Lesson 7: I Know in Whom I Have Trusted

• 
  As you study 2 Nephi 3, look for teachings about the Prophet Joseph Smith. How have you been blessed through the contributions of Joseph Smith?
• How did Nephi find hope despite feeling “encompassed about” by temptation and sin? (See 2 Nephi 4:18–25.) How can remembering blessings you have received in the past help you through difficult times?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

As a family, read some or all of 2 Nephi 4:15–35. Explain that this passage is sometimes called “the Psalm of Nephi.” It expresses some of Nephi’s deepest feelings. Discuss why it is important to sometimes “write the things of [our] soul[s],” as Nephi did (2 Nephi 4:15). Encourage family members to frequently write about their feelings. They may occasionally want to record their feelings in the form of a poem or song of praise.

Lesson 6: Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life

2 Nephi 1 contains counsel that Lehi gave to his sons shortly before he died. As you study this chapter, look for specific things that Lehi counseled his sons to do and for the blessings that he promised they would receive if they obeyed his counsel.

As you study 2 Nephi 2, look for the words free, act, and choose. You may want to mark these words when you find them. Take time to ponder the importance of these words.

• •
  Read 2 Nephi 2:6–8. How can you “make these things known”? How does your making these things known show gratitude to the Savior for His Atonement?
• •
  Read 2 Nephi 2:15–25 and look for (1) conditions that existed for Adam and Eve before they partook of the forbidden fruit and (2) the opposition they experienced after they partook of the fruit. What blessings can you receive because the Fall of Adam and Eve brought opposition into the world? (See 2 Nephi 2:23–27; Moses 5:10–12.)

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Explain that missionaries are often asked questions that are answered clearly in the Book of Mormon. Invite family members to play the role of missionaries who are asked the questions below. Have them answer the questions using the accompanying scriptures from 2 Nephi 2.

1. 1.
   What do you mean when you say that Jesus is the Savior? (See 2 Nephi 2:5–10.)
2. 2.
   Why does God allow both good and evil in the world? (See 2 Nephi 2:11–13.)
3. 3.
   I don’t want a lot of commandments. Won’t my freedom be limited if I follow Jesus’ teachings? (See 2 Nephi 2:26–29.)

Lesson 5: Hearken to the Truth, and Give Heed unto It

As you study 1 Nephi 16–18, look for ways in which Nephi demonstrated obedience, faith, and courage. Think of ways you can follow Nephi’s example.

• •
  How did the way in which Nephi responded to trials differ from the way in which many of his family members responded? (Contrast 1 Nephi 18:16 with 1 Nephi 16:18–20, 34–36; 17:21.) How can we overcome the tendency to murmur when we face trials?

Study the following scriptures about obeying God’s commandments. You may want to mark these passages.

• 1 Nephi 3:7
• D&C 130:20–21
• 1 Nephi 17:3
• Abraham 3:25
• D&C 82:10

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Obtain two pieces of rope—one in good condition and one that is frayed. Display the rope that is in good condition, and explain that it is made of many threads. Explain that just as it is important for the threads of the rope to remain tightly woven together, it is important for families to be united. Then display the rope that is frayed. Explain that just as rope is weakened when the threads separate, families are weakened when they are not united.

Review the account in 1 Nephi 16–18. Consider how the actions of individual members of Lehi’s family affected the family’s unity. Talk about what you can do as a family to be more united.

Lesson 4: The Things Which I Saw While I Was Carried Away in the Spirit

• In 1 Nephi 12, Nephi describes his vision of the future of his seed (his descendants) and the seed of his brothers. In what ways did the symbols in the vision of the tree of life (the mist of darkness, the great and spacious building, and the river of filthy water) foreshadow the downfall of Nephi’s seed?
• •
  What did Nephi see formed “among the nations of the Gentiles”? (See 1 Nephi 13:4–5.) Who is the founder of the great and abominable church? (See 1 Nephi 13:6.)
• •
  What did the great and abominable church do to the Bible? (See 1 Nephi 13:20–26.) Why? (See 1 Nephi 13:27.) What are some doctrines that are difficult to understand in the Bible but plain and precious in the Book of Mormon? How has the Book of Mormon helped make the Bible more understandable to you or increased your testimony of the Bible?
• •
  Nephi saw that even though the members of the Lord’s Church in the last days would be comparatively few, they would be able to overcome the persecution of the great and abominable church. What did Nephi see the Saints of God armed with? (See 1 Nephi 14:14.) How can you be “armed with righteousness and with the power of God”?

 

‘Our Lord,’ said Columbus, ‘unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my enterprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?’ (Jacob Wasserman, Columbus, Don Quixote of the Seas, pp. 19–20.)” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 577).

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Read selected verses from 1 Nephi 12–14 as a family. As you study these chapters, give close attention to Nephi’s prophecies. Suggest that family members mark the prophecies in their scriptures. Make a list of the prophecies that have been fulfilled.

BofM Lesson 3: The Vision of the Tree of Life Resources

Images used in the Power Point Presentation

Additional Reading:

Lehi's Dream by James C. Christensen and Robert Millet

Conference Talk by Sr. Ann Dibb "Hold On"

BYU Devotional Address Boyd K. Packer "Finding Ourselves in Lehi's Dream" 

 

 

Lesson 3: The Vision of the Tree of Life

As you study the account of the vision of the tree of life, watch for the following symbols and their meanings:

• Tree of life (1 Nephi 8:10; 11:8–25)
• Fruit of the tree of life (1 Nephi 8:10–18, 30; 15:36; see also D&C 14:7)
• Rod of iron (1 Nephi 8:19–24, 30; 11:25; 15:23–24)
• Mist of darkness (1 Nephi 8:23–24; 12:17)
• River of filthy water (1 Nephi 8:13, 26, 32; 15:26–29)
• Great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8:26–28, 31, 33; 12:18)

• •
  When Nephi was shown the tree of life, he asked to know its interpretation (1 Nephi 11:8–11). What did he learn that the tree represents? (See 1 Nephi 11:21–25.) What did Nephi see that helped him better understand God’s love? (See 1 Nephi 11:13–21, 24, 26–33; see also John 3:16.)
• •
  How did Lehi and Nephi describe the tree of life and its fruit? (See 1 Nephi 8:10–12; 11:8–9, 23; 15:36.)

• •
  In the vision, Lehi saw “numberless concourses of people” (1 Nephi 8:21). These people can be divided into four categories based on their attitudes toward the tree and the fruit. Read 1 Nephi 8:21–33, and look for these four categories. How are these categories manifest in the world today? In which category do you feel you are?

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Conduct the following activity to help family members better understand the vision of the tree of life:

Blindfold a member of the family and spin him or her in circles. Explain that the blindfold represents the mist of darkness. Then place a picture of the Savior somewhere in the room. Challenge the blindfolded family member to walk to the picture without help from anyone. When it becomes apparent that he or she will not be able to walk directly to the picture, have one family member stand by the picture, holding one end of a piece of string (representing the iron rod). Have another family member hold the other end. Then have the blindfolded family member catch hold of the string and walk to the picture.

Lesson 46: Extra Stuff

In our lesson today on Revelation I asked how Satan has fought against the righteous throughout the history of the earth and then we read Revelation 6:4-11 to find the answers.
War was fairly easy to see, but the reference to a pair of balances, measures of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley, and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine, was a little harder to interpret. I tried to find an explanation at the time but could not. Here is what I was looking for...

"This strange accounting of the price of wheat and barley seems baffling to us today, but knowledge of the monetary units and customs of John's time helps us to better understand what the voice declared. John's readers would have clearly understood it. A measure (Greek choenix) was approximately the same volume as our own quart and was the usual amount of a day's allowance or ration. The penny (denarius) was a small silver coin of Roman mintage. Although it is hard to determine the equivalent value in today's inflated economy, it is known that a denarius was the typical wage for a day's work in those times. Thus, to spend one day's wages to buy only enough food for one person for one day clearly points out that these were famine prices. Three measures of barley could be purchased for a penny, but barley was a much inferior grain for human consumption and was generally used only in times of great hunger. The fact that the rider had balances in his hand suggests that the scarcity of food was such that it had to be doled out with exactness. Elder McConkie has suggested that the phrase "hurt not the oil and the wine" meat that enough good should be preserved so that man would not utterly perish in the famine conditions of that time. (See McConkie, DNTC, 3:480.)"
Taken from Ye Shall Be Witnesses Unto Me A New Testament Reading Guide: Acts to Revelation Religion 212 and 212 IS

Persecution was the third strategy that was brought out in the reading with martyrs crying out to the Lord.

Here is the part of the lesson we did not get to:

 

3. After the last judgment, the righteous will dwell with God.

Read and discuss selected verses from Revelation 20:12–22:21.

• •

After the last great battle, the final judgment will occur.

What can we learn from Revelation 20:12 about how we will be judged?

Reading 7

Revelation 20:12

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

What blessings will come to those who are judged to be righteous? (See Revelation 21:3–7.

Reading 8

Revelation 21:3-7

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

The righteous will:

1. a

Dwell in God’s presence (Revelation 21:3).

2. b.

No longer experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).

3. c.

Inherit all things as sons and daughters of God (Revelation 21:7).

Compare to the blessings and promises that were promised to the saints in the seven churches from our lesson last week.   

Promises to Those Who Overcome:

Give to eat of the Tree of Life

Not be hurt of the second death

Give to eat of the hidden (sacred) manna (reference to the bread of life or Christ)

Clothed in white eternally - Names in the Book of Life

Sit with God on His throne

Blessings of Exaltation and Eternal Life

These are the blessings ALL of us receive IF WE OVERCOME THE WORLD. IF WE ARE RIGHTEOUS, WE CAN OVERCOME IT ALL.

Reading 9

President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior:

“The city, I understood, was [the Savior’s]. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.

“But who were they?

“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words: These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!” (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1976], 60).

What does Revelation 22:14 tell us we must do to be able to enter the gates of the eternal city?

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Show video  Elder Uchtdorf - Hope

Elder Uchtdorf's Video

 

Conclusion

Point out that the New Testament ends with a message of great hope. Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end. Testify that the righteous will triumph at the end of the world. Encourage class members to take courage and hope from this knowledge as they stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life.