Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 8

Jesus saves us from death
Jacob teaches that Jesus will save us from two types of death. What are they? How would you explain these two deaths?

2 Nephi 9:6-11 – Jacob uses the words death, death of the body, and grave to describe physical death. It is the separation of our spirits from our bodies.

2 Nephi 9:9-12, 29 – To describe spiritual death, Jacob uses the words shut out from the presence of our God (verse 9), the death of the spirit (verse 10), spiritual death (verse 12), hell (verse 12), and death (verse 39).

What do we know about these two different deaths?

Temporal (read 2 Nephi 9:4-11)

• This death is necessary to fulfill the merciful plan of our great Creator. How is physical death merciful?
  
• The Savior overcame physical death through his atonement and resurrection.
  All men will be literally, physically resurrected.
  
• Without the Atonement, physical death would be permanent. We would only have our bodies during this relatively short time here in mortality. For the rest of eternity we would be unembodied spirits, like Satan is and will be.
  

How does this knowledge affect us today in what we do? It should not only matter to us when we die or when others we love die.

Spiritual (read 2 Nephi 9:12-16)

• The effects of spiritual death are also overcome because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ
  We will have a perfect knowledge of our guilt – we will comprehend our uncleanness.
  
• The effects of spiritual death will be overcome at least long enough to see if we have availed ourselves of the Atonement. We will all stand before Jesus Christ in judgment. If we have repented and are righteous, we will overcome spiritual death permanently; otherwise, the effects of spiritual death return and we are filthy still.
  
• Note that the filthy “go away.” I like this phrase – rather than being thrown out or cast off, implying that this is something that is imposed upon them, those who are unclean go away, implying that they choose to leave. Compare Mormon 9:4 – as miserable as hell is, the wicked would rather be there with people they are like, than to dwell with God in their filthy state.
  
• Sister Gardner told of raising pigs, and that the smell of pig manure permeates everything and is absolutely vile. Now imagine that you have been warned about this, but choose to sit in the pigpen and make mud pies. Suddenly you find yourself transported from there to the celestial room in the temple. You are still covered with mud and worse, dripping from your clothes, your hair, and leaving tacks everywhere you stand or sit. Everyone within 200 yards can smell you. The Savior is there; the Prophet is there; your loved ones are there, and they are all clean, bright, and smell nice. How do you feel? Does Jesus still love you? Of course he does! But do you want to stay and give him a hug? No, and that is your choice.
  

Overcoming physical death

All we have to do to overcome physical death is to die. Jesus does the rest.

Overcoming spiritual death

Ask assigned class members to read the following verses on section at a time, discussing what Jacob teaches: 2 Nephi 9:18, 21, 23–24, 39, 41, 50–52

• Believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, and come unto Him (2 Nephi 9:18, 23–24, 41). Why is faith in Jesus Christ essential in order to receive all the blessings of His Atonement?
  
• Endure the crosses of the world and despise the shame of the world (2 Nephi 9:18). What does it mean to endure the crosses of the world? (See Matthew 16:24, footnote 24d; 3 Nephi 12:29–30.) It means to deny ourselves of all ungodliness. In spite of how much we want to play in the pigsty, we stay out. What does it mean to despise the shame of the world? (See 2 Nephi 9:49.) It means that we aren’t ashamed to follow Jesus. We ignore those who laugh at us for staying out of the pigsty.
  
• Hearken to the voice of the Lord (2 Nephi 9:21). How can we hear the voice of the Lord?
  Repent, be baptized, and endure to the end (2 Nephi 9:23–24).
  
• Be spiritually minded (2 Nephi 9:39; see also Romans 8:5–8). What does it mean to you to be spiritually minded? What does it mean to be carnally minded? What can we do to become more spiritually minded?
  
• “Feast upon that which perisheth not” (2 Nephi 9:50–51). What are some things that never perish? How can we “feast” on these things? (Cross reference D&C 88:66)
  
• Remember the words of God (2 Nephi 9:52). How does remembering God’s words help us receive all the blessings of the Atonement? (See 3 Nephi 15:1.)
  
• Pray continually and give thanks (2 Nephi 9:52). How has praying and expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father helped you draw nearer to Him and His Son?
  

What prevents us from receiving the blessings of the Atonement?

• 2 Nephi 9:27 – Procrastinating our repentance and wasting the gifts we have. “I don’t want to get out of the pigpen; I am happy here!”
  
• 2 Nephi 9:28-30, 37 – “This manure is desirable! It will make me happy, especially if I have more of it than you do! I love these mud pies more than anything.”
  
• 2 Nephi 9:31-32 – Spiritual blindness and deafness. Intentionally ignoring signs that we are playing in the muck.
  
• 2 Nephi 9:33 – Being “uncircumcised of heart.” This means that we intentionally choose to break our covenants; we don’t love or honor the promises we have made, or we don’t value God’s promises in return.
  
• 2 Nephi 9:34-36 – Lying, murdering, and committing whoredoms. Those are pretty obvious!
  

The Lord remembers his covenants

The Lord promised to gather the Jews when they repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as the Messiah. These same promises apply to us as individuals. Conclude with 2 Nephi 10:23-25.