Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 10

Introduction
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 94–95; or Ensign, May 1975, 64).

He also said, “This sacred volume was written for us—for our day. Its scriptures are to be likened unto ourselves” (See 1 Ne. 19:23).

Nephi saw our day and wrote for us. Chapters 26-30 of 2 Nephi are written especially for us today.

• In chapter 26, Nephi prophesies about the destructions of the Nephites, which we must liken to ourselves if we want to avoid a similar fate.
  
• He testifies in chapters 27 and 29-30 of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and teaches of the blessings that come from faithful obedience to its precepts. This includes very specific prophesies of the Three Witnesses and Martin Harris’ experience showing the characters from the plates to Professor Charles Anthon.
  
• Nephi warns us in chapter 28 of the fraud Satan will try to perpetuate to keep people from hearkening to the word of God as contained in the Book of Mormon.

Preparing for the Savior’s Coming

Remember that the Book of Mormon was written for us in our day. I believe that is why so much of the text of the Book of Mormon relates to the time leading up to the Savior’s appearance among the Nephites. We need to know how they prepared so we can likewise be prepared to meet him when he comes.

• Read 2 Nephi 26:8-9 – Steadiness and hearkening to the words of the prophets are keys to preparing to welcome the Savior when he comes. When we do so, we will be healed by and have peace with Jesus.
  
• Can we enjoy these blessings today, even before his triumphal Second Coming? How?

Pride Leads to Destruction
What brought about the Nephites’ eventual destruction? Read verse 10. President Benson gave a landmark talk called “Beware of Pride” in April 1989. In that prophetic address (remember the key to preparing for the Savior’s coming is to hearken to the prophets!) he said,

The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. (See Hel. 12:6.) They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works.
The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s.
Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest.
Pride is ugly. It says, “If you succeed, I am a failure.”
Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves.
God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, “Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.” (Alma 32:16.)

It does no good to say in the pride of our hearts, “Boy, I’m glad I’m not like those foolish Nephites! I certainly wouldn’t have been as proud as they were! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go wax my car before my favorite TV show comes on…”

• Personal confession – I just picked two examples of pride that don’t relate to me – I never wax my car and don’t have a favorite TV show. See how easy it is to miss the signs of pride in ourselves??
  
• How can we liken this prophetic warning to ourselves?

Pride is one of Satan’s most versatile tools. Nephi spoke directly of our day in 2 Nephi 28:12-15.

• What does it mean in verse 13 to “rob the poor”? I believe it is more than just taking away the physical substance they do have. It includes refusing to share when we can and should.
  
• Note in verse 14 that even the humble followers of Christ are not immune from the effects of pride.
  
• Wisdom, learning, and riches are all godly attributes that we are commanded to seek after. Why does Nephi condemn them so forcefully in verse 15?
  
• Nephi could just as easily said “O the foolish, ignorant and broke who are proud…” We as a society and as individuals have greater opportunities for wisdom, learning and riches than has ever existed on this earth. What are we doing with these blessings?

Avoid spiritual lullabies
Read 2 Nephi 28:21.

• Do you think the inhabitants of Babylon will be talking about all being well in Zion? Of course not! To whom then is Satan whispering that all is well in Zion? US! The citizens of Zion! How might we fall victim to this soothing suggestion?
  
• Nephi points that Satan is a cheater! He doesn’t play fair, and if you’ve ever played with a cheater, you know that you cannot win. So don’t even bother!
  
• What does it mean that Satan leads us “carefully away down to hell”?
  
• How do we stay spiritually awake?

Elder James E. Faust shared the following analogy: “Thomas R. Rowan … said: ‘Author and commentator Malcolm Muggeridge once told a story about some frogs who were killed without resistance by being boiled alive in [a] cauldron of water. Why didn’t they resist? Because when they were put in the cauldron, the water was tepid. Then the temperature was raised ever so slightly, … then a bit warmer still, and on and on and on. The change was so gradual, almost imperceptible, that the frogs accommodated themselves to their new environment—until it was too late. The point that Mr. Muggeridge was making was not about frogs but about us and how we tend to accept evil as long as it is not a shock that is thrust on us abruptly. We are inclined to accept something morally wrong if it is only a shade more wrong than something we are already accepting’ ” (National Press Club Forum).
After sharing this analogy, Elder Faust said, “This gradual process was foretold by ancient prophets” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 40; or Ensign, May 1989, 32).

Come Unto Jesus
Contrast Satan’s careful cheating with the way Jesus draws us near to him. Read 2 Nephi 26:23–27, 33.

• How can we come to Jesus and help others do the same?
  

The Book of Mormon is one way God has given us to stay spiritually alert. Through prayerful reading of it, we can recognize truth and error and stay firmly planted on the straight and narrow path with our hands firmly grasping the iron rod.