to receive the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, to make at least one (and possibly two) trips to Colesville thirty miles away, to receive and record thirteen revelations that are now sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, to move from Harmony to Fayette, to acquire the Book of Mormon copyright, and to begin making arrangements for the publication of the Book of Mormon. Conservatively estimated, this left sixty-five or fewer working days on which the prophet and his scribes translated this book, which contains 531 pages in its current edition. (See John W. Welch, Ensign, Jan. 1988, pp. 46–47.) That calculates to an average of eight pages per day. Consider this when you translate a book, or as you schedule your own reading of the Book of Mormon.
(Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61–62)
5. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:
The translation process of the Book of Mormon was … a miracle. This sacred ancient record was not “translated” in the traditional way that scholars would translate ancient texts by learning an ancient language. We ought to look at the process more like a “revelation” with the aid of physical instruments provided by the Lord, as opposed to a “translation” by one with knowledge of languages. … The Lord’s help in the translation of the plates—or revelation, so to speak—is also evident when considering the miraculously short time Joseph Smith took to translate them.
(Ulisses Soares, “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 33)
Day 3
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 28.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 2 Nephi 28:30.
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
3. Do you have unanswered spiritual questions, or do you sometimes wish your testimony was developing more quickly? Nephi explained that knowledge from Heavenly Father comes little by little as we are willing to continue receiving what He teaches us.
4. Imagine looking up a long stairway that represents your spiritual knowledge and understanding. If the top of the stairway represents God’s knowledge, where do you think your current level of knowledge is? What are ways God helps us increase our spiritual knowledge and understanding over time? What would happen to someone who doesn’t take the next step because they feel content with the knowledge they already have?
5. How does the principle of “line upon line” apply to our spiritual progression? President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, explained:
Revelation and testimony do not always come with overwhelming force. For many, a testimony comes slowly—a piece at a time. Sometimes it comes so gradually that it is hard to recall the exact moment we actually knew the gospel was true. The Lord gives us “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” [2 Nephi 28:30].
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Potential, Your Privilege,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 60)
Day 4
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 29 and 2 Nephi 30.
2. Many people believe the Bible to be the word of God. However, not all of them are willing to receive more of God’s word than they already have. Nephi prophesied that in the last days, many people would reject the Book of Mormon because they already had the Bible. The Lord wants us to know that His gospel is for all people and that His word is not limited to the Bible.
3. As you read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson, think about what it could mean for you.
Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!” [“Meek and Lowly” (Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 21, 1986), 9, speeches.byu.edu].
(Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)
4. What can I do to hear what God wants me to hear? President 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.
To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But 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)
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 31: 1-13.
2. What are some ways we can follow the Savior’s example? Nephi taught that following Jesus Christ by being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost was essential to being saved in God’s kingdom. Jesus Christ was sinless, yet He was baptized. Read 2 Nephi 31:5–11 and look for why the Savior was baptized and what we learn about Him.
3. Listen to the song “When I am Baptized.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 31: 1-13.
2. What are some ways we can follow the Savior’s example? Nephi taught that following Jesus Christ by being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost was essential to being saved in God’s kingdom. Jesus Christ was sinless, yet He was baptized. Read 2 Nephi 31:5–11 and look for why the Savior was baptized and what we learn about Him.
3. Why is baptism so important? Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that we are willing to come into His kingdom and keep His commandments from that time forward, even though we still live in the world. …
When we understand our baptismal covenant and the gift of the Holy Ghost, it will change our lives and will establish our total allegiance to the kingdom of God. When temptations come our way, if we will listen, the Holy Ghost will remind us that we have promised to remember our Savior and obey the commandments of God. (Robert D. Hales, “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 7)
4. How are we blessed by the Holy Ghost? President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:
When [the Holy Ghost] is your companion, you can have confidence that the Atonement is working in your life. …
Not only is your feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost a sign that the Atonement, the cure for sin, is working in your life, but you will also know that a preventative against sin is working. (Henry B. Eyring, “Come unto Christ” [Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 29, 1989], speeches.byu.edu)
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 31:14-21.
2. Sometimes the journey toward eternal life can seem challenging. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have not left us on this journey alone; They want to help us along the way. As we follow the example of the Savior and endure to the end, we will receive eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
3. Listen to the song “I Love to See the Temple.”
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 31:14-21.
2. Sometimes the journey toward eternal life can seem challenging. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have not left us on this journey alone; They want to help us along the way. As we follow the example of the Savior and endure to the end, we will receive eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
3. In a long-distance race, what things might cause a runner to want to give up? What might encourage a runner to finish the race when it gets hard? Compare your journey back to live with Heavenly Father to a long-distance race. Ponder the following: What is motivating you, or could motivate you, to press forward on your journey back to Heavenly Father? What challenges are you facing?
4. After Nephi taught about baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost, he taught another important aspect of the doctrine of Christ using a direct quote from Heavenly Father. Read 2 Nephi 31:15 looking for what Heavenly Father taught. What do you think it means to endure to the end? What do you think is the difference between simply enduring, and enduring by following the example of the Savior?
5. Read the following from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow—and every other day—is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children! It is a plan predicated on the truth “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 127)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read 2 Nephi 32.
2. This chapter may be short, but there are two doctrinal mastery scriptures in them. We will only look at one today, 2 Nephi 32:3.
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
3. Picture a celebratory feast with plenty of delicious food. How do you see yourself enjoying such a feast? After teaching his people about following Jesus Christ along the covenant path, Nephi sensed that they were still unsure about what to do after baptism. He responded by encouraging his people to “feast upon the words of Christ” and assured them that the Savior’s words would guide them forward.
4. Listen to the song “Easter Hosanna.”
Youth
1. Read 2 Nephi 32.
2. This chapter may be short, but there are two doctrinal mastery scriptures in them. We will only look at one today, 2 Nephi 32:3.
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
3. Picture a celebratory feast with plenty of delicious food. How do you see yourself enjoying such a feast? After teaching his people about following Jesus Christ along the covenant path, Nephi sensed that they were still unsure about what to do after baptism. He responded by encouraging his people to “feast upon the words of Christ” and assured them that the Savior’s words would guide them forward.
4. When we feast upon the words of Jesus Christ, they will tell us all things we should do. Read the following statement by Elder Takashi Wada of the Seventy.
When I was young, I thought that feasting was simply having a big meal with rice, sushi, and soy sauce. I now know true feasting is more than enjoying a delicious meal. It is an experience of joy, nourishment, celebration, sharing, expressing love to families and loved ones, communicating our thanksgiving to God, and building relationships while enjoying abundant, incredibly delicious food. I believe when we feast upon the words of Christ, we ought to be thinking of the same kind of experience. Feasting upon the scriptures is not just reading them. It should bring us real joy and build our relationship with the Savior. (Takashi Wada, “Feasting upon the Words of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 38–39)
5. How can feasting on the words of Jesus Christ in the scriptures show me what to do? Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy taught:
You may be facing decisions regarding a mission, your future career, and, eventually, marriage. As you read the scriptures and pray for direction, you may not actually see the answer in the form of printed words on the page, but as you read, you will receive distinct impressions and promptings, and, as promised, the Holy Ghost “will show unto you all things what ye should do” [2 Nephi 32:5]. (Spencer J. Condie, “Becoming a Great Benefit to Our Fellow Beings,” Ensign, May 2002, 45)
Day 4
Primary
1. Today read 2 Nephi 33.
2. Let’s go over that doctrinal mastery scripture we skipped yesterday, 2 Nephi 32:8-9.
8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
3. One of the most basic commandments we have is to pray to Heavenly Father. But many things can get in the way of us praying. Nephi reminded the people of the importance of prayer and the blessings that come from regular communication with our Heavenly Father.
Youth
1. Today read 2 Nephi 33.
2. Let’s go over that doctrinal mastery scripture we skipped yesterday, 2 Nephi 32:8-9.
8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
3. One of the most basic commandments we have is to pray to Heavenly Father. But many things can get in the way of us praying. Nephi reminded the people of the importance of prayer and the blessings that come from regular communication with our Heavenly Father. Some of the truths Nephi taught include:
- If we pray always, Heavenly Father will consecrate our effort for the welfare of our souls.
- Heavenly Father wants us to pray.
- Satan does not want us to pray.
- We must pray always.
4. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave one example of what it could mean to pray always:
Counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. …
During the course of the day, we keep a prayer in our heart for continued assistance and guidance. …
At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer. (David A. Bednar, “Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 41–42)
Week 5, EASTER
Day 1
Primary*
1. Starting with Palm Sunday, one week before Easter Sunday, Jesus made the most of his final week of mortality. Each day, he did something to fulfill prophecy, teach his people, or prepare for the events surrounding his atonement, crucifixion, or resurrection.
2. Carefully read the events of each day in the timeline. What stories from this week do you already know? Which ones are new to you?
3. Print out the mini book about the last week of Christ’s life. Using the image from number 2, write at least one event on each page (not the cover) and make the book. (Here are instructions for cutting and folding.)
4. Watch the video “Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane.”
5. Listen to the song “Gethsemane.”
Youth*
1. Starting with Palm Sunday, one week before Easter Sunday, Jesus made the most of his final week of mortality. Each day, he did something to fulfill prophecy, teach his people, or prepare for the events surrounding his atonement, crucifixion, or resurrection.
2. Carefully read the events of each day in the timeline. What stories from this week do you already know? Which ones are new to you?
3. Print out the mini book about the last week of Christ’s life. Using the image from number 2, write at least one event on each page (not the cover) and make the book. (Here are instructions for cutting and folding.)
4. Watch the video “Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane.”
5. Listen to the song “Gethsemane.”
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Matthew 27:29-50.
2. Jesus had already paid for the sins of the world when he suffered the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane. Next, he would conquer death in the Resurrection. But first, he would go through a series of trials that would cause him to suffer great pain.
3. Watch the video “The Trials of Jesus.”
4. Watch the video “Jesus is Crucified.”
5. Listen to the song “I Feel My Savior’s Love.”
Youth
1. Read Matthew 27:29-50.
2. After a series of one-sided trials, Jesus Christ was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Roman soldiers mocked and scourged Him and nailed Him to the cross. But instead of condemning them, Jesus Christ begged His Father to “forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even in His darkest moment, Jesus spoke of love and redemption. With His dying breath, Jesus addressed His Father. “It is finished,” He said (John 19:30). An unlikely testimony came from a Roman centurion and those who were with him: “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). The realization is just as awe-inspiring today as it was then.
3. In 2022, President Russell M. Nelson suggested we end conflict in our personal life and forgive and seek forgiveness to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum:
I repeat my call to end the conflicts in your life. Exercise the humility, courage, and strength required both to forgive and to seek forgiveness. …
… I invite you to seek an end to a personal conflict that has weighed you down. Could there be a more fitting act of gratitude to Jesus Christ for His Atonement? If forgiveness presently seems impossible, plead for power through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ to help you. As you do so, I promise personal peace and a burst of spiritual momentum. (“The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022)
4. Watch the video “Jesus is Condemned Before Pilate.”
5. Watch the video “Jesus is Scourged and Crucified.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Read John 20.
2. Jesus Christ died and was resurrected. Because he was resurrected, we will all be resurrected and live again, too.
3. Watch the video “Jesus is Risen.”
4. Listen to the song “Jesus Has Risen.”
Youth
1. Read John 20.
2. After all the trials of Gethsemane and the cross, Jesus Christ was resurrected and showed himself to his friends and apostles. The joy that must have followed their grief to see Him alive again must have been great. We, too, can have joy in Christ. Because he was resurrected, we will live again, too.
3. Watch the video “Jesus is Resurrected.”
4. Watch the video “The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles.”
5. Watch the video “Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, And Yet Have Believed.”
Day 4
Primary
1. Mosiah 3:7 and Alma 7:11 describe some of what the Savior went through as part of His Atonement. Read these verses and look for words that tell what Jesus suffered for us. Then read Alma 7:12 to find out why He suffered it. Jesus Christ felt all of our pains and sicknesses so that He could comfort us.
2. Jesus Christ can also cleanse us and help us to change. The Book of Mormon gives many examples of people who were changed because of the Savior’s Atonement. Read about Enos (see Enos 1:2–8), Alma the Younger (see Mosiah 27:8–24), and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (see Alma 24:7–19). How did this person or group change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How can we follow their examples?
3. Listen to the song “Easter Hosanna.”
Youth
1. Mosiah 3:7 and Alma 7:11 describe some of what the Savior went through as part of His Atonement. Read these verses and look for words that tell what Jesus suffered for us. Then read Alma 7:12 to find out why He suffered it. Jesus Christ felt all of our pains and sicknesses so that He could comfort us.
2. Jesus Christ can also cleanse us and help us to change. The Book of Mormon gives many examples of people who were changed because of the Savior’s Atonement. Read about Enos (see Enos 1:2–8), Alma the Younger (see Mosiah 27:8–24), and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (see Alma 24:7–19). How did this person or group change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How can we follow their examples?
