Lesson Plan 34

Introduction

Write the following numbers on the chalkboard: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12

Point out that these numbers follow a particular sequence. Ask class members what the next three numbers of the sequence will be. (The next three numbers are 17, 23, and 30. Explain that the pattern is formed by adding 1 to the first number, 2 to the second number, 3 to the third number, and so on.)

In the Book of Mormon there is a pattern that is almost as predictable as this sequence. The pattern is repeated many times. By recognizing this pattern, we can avoid doing what led to the destruction of the Nephites.  Consider how this cycle applies to your personal life, not just to our society.  Where are you on this cycle?  What are you going to do about that?

Righteousness and Prosperity

Summarize Helaman 6:1–14

• Verse 1 – The Lamanites became righteous
• Verse 2 – The Nephites became wicked
• Verse 4 – The Lamanites preached to the Nephites
• Verse 5 – The Nephites repented
• Verses 7-8 – The people travelled and traded freely and were blessed with peace and physical riches

Pride and Wickedness Begin

Source of pride

In 27 B.C. the people were righteous and God was blessing them.  After just two years, sufficient pride had returned to the Nephites that they were no longer blessed.  Read Helaman 6:17; and 7:20–21. 

• Why does this happen? 
• How can we guard against pride in our personal lives?

Societal attitudes towards wickedness

Read Helaman 6:34–38 and contrast the different responses to the wickedness each society found within itself.

• Why did the Spirit withdraw from the Nephites?
• Why did the Lord pour out the Spirit more abundantly on the Lamanites?
• What does this teach us about keeping the Spirit more abundantly in our own lives?
• What is the best weapon to use against the Gadianton robbers?  Re-read verse 37; cross reference with Ephesians 6:17.

Nephi is rejected

At the beginning of Helaman 7 Nephi returned from preaching unsuccessfully to the wicked Nephites.  Read Helaman 7:7-9. 

• Do you ever feel that way?  Do you think it was really all that different?  (Remember, Nephi had Laman and Lemuel to deal with.)

Summarize the account of Nephi telling of the murder of the chief judge and his continued preaching.  Even though Nephi had just returned from unsuccessfully calling the Nephites to repentance, he continued preaching immediately upon his return to Zarahemla.

I think it is interesting that the people couldn’t decide if Nephi was a prophet or a God, and they walked away from him debating amongst themselves.  But in either case, they weren’t interested in what he had to say.

Destruction and Suffering

Read Helaman 10:2-7, 11-12.  I love how Nephi demonstrates his absolute faithfulness.  He doesn’t even keep going home to get a drink or a change of clothes.  In spite of the fact that he had just returned from unsuccessfully preaching to these people, he immediately resumed his preaching.  What a great example of faithfulness!

• Why did the Lord entrust Nephi with such great power? 
• How did Nephi use this power?  Read Helaman 11:4-6. 
• Why did Nephi use the power God had given him this way?  See Helaman 11:16 for Nephi’s motivation.  He wanted the people to be blessed by God.
• Can you see a foreshadowing of continued problems in Helaman 11:8?  The people knew that Nephi was a man of God, but their knowledge did not extend to knowing that Jesus is the Son of God.  Any knowledge short of this testimony, while good and useful, cannot save us.

Humility and Repentance

The Nephites destroyed the Gadianton robbers (Helaman 11:10) and repented of their sins (Helaman 11:15) and the Lord blessed them with rain again.

This righteousness was short-lived, as pride and contentions returned very quickly.  The scriptures give us an ideas of how we can combat this tendency and keep ourselves on at the top of the pride cycle instead of falling back into wickedness.

• Helaman 11:23 – Heed the preaching of the prophets
• Helaman 12:23-24 – Repent and receive grace for grace.  The main idea of the word grace is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ… This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.