Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 37

The Nephites are Taught before Jesus Appears

The light of the world

Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied that at the time of Jesus’ death, many calamities would come upon the land.  Briefly review Samuel’s prophecies, and their fulfillment.

• Terrible storms
• Great changes on the face of the land
• Total darkness for three days

Why is total darkness an appropriate sign for the death of Jesus Christ?  Read John 8:12.  How is the Savior the light of your life?  What can we do to “not walk in darkness”?

Terrible destruction

Following the great destruction and while the earth was covered in darkness, the voice of Jesus came from heaven pronouncing “woes” upon the people.  What was the reason Jesus gave for these destructions?  The wickedness and abominations of the people (see 3 Nephi 9:12).

Read 3 Nephi 9:13–14 for the Savior’s invitation to those who survived the destruction.  What can we learn from these two verses?

• The people that were spared were more righteous.  They weren’t perfect.
• Jesus will heal us from whatever our affliction, if we repent and are converted.  Conversion in this sense is not a formal process of meeting with the missionaries and being baptized.  It is being changed, or putting off the natural man (see Mosiah 3:19).
• Great blessings await those who come to Him, including mercy and eternal life. 
• We initiate the action of coming to Him; we shouldn’t wait for him to come to us (see below for what happened when Jesus came to us).

How can we apply these ideas in our life?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: “ ‘Come,’ [Christ] says lovingly. ‘Come, follow me.’ Wherever you are going, first come and see what I do, see where and how I spend my time. Learn of me, walk with me, talk with me, believe. Listen to me pray. In turn you will find answers to your own prayers. God will bring rest to your souls. Come, follow me” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 88; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 65).

Read 3 Nephi 9:16-19.  Jesus was rejected when he came to his people.  Jesus taught that the Law of Moses was fulfilled.  This was a tremendous change in how the people would express their day-to-day obedience to God.  One of the biggest changes came in the change to required sacrifices.

• What sacrifices were required under the Law of Moses? 
• What was required now? 
• What does it mean to offer a “broken heart and a contrite spirit”?
• Which is easier?

President J. Reuben Clark Jr., who was a member of the First Presidency, said: “Under the new covenant that came in with Christ, the sinner must offer the sacrifice out of his own life, not by offering the blood of some other creature; he must give up his sins, he must repent, he himself must make the sacrifice” (Behold the Lamb of God [1962], 107).

Jesus Appears to the Nephites

3 Nephi 8:5 tells us that the signs of Jesus death came in the first month of the year as the Nephites kept their calendar.  (So if you’re curious, their “January” corresponds to our “April.”)  In the ending of that same year, the events of 3 Nephi 11 occurred.

The Father introduces Jesus

Read 3 Nephi 11:1-7.  How can we “open our ears to hear” the word of God?

Jesus introduces Himself

Read 3 Nephi 11:8–11.  Jesus tells who he is, what he has done, and gives all the glory to the Father.

The multitude becomes eye witnesses

Read 3 Nephi 11:12–15.  The Nephites who were gathered did four things:

1. They saw with their eyes
2. They felt with their hands
3. They knew of a surety
4. They bore testimony

Jesus teaches his doctrine

Jesus then called Nephi and eleven others to be his disciples among the descendants of Lehi.  He gave them authority and instructed them regarding the correct manner of baptism.  He taught them concerning contention; read 3 Nephi 11:28-30.

After telling them that contention was not his doctrine, he summarizes what is his doctrine in verses 32-38:

• The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one united God.
• Baptism is essential to receive exaltation in the kingdom of God.
• The Holy Ghost will bear record of the truth.
• We must all become as little children.

Conclusion

Because of God’s love for his children anciently, he sent prophets to testify of what would happen at the time of Jesus’ death and before Jesus appeared to them.  Because God loves us today just as much as he loved the Nephites, he has done the same for us.  As we look around and see the literal fulfillment of prophecies, we will be blessed if we will “open our ears to hear,” turn our spiritual eyes to see, and choose to repent.  And like the Nephite multitude, we must bear record of the Savior and the Restoration to God’s children who do not know these things.