Welcome to September!
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September, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Helaman 2 and Helaman 3.
2. The Nephites started to have a lot of contention about who would be the chief judge. This led to murders and the formation of something called “secret combinations.” These were secret groups that plotted to carry out evil purposes together. These would cause a lot of problems for the Nephites for a very long time.
3. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Helaman.
Youth
1. Read Helaman 2 and Helaman 3.
2. Because of contentions over who should be the chief judge, a wicked man named Kishkumen formed a secret group. He was soon joined by another wicked man named Gadianton. In the Book of Mormon, these types of groups are referred to as secret combinations.
3. Pride and contention can cause division among families, communities, and nations. President Russell M. Nelson gave some advice regarding the conflict and contention in our lives.
My call today, dear brothers and sisters, is to end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life. Bury any and all inclinations to hurt others—whether those inclinations be a temper, a sharp tongue, or a resentment for someone who has hurt you. The Savior commanded us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who despitefully use us. …
We are followers of the Prince of Peace. Now more than ever, we need the peace only He can bring. How can we expect peace to exist in the world when we are not individually seeking peace and harmony? Brothers and sisters, I know what I’m suggesting is not easy. But followers of Jesus Christ should set the example for all the world to follow. I plead with you to do all you can to end personal conflicts that are currently raging in your hearts and in your lives. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022, 97)
4. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about becoming a peacemaker:
By the shield of our faith in Jesus Christ, we become peacemakers, quenching—meaning to calm, cool, or extinguish—all the fiery darts of the adversary. …
How does a peacemaker calm and cool the fiery darts? Certainly not by shrinking before those who disparage us. Rather, we remain confident in our faith, sharing our beliefs with conviction but always void of anger or malice. …
We genuinely love and care for all our neighbors, whether or not they believe as we do. Jesus taught us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that those of different beliefs should sincerely reach out to help anyone in need, being peacemakers, pursuing good and noble causes. (Neil L. Andersen, “Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker,” Liahona, May 2022, 18–19)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Helaman.
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Helaman 5.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Helaman 5:12. (Lucky you! There is a song for this one!)
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
3. Watch the video “Nephi and Lehi in Prison.”
4. Listen to the song “The Still Small Voice.”
Youth
1. Today read Helaman 5.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Helaman 5:12. (Lucky you! There is a song for this one!)
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
3. The prophet Helaman likened Satan’s attacks to a storm with mighty winds and hail that beats down upon us. He also declared that those who build the foundation of their lives “upon the rock of our Redeemer” will have power to resist evil and stay faithful.
4. How can I build my spiritual foundation on Jesus Christ? Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Personal foundations, like many worthwhile pursuits, are usually built slowly—one layer, one experience, one challenge, one setback, and one success at a time. …
Just as repetition and consistent effort are required to gain physical or mental capacity, the same is true in spiritual matters. …
In the end, our faith in Jesus Christ is the essential foundation for our eternal salvation and exaltation. (Quentin L. Cook, “Foundations of Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 127–31)
5. How can I face my personal storms and challenges with confidence? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. As you are true to your covenants … , you will be strengthened by His power. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 96)
6. Watch the video “Nephi and Lehi Testify of Christ and are Protected by Divine Power.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Helaman 6.
2. Imagine writing a letter to help people who will live hundreds of years in the future. The prophet Mormon essentially did just that. As he abridged the Nephite history and engraved it on the gold plates, he occasionally pointed out important truths using statements such as “thus we see.” The truths he highlighted can help us with the challenges we face today.
3. Listen to the song “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 6.
2. Imagine writing a letter to help people who will live hundreds of years in the future. The prophet Mormon essentially did just that. As he abridged the Nephite history and engraved it on the gold plates, he occasionally pointed out important truths using statements such as “thus we see.” The truths he highlighted can help us with the challenges we face today.
3. Read what President Russell M. Nelson said about a survival guide for your life:
[Book of Mormon] prophets, as inspired by the Lord, saw our day and selected the doctrine and truths that would help us most. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide. (Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75)
4. Mormon highlighted the following truths in this chapter.
- The better we know God, the more likely we are to keep His commandments (see Helaman 6:34)
- If we are wicked and harden our hearts, then the Spirit of the Lord will withdraw from us (see Helaman 6:35)
- If we choose to willingly believe in the Lord’s words, then He will pour out His Spirit upon us (see Helaman 6:36)
5. What does it mean that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw? Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that our choices and actions can cause us to withdraw from the Holy Spirit:
Precisely because the promised blessing [of baptism and the sacrament] is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit.
The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us. (David A. Bednar, “That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 30)
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Helaman 7.
2. Today you will learn about Nephi, the son of Helaman. After being rejected by the Nephites in the land northward, Nephi returned to his home in Zarahemla. The people there were also very wicked. Mourning over their wickedness, Nephi went to his garden tower and cried unto God. After he realized the people had gathered to hear him, Nephi told the people to repent.
3. Watch the video “Nephi the Prophet.”
4. Listen to the song “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 7.
2. Today you will learn about Nephi, the son of Helaman. After being rejected by the Nephites in the land northward, Nephi returned to his home in Zarahemla. The people there were also very wicked. Mourning over their wickedness, Nephi went to his garden tower and cried unto God. After he realized the people had gathered to hear him, Nephi told the people to repent.
3. Many people became angry over Nephi’s message. To help the people understand that he was speaking the truth, Nephi miraculously told them of events that had taken place while he was preaching to them. Nephi first told the people that their chief judge, Seezoram, had been murdered (see Helaman 8:27–28). The people felt that “Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge” (Helaman 9:16). Nephi then told the people to find Seantum, who was Seezoram’s brother, and ask him certain questions. Nephi told the people exactly how Seantum would respond (see Helaman 9:26–36). This led to Seantum confessing that he was the murderer and that Nephi was innocent (see Helaman 9:37).
4. What if we don’t agree with what a prophet says? President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) taught:
You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may conflict with your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. … Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow the ones whom the Lord has placed to preside over His Church. … Let’s keep our eye on the President of the Church. (Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152–53.)
5. President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:
Sometimes we will receive counsel that we cannot understand or that seems not to apply to us, even after careful prayer and thought. Don’t discard the counsel, but hold it close. If someone you trusted handed you what appeared to be nothing more than sand with the promise that it contained gold, you might wisely hold it in your hand awhile, shaking it gently. Every time I have done that with counsel from a prophet, after a time the gold flakes have begun to appear and I have been grateful. (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 26)
6. Why do prophets preach truths that are sometimes unpopular? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Sometimes we are accused of being uncaring as we teach the Father’s requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. But wouldn’t it be far more uncaring for us not to tell the truth—not to teach what God has revealed?
It is precisely because we do care deeply about all of God’s children that we proclaim His truth. We may not always tell people what they want to hear. Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth! (Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 17, 2019], speeches.byu.edu)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Helaman 10.
2. After his prophecies regarding the murder of the chief judge, Nephi contemplated all the Lord had shown to him, but he was also discouraged because of the wickedness of the people. As he made his way home, he had a remarkable experience in which the Lord blessed him for his faithfulness in doing His will.
3. Watch the video “Nephi Receives Great Power.”
4. Listen to the song “The Still Small Voice.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 10.
2. Pondering the things of the Lord prepares us to receive revelation. Why might pondering help us receive revelation? President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
It is important to be still and listen and follow the Spirit. We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world.
Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world, during His mortal ministry, found time to do so. (M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, May 4, 2014], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
3. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed. …
Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction. (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6–7)
4. How can I place the Lord’s will above my own? Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
When we consider the goodness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our trust in Them increases. Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His children. We seek not to change His will but to align our will with His and secure for ourselves blessings that He wants to grant, conditioned on our asking for them. We yearn to be more meek, more pure, more steadfast, more Christlike. These changes qualify us for additional heavenly blessings. (Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 43)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Helaman 11.
2. One of the patterns throughout the Book of Mormon is that people tend to forget God and become prideful when things are going well for them. On the other hand, people tend to humble themselves and turn to God when things are difficult. This is one of the things that caused the Nephites so much trouble.
3. Listen to the song “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus.”
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Helaman 12.
2. How do you remember important information, like a family member’s birthday or information for a test? How is this similar to the effort that is required to “remember the Lord”? Helaman 12 describes several things that cause people to forget the Lord. What helps you remember Jesus Christ?
Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Helaman 13.
2. There came a time when the Lamanites were righteous and obeyed the word of God, but the Nephites became wicked. A Lamanite named Samuel came to the city of Zarahemla to teach and prophecy to the people there.
3. Watch the video “Samuel the Prophet.”
4. Listen to the song “The Still Small Voice.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 13.
2. How do you think God feels about us when we have sinned? Many Nephites rebelled against God and His commandments, so God sent Samuel the Lamanite to them with a clear message to repent so they could be forgiven. Samuel the Lamanite loved even the wicked Nephites so much that he risked his life to teach them that repentance is a gift from Jesus Christ that leads to happiness and salvation.
3. As you read the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson, look for truths he taught that could help us overcome obstacles to repentance.
Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us. …
Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. …
When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ! (Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 67)
4. Why are prophets so bold in inviting people to repent? President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
There are times when parents and we who lead the Church must extend tough love when failing to teach and to warn and to discipline is to destroy.
We did not make the rules; they were revealed as commandments. We do not cause nor can we prevent the consequences if you disobey the moral laws (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:78). In spite of criticism or opposition, we must teach and we must warn. (Boyd K. Packer, “Ye Are the Temple of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 74)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Helaman 14.
2. Heavenly Father sends prophets to help His children believe in His Beloved Son, such as when He instructed Samuel the Lamanite to prophesy to the Nephites. As part of his prophecies, Samuel told of signs that would announce the birth and death of Jesus Christ.
3. Watch the video “Samuel the Lamanite Tells of Jesus Christ.”
4. Listen to the song “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 14.
2. Heavenly Father sends prophets to help His children believe in His Beloved Son, such as when He instructed Samuel the Lamanite to prophesy to the Nephites. As part of his prophecies, Samuel told of signs that would announce the birth and death of Jesus Christ.
3. Just as Heavenly Father used signs to prepare the ancient Nephites for the coming of His Son, He uses signs in our day to help us prepare for the Second Coming of His Son. As you study 3 Nephi 1–10 in coming lessons, you will read about the fulfillment of the signs Samuel gave of the Savior’s birth and death. The people in Samuel’s day who believed the prophecies and prepared for the coming of Christ had very different experiences from those who did not.
4. How is Jesus Christ represented by light? President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:
Jesus Christ is the light of the world because he is the source of the light that quickens our understanding, because his teachings and his example illuminate our path, and because his power persuades us to do good. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Light and Life of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 64)
5. What are signs from God and why does He give them?
“Signs are events or experiences that demonstrate the power of God. They are often miraculous. They identify and announce great events, such as the Savior’s birth, death, and Second Coming. …
“Some people claim that they would believe in God or His work if they were able to receive a sign. But faith does not come by signs; it comes through the Holy Ghost as individuals study the scriptures and prayerfully seek to learn the plan of God. … Such signs are given to those who are faithful and obedient to strengthen them in their faith and to help them carry out the will of God” (Gospel Topics, “Signs,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). (See also Doctrine and Covenants 63:7–10.)
6. How should our knowledge of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ affect our lives? President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?
If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? (Dallin H. Oaks, “Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 9)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Helaman 15 and Helaman 16.
2. The Nephites did not like the things that Samuel had to tell them. They tried to throw rocks at him or shoot him with arrows. None of them could hit him. When the people saw that Samuel was protected, some of them believed him and were baptized by the prophet Nephi.
3. Listen to the song “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read Helaman 15 and Helaman 16.
2. Samuel the Lamanite warned the Nephites that unless they repented, they would be destroyed. He declared that the Lord would prolong the days of the Lamanites, who had become more righteous than the Nephites. Some Nephites believed Samuel’s teachings and were baptized by Nephi. Those who did not believe Samuel attempted to kill him. But Samuel was protected by the power of God, and he returned to his own land.
3. Some of the Nephites believed his words when they saw that Samuel was protected, and were baptized by the prophet Nephi. Some people continued to disbelieve him. When we see or feel evidence of God’s power upon His prophets, we can choose to either believe or dismiss that evidence. Why do you think people respond to prophets and their messages in such different ways?
4. Read the following statement by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.
When we reject the counsel which comes from God, we do not choose to be independent of outside influence. We choose another influence. We reject the protection of a perfectly loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we choose the influence of another power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred” (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 25).
5. Watch the video “Samuel the Lamanite Prophecies of Jesus Christ.”
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 1.
2. In some ways, it was an exciting time to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Prophecies were being fulfilled—great signs and miracles among the people indicated that the Savior would soon be born. On the other hand, it was also an anxious time for believers because, in spite of all the miracles, unbelievers insisted that “the time was past” for the Savior to be born. These people caused “a great uproar throughout the land” and even set a date to kill all the believers if the sign prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite — a night without darkness — did not appear.
3. In these difficult circumstances, the prophet Nephi “cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people” (3 Nephi 1:11). The Lord’s response is inspiring to anyone who faces persecution or doubt and needs to know that light will overcome darkness: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; … I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Nephi 1:13).
4. Watch the video “The Signs of Christ’s Birth.”
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through 3 Nephi.
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 1.
2. In some ways, it was an exciting time to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Prophecies were being fulfilled—great signs and miracles among the people indicated that the Savior would soon be born. On the other hand, it was also an anxious time for believers because, in spite of all the miracles, unbelievers insisted that “the time was past” for the Savior to be born. These people caused “a great uproar throughout the land” and even set a date to kill all the believers if the sign prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite — a night without darkness — did not appear.
3. In these difficult circumstances, the prophet Nephi “cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people” (3 Nephi 1:11). The Lord’s response is inspiring to anyone who faces persecution or doubt and needs to know that light will overcome darkness: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; … I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Nephi 1:13).
4. Like the Nephites in 3 Nephi 1, we live in times that can seem filled with uncertainty about the future. How can we have confidence in the Lord and His words given through His prophets? Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises. As we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” [2 Nephi 31:20], we are blessed with an eternal perspective and vision that stretches far beyond our limited mortal capacity. We will be enabled to “gather together, and stand in holy places” [Doctrine and Covenants 101:22] and “be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” [Doctrine and Covenants 87:8]. (David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 11)
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through 3 Nephi.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 3.
2. Just as we face challenges leading to the Savior’s return, the Nephites faced challenges in the years before He came to them. The Gadianton robbers threatened to destroy the Nephites. However, the Nephites “were prepared to meet them … in the strength of the Lord”. Like the Nephites, we can overcome challenges by being prepared.
3. Listen to the song “The Still Small Voice.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 3.
2. Just as we face challenges leading to the Savior’s return, the Nephites faced challenges in the years before He came to them. The Gadianton robbers threatened to destroy the Nephites. However, the Nephites “were prepared to meet them … in the strength of the Lord”. Like the Nephites, we can overcome challenges by being prepared.
3. As we prepare ourselves spiritually and temporally, the Lord will strengthen us to overcome or endure challenges. President Russell M. Nelson testified of the blessings of being prepared:
The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults. …
I am not saying that the days ahead will be easy, but I promise you that the future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands. (Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75–76)
4. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
The storms and temptations of this life are often unpredictable. But this we know: they will come! In order to overcome the challenges and temptations that each of us inevitably faces, it will require righteous preparation and the use of divinely provided protections. We must determine to be temple worthy regardless of what befalls us. If we are prepared, we shall not fear. (Quentin L. Cook, “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 39)
Day 3
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 5.
2. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? A disciple is one who has been baptized and is willing to take upon him or her the name of the Savior and follow Him. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to teach others the way to everlasting life.
3. Listen to the song “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 5.
2. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? A disciple is one who has been baptized and is willing to take upon him or her the name of the Savior and follow Him. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to teach others the way to everlasting life.
3.Elder Robert D. Hales taught:
“What does it mean to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ? A disciple is one who has been baptized and is willing to take upon him or her the name of the Savior and follow Him. A disciple strives to become as He is by keeping His commandments in mortality, much the same as an apprentice seeks to become like his or her master.
“Many people hear the word disciple and think it means only ‘follower.’ But genuine discipleship is a state of being. This suggests more than studying and applying a list of individual attributes. Disciples live so that the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as into a spiritual tapestry” (“Becoming a Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 46).
4. One of the most important ways we can show our gratitude to the Lord for the blessings He gives us is by helping others come to Him and receive those same blessings. What are some ways that we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, could teach others the way to everlasting life?
5. In 3 Nephi 5:16–26 Mormon testified of the truth of the record he was compiling, expressed gratitude to Jesus Christ, and prophesied that the house of Israel would be gathered and brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ in the latter days.
Day 4
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 7.
2. Him? After God protected the Nephites from the Gadianton robbers, they returned to their homes and began to rebuild their lives. Through pride and division, Satan led the people to rebel against God. The consequences were so severe that the government collapsed, and the people were divided into tribes.
3. Listen to the song “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 7.
2. Him? After God protected the Nephites from the Gadianton robbers, they returned to their homes and began to rebuild their lives. Through pride and division, Satan led the people to rebel against God. The consequences were so severe that the government collapsed, and the people were divided into tribes.
3. When we are prideful, we give Satan greater power to tempt us and lead us to iniquity. Think about what it means to be prideful. Search for insights in the following statement from President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994).
The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4)
4. How do we see pride and division in our day? Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
In our day, the scriptural imperative for unity is largely ignored, and for many people the emphasis is on tribalism, often based on status, gender, race, and wealth. In many countries, if not most, people are deeply divided about how to live. In the Lord’s Church, the only culture we adhere to and teach is the culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The unity we seek is to be unified with the Savior and His teachings. …
… The Book of Mormon makes it clear that there must be no -ites, tribes, or classes. We must be united and equal before God. (Quentin L. Cook, “Prepare to Meet God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 116)
5. How are the events in the Book of Mormon relevant to our day? President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) compared the events in the Book of Mormon to our day by stating:
In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6–7)
Week 5
Day 1
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 8.
2. After Jesus Christ was crucified, there were signs shown to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Darkness and destruction covered the land. Many people were killed.
3. Watch the video “The Signs of Christ’s Crucifixion.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 8.
2. When Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem, a terrible storm and earthquake in the Americas caused great destruction. These events fulfilled Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies about the signs of the Savior’s death (see Helaman 14:20–27).
3. In the years leading up to this destruction, most of the Nephites had turned from the Lord and cast out the prophets that God had sent to preach to them. Read 3 Nephi 8:23–25, looking for how survivors reacted after experiencing these destructive events.
4. Will Jesus Christ really forgive me when I have made big mistakes? President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized:
Letters come from those who have made tragic mistakes. They ask, “Can I ever be forgiven?”
The answer is yes!
The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition after having known a fulness, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. (Boyd K. Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 19)
5. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Best Is Yet to Be,” [Brigham Young University devotional, Jan. 13, 2009], 27, speeches.byu.edu)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 9.
2. In the darkness, Jesus Christ invited those who had survived the destruction to repent and come unto Him. Imagine you were a Nephite listening to the Savior’s voice in complete darkness. How do you think you would feel?
3. Watch the video “Jesus Visits the People.”
4. Listen to the song “The Still Small Voice.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 9.
2. In the darkness, Jesus Christ invited those who had survived the destruction to repent and come unto Him. Imagine you were a Nephite listening to the Savior’s voice in complete darkness. How do you think you would feel?
3. The Nephites were living the law of Moses at this time. As part of the law of Moses, the Lord commanded His people to offer animal sacrifices as a type and shadow of the sacrifice the Savior would offer through His Atonement. Read 3 Nephi 9:19–20. Look for what the Savior said the Nephites were now to offer as a sacrifice.
4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit? President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught the following:
True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13). Part of this mighty change of heart is to feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a contrite spirit. God’s gifts are sufficient to help us overcome every sin and weakness if we will but turn to Him for help. Most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes, but rather is a step by step, steady and consistent movement toward godliness. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71.)
5. If we come unto Christ with a broken heart and contrite spirit, He will bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught one way to think about the phrases “broken heart” and “contrite spirit.”
You can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself — what you are and what you are becoming.
Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord” (D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 12).
Day 3
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 10.
2. Look at the picture of a hen gathering her chicks. Jesus told the people that he would gather and protect them like a hen with her chicks. What does that mean to you? Why would a hen need to gather her chicks? Why does the Savior want to gather us close to Him? How do we come to Him for safety?
3. Listen to the song “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 10.
2. After hearing the Savior’s voice, the people were so astonished that they were silent for many hours. Then He spoke again to the people.
3. Look at the picture of a hen gathering her chicks. Jesus told the people that he would gather and protect them like a hen with her chicks. What does that mean to you? Why would a hen need to gather her chicks? Why does the Savior want to gather us close to Him? How do we come to Him for safety?
4. Watch the following videos:
Day 4
Primary
1. Read 3 Nephi 11.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 3 Nephi 11:10-11.
10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
3. While the Nephites gathered around the temple talking about the signs of Jesus Christ’s death, the Savior “came down and stood in the midst of them” (3 Nephi 11:8). He taught them of His mission and all He had done for them.
4. Listen to the song “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”
Youth
1. Read 3 Nephi 11.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, 3 Nephi 11:10-11.
10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
3. While the Nephites gathered around the temple talking about the signs of Jesus Christ’s death, the Savior “came down and stood in the midst of them” (3 Nephi 11:8). He taught them of His mission and all He had done for them.
4. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described Jesus Christ’s appearance and what He told the people this way:
That appearance and that declaration constituted the focal point, the supreme moment, in the entire history of the Book of Mormon. …
Everyone had talked of him, sung of him, dreamed of him, and prayed for his appearance—but here he actually was. The day of days! The God who turns every dark night into morning light had arrived. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 250–51)
5. How can Jesus Christ’s example of drinking the bitter cup help me? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged:
Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 41)
6. Watch the video “Jesus Christ Appears at the Temple.”
