Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 35

Introduction

In October 1986 General Conference, President Bensons said:

“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. … Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 5–6; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6–7).

Today’s lesson focuses on the teachings of Samuel the Lamanite and describes the condition of Nephite society in the years preceding the Savior’s birth.  In these chapters we can find valuable lessons for our day.

Samuel the Lamanite Warns the Nephites

Repent

Read Helaman 13:2-4, 7-8.  Notice the pattern:

• Samuel was righteous and received glad tidings from an angel of the Lord.
• Samuel was commanded to preach repentance to the Nephites so they could rejoice too.  Why does the Lord command us to repent in order to be happy?
• When the Nephites rejected Samuel, the message changed.  It no longer focused on repentance to be happy, but the consequences of their rebellion.
• How can we soften our hearts and receive the Lord’s messages when they are still focused on happiness?

In verse 11 Samuel tells the Nephites the key to avoid destruction, and it has two parts:

1.      Repent

2.      Turn unto God

How might some people try to repent without turning to God?  Is such a thing even possible?  Read another quote by President Benson:

“Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great will-power and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. …  

“… True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13)” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71).

Warning against focusing on riches

Read Helaman 13:21-23.  Can we relate to any of this?  I was struck as I read these verses this week as I watched the financial news.  Prominent companies are failing and the entire global economic system is in peril.  I hasten to acknowledge that there are many good people who have been affected by the financial crises sweeping the globe.  The brightest financial minds are working to solve these problems.  But a simple prophet over 2,000 years ago told us how to avoid and solve these problems.  Read verse 19.

• How can we assess in our own lives whether we are giving high enough priority to our spiritual welfare?
• How can we avoid pride and setting our hearts upon our riches?

This week I had a good man in my office who was asking for help.  His family has suffered from some financial setbacks and he now finds himself deeply in debt.  As we reviewed his situation together, I commented that I was amazed that he was able to hold things together as long as he has.  His comment to me was instructive: “The only way I’ve been able to do it is because I’ve always paid the Lord first.  There is no other way to live.”

Ten years ago in General Conference, President Hinckley quoted from Genesis the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and then counseled:

I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.

So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings.

We have witnessed in recent weeks wide and fearsome swings in the markets of the world. The economy is a fragile thing. A stumble in the economy in Jakarta or Moscow can immediately affect the entire world. It can eventually reach down to each of us as individuals. There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.

I hope with all my heart that we shall never slip into a depression.  [President Hinckley then cites statistics regarding the enormous levels of consumer debt in the nation.]

I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.

This is a part of the temporal gospel in which we believe. May the Lord bless you, my beloved brethren, to set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable.

A year ago, the thought of a repeat of the Great Depression would have seemed laughable.  Today global financial markets have realized over $500 billion in losses with the US taxpayer on the hook for up to $1 trillion in implemented and proposed emergency measures to try to stave off a depression.  This equals over $3,000 per person in the USA.  To pull this off, the ceiling on the national debt will be raised to $11.3 trillion, meaning that every man, woman and child in the United States will owe over $37,000.

Those who hearkened to President Hinckley’s prophetic counsel ten years ago have been blessed for a decade.  And even in this we can learn from the words of Samuel.  Read Helaman 13:24-26.

Remaining steadfast

Read Helaman 15:7-8.  Samuel was talking about the Lamanites who heard the word of the Lord and were converted.  Last week we discussed the pride cycle; this week we can learn from and try to follow the “repentance cycle.”

1. Knowledge of the truth and belief in the scriptures leads to
2. Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance leads to
3. A change of heart leads to
4. Firmness and steadiness in the faith leads to increase
5. Knowledge of the truth and belief in the scriptures