Destruction and Christ's Visit to America
Attention Activity
Ask the class, “What are some of the things that you were afraid of when you were a little kid?” Write the answers down on the board. You can have some fun with this asking some questions about funny things that they were afraid of. If after a few minutes the fear of the dark hasn’t been brought up ask, “Has anyone had any interesting or funny stories about being afraid of the dark?” (If someone brings up afraid of the dark, ask the question when that fear gets brought up.) Have some fun talking about people and their fear of the dark.
Class Discussion
Tell the class that today we are going to talk about darkness in a different way today. Look in 3 Nephi 8. This darkness would cause real fear. Ask the class, “What are some of the things that would be most frightening during this time? What would you be most worried about?”
Chapter 9 of 3rd Nephi teaches an important principle about dark times in our lives. Times when we might be afraid. Look for the pronoun “I” in chapter 9 and see how many times it is used. (The answer I come up with is 31, correct me if I am wrong. You can encourage class members to circle or mark each of the 31 “I’s” in the chapter.) Now have class members look in the chapter heading to see who is talking. Ask the class, “What does this teach us about the role of God during the dark times in our lives?” (Make sure that if the answer is that he causes them that you point out that while he allows bad things to happen, he is always in control. You can refer to JSH 1:15-17. Here God allows Satan to have a small moment of darkness, but God is in control and delivers Joseph before he is totally destroyed. The same is true here. While many of the wicked were destroyed God was in control and preserved the righteous.) Make sure that the class understands that God is in control of the things that happen here on earth and knows about the things that are happening in our lives. Ask, “What are some other examples, either from the scriptures or from your personal life when God has been there to help and preserve during times of darkness or fear?” (This question is going to cause people to think. ALLOW THEM TO THINK! One big mistake is to ask a great question and then not allow the proper amount of time for them to answer. Don’t be afraid of silence. It just means that people are thinking. You can get things going by giving an example from your life or by asking a class member before class to think of an example from their life and have them start off. Make sure you don’t ask the question, wait 1 second and then move on. People will answer if you give them time to think. The silence is always more uncomfortable for the teacher, but let it happen and you will start to get some great answers.)
Christ comes in chapter 11 to bring the light back into the lives of these people. The word of God is what brings light into the world and into our lives. Have class members look in 3 Nephi 11:10-41 for what they feel is the most significant doctrine that He taught in His first visit.
Application
Sometimes a real simple question can be the best. I would ask from this lesson, “What will you change in your life because of what we have learned today?” I wouldn’t use this question every week, but about once every other month leads to a wonderful last few minutes. Again if you haven’t read my first posts, “Purpose for my Blog” and “A Note About my Blog”(they are in the July section of my blog.) please do so. There is a great quote from Elder Jeffery R. Holland about not cramming too much into one lesson. Make sure that you leave time at the end for application. Don’t teach until the final minute and then have a prayer. You have to get the people to think about how this lesson can help them change their lives. That is why you are teaching!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church Chapter 18. Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities
Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities
Attention Activity
Tell the class to imagine that they have been asked to prepare dinner for the president or leader of the country. That leader will be arriving in four hours. Ask, “What are the major things that you would be worried about? How would you feel knowing that the leader has a personal chef that prepares exceptional food everyday? What would you say when the leader of the country says that the meal was wonderful? What do you think that the leader of the country expects from your dinner? (Try to help the class understand that the most important thing would be to simply do the best that you could do.) How would you feel if instead of preparations you sat and watched TV and microwaved hot dogs instead? Even if the president said that it was good, how would you feel? (Once again help the class understand that you simply have to do your best.)
Class Discussion
Today’s lesson is very similar to the situation with the leader of the nation. Have students look at the 1st paragraph on page 219 under the heading “God has prepared three degrees of glory…” to find out what event is similar to the dinner with the president. (If you want to go further to show that the doctrine of 3 degrees of glory is a Bible doctrine you can look at other paragraphs in this section where Joseph quotes the Bible to show some of the scriptural basis for this doctrine. If that isn’t a theme you want to pursue, move on after the first paragraph.) Split the class into 3 groups and assign each group a section to skim over. One group is the Celestial Kingdom, one is the Terrestrial Kingdom and one is the Telestial Kingdom. (You want to spend some time here, but make sure that you leave enough time for the final section because that is where the real power and application can come from. Unless there are some real questions from the class about any of the sections, and then let the Spirit dictate how much time to spend answering potential questions.) Tell each group to skim over the section that they are assigned and be ready to share a few points that summarize what qualifies a person to go to each kingdom. Take a few minutes to get a couple ideas from each group. After each kingdom has been discussed, you can tie things back to the attention activity. In the celestial kingdom section 2nd paragraph on page 221 it says that to be in the celestial kingdom we have to qualify to be a god. “How can we possibly live up to that? What is it that God expect of us?”
Have the class turn to page 224 2nd paragraph in the section “The torment of the wicked is to know they have come short…” to find out what the answer is. This is the best paragraph in this section, but all can be used to help teach the point that what God expects is that we do our best. What will condemn us in the next life is if we haven’t done our very best. Just like with the hot dogs, we will know for eternity that we could have done better, and we simply didn’t. We wasted our time watching TV instead of preparing for the great event.
Application
Ask class member, “What type of things do we need to do to make sure that we don’t face the sad situation described by Joseph Smith? How do we make sure we are fully living up to our potential?”
Attention Activity
Tell the class to imagine that they have been asked to prepare dinner for the president or leader of the country. That leader will be arriving in four hours. Ask, “What are the major things that you would be worried about? How would you feel knowing that the leader has a personal chef that prepares exceptional food everyday? What would you say when the leader of the country says that the meal was wonderful? What do you think that the leader of the country expects from your dinner? (Try to help the class understand that the most important thing would be to simply do the best that you could do.) How would you feel if instead of preparations you sat and watched TV and microwaved hot dogs instead? Even if the president said that it was good, how would you feel? (Once again help the class understand that you simply have to do your best.)
Class Discussion
Today’s lesson is very similar to the situation with the leader of the nation. Have students look at the 1st paragraph on page 219 under the heading “God has prepared three degrees of glory…” to find out what event is similar to the dinner with the president. (If you want to go further to show that the doctrine of 3 degrees of glory is a Bible doctrine you can look at other paragraphs in this section where Joseph quotes the Bible to show some of the scriptural basis for this doctrine. If that isn’t a theme you want to pursue, move on after the first paragraph.) Split the class into 3 groups and assign each group a section to skim over. One group is the Celestial Kingdom, one is the Terrestrial Kingdom and one is the Telestial Kingdom. (You want to spend some time here, but make sure that you leave enough time for the final section because that is where the real power and application can come from. Unless there are some real questions from the class about any of the sections, and then let the Spirit dictate how much time to spend answering potential questions.) Tell each group to skim over the section that they are assigned and be ready to share a few points that summarize what qualifies a person to go to each kingdom. Take a few minutes to get a couple ideas from each group. After each kingdom has been discussed, you can tie things back to the attention activity. In the celestial kingdom section 2nd paragraph on page 221 it says that to be in the celestial kingdom we have to qualify to be a god. “How can we possibly live up to that? What is it that God expect of us?”
Have the class turn to page 224 2nd paragraph in the section “The torment of the wicked is to know they have come short…” to find out what the answer is. This is the best paragraph in this section, but all can be used to help teach the point that what God expects is that we do our best. What will condemn us in the next life is if we haven’t done our very best. Just like with the hot dogs, we will know for eternity that we could have done better, and we simply didn’t. We wasted our time watching TV instead of preparing for the great event.
Application
Ask class member, “What type of things do we need to do to make sure that we don’t face the sad situation described by Joseph Smith? How do we make sure we are fully living up to our potential?”
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Lesson #36 3 Nephi 1-7. Unity of the Nephites
Unity of the Nephites
Attention Activity:
Have each student stand up with their hymn books. (If you have a large class you can have a select group of students do this activity) The students hold the hymn books up, end to end, to create a ‘long board’ or ramp. Have the students see how level they can make the board or the ramp. Place a ball (a plastic ball or a tennis ball) at one end of the ramp and tell the students that the purpose of this activity is to see if the can carefully angle and tilt their hymn books and roll the ball down the long ramp from one end to the other, and then back again to where it started, without having the ball fall off the hymn book ramp. (If it does fall off just put it back where it was and have them keep going.)
What is the #1 principle that we have to have in order to succeed at this activity? (Talk about this for a while and make sure that the class gets to the idea of unity.)
Class Discussion:
The first thing that we need to understand is the reason for unity and what danger is facing us today. Look in 3 Nephi 3:2-10. (I usually don’t have students read this whole section out loud. I find that the class starts to lose interest if you read too long of a section. I would just have the class look on their own.) This is a letter from Giddianhi (Gadianton Robber) to Lachoneus (Governor of the Nephites). “What is similar to what Giddianhi asked Lachoneus for to what Satan asks of us?” Make sure that the class understands that Giddianhi asks Lachoneus to yield up his possessions to him. Satan asks us to yield up our will and our happiness. Giddianhi makes some impossible promises. Satan also makes us promises that cannot be fulfilled either. Giddianhi becomes a great type of Satan. “How is the danger that the Nephites faced from the Gadianton robbers similar to the danger that we face from Satan today? What would have been the effect if the Nephites had decided to join the robbers? What is the effect if we decide to follow what Satan has planned for us?”
The Nephites now do something very interesting to prepare for the oncoming Gadianton army. There are some important principles we can learn in what they do. Look in 3 Nephi 3:12-16, 26 for things that the Nephites did that helped them be successful.
Verse 12: They were not frightened by the demands of the robbers. (Cross reference 2 Tim 1:7 and 1 John 4:18.)
Verse 13: They gathered together into one place.
Verse 14: They placed fortifications around the city and placed guards around the city.
Verse 15: They repented of their iniquities.
Verse 16: The did “exert themselves in their might” to do what their leaders asked them to do.
Verse 26: They armored themselves. (Cross reference Eph 6:11 and D&C 27:15)
Each of these can be a whole discussion. Questions like “What does God do to help us overcome our fears? What fortifications and guards can we have in our lives? How do we build our fortifications? Do we ever walk outside of those safeguards? How? How have you felt as you have exerted yourself to follow the prophet or other leaders? Etc.”
Depending on how much time you have left you can spend varying amounts of time with chapter 4. If you are in a hurry you can just have the class look at the chapter heading. You can also take them through the story and show the exceptional success. Whichever method you read, I would make sure to read verses 32 and 33. “When have you felt similar to how the Nephites felt?”
If we want to save our families we have to follow these same principles of unity against the enemies that we have today.
Application:
How would the principles that the Nephites learned through this experience change your family? Why was it so significant that they gathered together?
A great quote to share in conclusion is from Elder Russell M. Nelson:
Individual progression is fostered in the family, which is “central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service. There a husband is to love his wife, a wife is to love her husband, and parents and children are to love one another.
Throughout the world, the family is increasingly under attack. If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail. And if families fail, their glorious eternal potential cannot be realized.
Our Heavenly Father wants husbands and wives to be faithful to each other and to esteem and treat their children as an heritage from the Lord. In such a family we study the scriptures and pray together. And we fix our focus on the temple. There we receive the highest blessings that God has in store for His faithful children.
Thanks to God’s great plan of happiness, families can be together forever—as exalted beings. Our Heavenly Father declared, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Both of His objectives were enabled by the Atonement of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. His Atonement made resurrection a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live.
In Church callings we are subject to release. But we cannot be released as parents. From the first days of human history, the Lord has commanded parents to teach the gospel to their children. Moses wrote, “Thou shalt teach . . . diligently . . . thy children, and shalt talk of [God’s words] when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
In our day the Lord has added, “Bring up your children in light and truth.” The Church is to assist and not to replace parents in their responsibilities to teach their children.
In this day of rampant immorality and addictive pornography, parents have a sacred responsibility to teach their children the importance of God in their lives. Those evils, so highly destructive of divine potential, are to be strictly shunned by children of God.
We are also to teach our children to honor their parents. The fifth commandment states, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
Russell M. Nelson “Salvation and Exaltation” Ensign May 2008
Attention Activity:
Have each student stand up with their hymn books. (If you have a large class you can have a select group of students do this activity) The students hold the hymn books up, end to end, to create a ‘long board’ or ramp. Have the students see how level they can make the board or the ramp. Place a ball (a plastic ball or a tennis ball) at one end of the ramp and tell the students that the purpose of this activity is to see if the can carefully angle and tilt their hymn books and roll the ball down the long ramp from one end to the other, and then back again to where it started, without having the ball fall off the hymn book ramp. (If it does fall off just put it back where it was and have them keep going.)
What is the #1 principle that we have to have in order to succeed at this activity? (Talk about this for a while and make sure that the class gets to the idea of unity.)
Class Discussion:
The first thing that we need to understand is the reason for unity and what danger is facing us today. Look in 3 Nephi 3:2-10. (I usually don’t have students read this whole section out loud. I find that the class starts to lose interest if you read too long of a section. I would just have the class look on their own.) This is a letter from Giddianhi (Gadianton Robber) to Lachoneus (Governor of the Nephites). “What is similar to what Giddianhi asked Lachoneus for to what Satan asks of us?” Make sure that the class understands that Giddianhi asks Lachoneus to yield up his possessions to him. Satan asks us to yield up our will and our happiness. Giddianhi makes some impossible promises. Satan also makes us promises that cannot be fulfilled either. Giddianhi becomes a great type of Satan. “How is the danger that the Nephites faced from the Gadianton robbers similar to the danger that we face from Satan today? What would have been the effect if the Nephites had decided to join the robbers? What is the effect if we decide to follow what Satan has planned for us?”
The Nephites now do something very interesting to prepare for the oncoming Gadianton army. There are some important principles we can learn in what they do. Look in 3 Nephi 3:12-16, 26 for things that the Nephites did that helped them be successful.
Verse 12: They were not frightened by the demands of the robbers. (Cross reference 2 Tim 1:7 and 1 John 4:18.)
Verse 13: They gathered together into one place.
Verse 14: They placed fortifications around the city and placed guards around the city.
Verse 15: They repented of their iniquities.
Verse 16: The did “exert themselves in their might” to do what their leaders asked them to do.
Verse 26: They armored themselves. (Cross reference Eph 6:11 and D&C 27:15)
Each of these can be a whole discussion. Questions like “What does God do to help us overcome our fears? What fortifications and guards can we have in our lives? How do we build our fortifications? Do we ever walk outside of those safeguards? How? How have you felt as you have exerted yourself to follow the prophet or other leaders? Etc.”
Depending on how much time you have left you can spend varying amounts of time with chapter 4. If you are in a hurry you can just have the class look at the chapter heading. You can also take them through the story and show the exceptional success. Whichever method you read, I would make sure to read verses 32 and 33. “When have you felt similar to how the Nephites felt?”
If we want to save our families we have to follow these same principles of unity against the enemies that we have today.
Application:
How would the principles that the Nephites learned through this experience change your family? Why was it so significant that they gathered together?
A great quote to share in conclusion is from Elder Russell M. Nelson:
Individual progression is fostered in the family, which is “central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service. There a husband is to love his wife, a wife is to love her husband, and parents and children are to love one another.
Throughout the world, the family is increasingly under attack. If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail. And if families fail, their glorious eternal potential cannot be realized.
Our Heavenly Father wants husbands and wives to be faithful to each other and to esteem and treat their children as an heritage from the Lord. In such a family we study the scriptures and pray together. And we fix our focus on the temple. There we receive the highest blessings that God has in store for His faithful children.
Thanks to God’s great plan of happiness, families can be together forever—as exalted beings. Our Heavenly Father declared, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Both of His objectives were enabled by the Atonement of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. His Atonement made resurrection a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live.
In Church callings we are subject to release. But we cannot be released as parents. From the first days of human history, the Lord has commanded parents to teach the gospel to their children. Moses wrote, “Thou shalt teach . . . diligently . . . thy children, and shalt talk of [God’s words] when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
In our day the Lord has added, “Bring up your children in light and truth.” The Church is to assist and not to replace parents in their responsibilities to teach their children.
In this day of rampant immorality and addictive pornography, parents have a sacred responsibility to teach their children the importance of God in their lives. Those evils, so highly destructive of divine potential, are to be strictly shunned by children of God.
We are also to teach our children to honor their parents. The fifth commandment states, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
Russell M. Nelson “Salvation and Exaltation” Ensign May 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Lesson #35 Helaman 13-16. Samuel The Lamanite
Attention Activity:
Tell class members that you are going to do a word association game. You are going to say a word and they are going to say the first thing that comes to mind. (You can have them write it down or raise hands and wait to answer, but don't have them shout it out--it can get out of control quickly.) Start saying the names of some famous people in the scriptures (you can also mix in some fun people like SpongeBob or Bill Cosby). Some that are good are
Moses
Adam
John the Baptist
Paul
Nephi
Abinadi
Mormon
Gordon B. Hinckley
Thomas S. Monson
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Alma the Younger
Do this for a while, but not too long. You don't want the activity to outdo the lesson. End the list with Samuel the Lamanite. Usually the thing that they will think of is him standing on the wall. Ask, "We know the story of Samuel the Lamanite, and many other prophets, but we sometimes don't think about what they taught. Does anyone know what it was the Samuel the Lamanite taught that made people so upset?" (People might know about the prophecies of Christ and that is part of it, but it is more.) Tell the class that we are going to talk about what it was that Samuel the Lamanite taught.
Class Discussion
Look in Helaman 13:6, 10, 14, 32, 37, and 38 for the word that Samuel the Lamanite uses that would have upset the Nephites (destruction). We learn something interesting about destruction in each verse. Have students pick one or two of the verses and see what we learn from each one.
Verse 6. The only way to avoid destruction is to repent and come unto Christ
Verse 10. The things that we do affect others and can lead to the destruction of later generations. (If you want to explore this truth further you can refer to: Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Prayer for the Children,” Ensign, May 2003, 85. This is one of the best talks ever on how what we do affects others, especially our posterity.
Verse 14. The good part of a nation can help keep that nation from destruction. (This verse is easily applied to an individual. We can choose to allow some wickedness in thinking that it won’t do much damage. But the more we let in the more it crowds out the light. President Boyd K. Packer said:
The mind is like a stage. During every waking moment the curtain is up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of your mind.
Have you noticed that shady little thoughts may creep in from the wings and attract your attention in the middle of almost any performance and without any real intent on your part? These delinquent thoughts will try to upstage everybody. If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage. You will be left, because you consented to it, to the influence of unrighteous thoughts. If you yield to them, they will enact for you on the stage of your mind anything to the limits of your toleration. They may enact themes of bitterness, jealousy, or hatred. They may be vulgar, immoral, even depraved. When they have the stage, if you let them, they will devise the most clever persuasions to hold your attention. They can make it interesting all right, even convince you that they are innocent, for they are but thoughts. What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking, whether they be the gray ones that seem almost clean or the filthy ones that leave no room for doubt? If you can fill your mind with clean and constructive thoughts, then there will be no room for these persistent imps, and they will leave.
Boyd K. Packer, “The Message: Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts,” NewEra, Apr 2008, 6–11
It is important that we keep our lives pure so that the good does not become crowded out by the wicked and lead to destruction. This would be a good time to ask the class, “How do we make sure that we do have more good in our lives than bad?” Answers could include how we spend our time and what we let into our lives.
Another great quote from President Boyd K. Packer that can be used here is, “The scriptures are full of help on how good can influence your mind and evil control you, if you let it. That struggle will never end. But remember this:
All the water in the world, However hard it tried, Could never sink the smallest ship Unless it [gets] inside.
And all the evil in the world, The blackest kind of sin, Can never hurt you the least bit Unless you let it in.”
Boyd K. Packer, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 23)
Verse 32, 37, 38. All three of these teach roughly the same idea. We can get to a point where our destruction is sure and turning back is “everlastingly too late.” It might be helpful with these verses to point out that Samuel was talking to this specific group of people and referring to a time in the future if they don’t repent. He would not have come to warn them if it was too late for them to make a change. A great cross reference here is Alma 34:32-35. The scriptures teach that this time does come if we choose not to repent before we die. Samuel’s message was a message of hope and not of unchangeable doom. Prophets always teach hope and repentance, but we are limited by time and cannot procrastinate once we have been warned.
“What would lead to this condemnation from the prophet?” Look in Helaman 13:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 33, 35 to find the words that show what the Nephites are guilty of that leads to their destruction. (Riches and treasure) Having riches is not a sin, but what had the Nephites done with riches that made it so bad? (set their hearts on them.) This is a great place for application. If the great sin wasn’t they were doing or what they had, but the real problem was where they put that in relation to God. What are some of the other things that can come before God in our lives and how can we know if something comes before God? (A great quote to share here from Marvin J Ashton is “What takes our time is what we love and what we love it what takes our time.) What we do in our free time is a great indicator of what we really have in our hearts and where God fits into our lives. A great cross reference is Exodus 20 in the 10 Commandments and 3 Nephi 13:33.
What is the resolution to this problem of the people being destroyed? What does that have to do with what Samuel the Lamanite teaches in the next chapters? Help students to understand the significance that the next thing that Samuel the Lamanite talks about is the birth and death of Christ. It is the atonement of Christ that can really solve their problems. That is why Samuel the Lamanite tells them that he is coming and that they need to prepare for it. He understands that they only hope they have to avoid destruction is to accept Christ, and so he teaches them about him. It is also true for us that only Christ can save us from the destruction of sin and death.
The story of Samuel the Lamanite is the great example of this principle. Look in Helaman 16:1-6. What do we know about the life of Samuel the Lamanite that would qualify him for this kind of protection. (Look in Helaman 13:2-4. Samuel was willing to do everything the Lord asked him to do. Clearly the Lord was first in his life.)
Application
“What things will you do in your free time to make sure that God is first in your life THIS WEEK?”
Tell class members that you are going to do a word association game. You are going to say a word and they are going to say the first thing that comes to mind. (You can have them write it down or raise hands and wait to answer, but don't have them shout it out--it can get out of control quickly.) Start saying the names of some famous people in the scriptures (you can also mix in some fun people like SpongeBob or Bill Cosby). Some that are good are
Moses
Adam
John the Baptist
Paul
Nephi
Abinadi
Mormon
Gordon B. Hinckley
Thomas S. Monson
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Alma the Younger
Do this for a while, but not too long. You don't want the activity to outdo the lesson. End the list with Samuel the Lamanite. Usually the thing that they will think of is him standing on the wall. Ask, "We know the story of Samuel the Lamanite, and many other prophets, but we sometimes don't think about what they taught. Does anyone know what it was the Samuel the Lamanite taught that made people so upset?" (People might know about the prophecies of Christ and that is part of it, but it is more.) Tell the class that we are going to talk about what it was that Samuel the Lamanite taught.
Class Discussion
Look in Helaman 13:6, 10, 14, 32, 37, and 38 for the word that Samuel the Lamanite uses that would have upset the Nephites (destruction). We learn something interesting about destruction in each verse. Have students pick one or two of the verses and see what we learn from each one.
Verse 6. The only way to avoid destruction is to repent and come unto Christ
Verse 10. The things that we do affect others and can lead to the destruction of later generations. (If you want to explore this truth further you can refer to: Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Prayer for the Children,” Ensign, May 2003, 85. This is one of the best talks ever on how what we do affects others, especially our posterity.
Verse 14. The good part of a nation can help keep that nation from destruction. (This verse is easily applied to an individual. We can choose to allow some wickedness in thinking that it won’t do much damage. But the more we let in the more it crowds out the light. President Boyd K. Packer said:
The mind is like a stage. During every waking moment the curtain is up. There is always some act being performed on that stage. It may be a comedy, a tragedy, interesting or dull, good or bad; but always there is some act playing on the stage of your mind.
Have you noticed that shady little thoughts may creep in from the wings and attract your attention in the middle of almost any performance and without any real intent on your part? These delinquent thoughts will try to upstage everybody. If you permit them to go on, all thoughts of any virtue will leave the stage. You will be left, because you consented to it, to the influence of unrighteous thoughts. If you yield to them, they will enact for you on the stage of your mind anything to the limits of your toleration. They may enact themes of bitterness, jealousy, or hatred. They may be vulgar, immoral, even depraved. When they have the stage, if you let them, they will devise the most clever persuasions to hold your attention. They can make it interesting all right, even convince you that they are innocent, for they are but thoughts. What do you do at a time like that, when the stage of your mind is commandeered by the imps of unclean thinking, whether they be the gray ones that seem almost clean or the filthy ones that leave no room for doubt? If you can fill your mind with clean and constructive thoughts, then there will be no room for these persistent imps, and they will leave.
Boyd K. Packer, “The Message: Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts,” NewEra, Apr 2008, 6–11
It is important that we keep our lives pure so that the good does not become crowded out by the wicked and lead to destruction. This would be a good time to ask the class, “How do we make sure that we do have more good in our lives than bad?” Answers could include how we spend our time and what we let into our lives.
Another great quote from President Boyd K. Packer that can be used here is, “The scriptures are full of help on how good can influence your mind and evil control you, if you let it. That struggle will never end. But remember this:
All the water in the world, However hard it tried, Could never sink the smallest ship Unless it [gets] inside.
And all the evil in the world, The blackest kind of sin, Can never hurt you the least bit Unless you let it in.”
Boyd K. Packer, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 23)
Verse 32, 37, 38. All three of these teach roughly the same idea. We can get to a point where our destruction is sure and turning back is “everlastingly too late.” It might be helpful with these verses to point out that Samuel was talking to this specific group of people and referring to a time in the future if they don’t repent. He would not have come to warn them if it was too late for them to make a change. A great cross reference here is Alma 34:32-35. The scriptures teach that this time does come if we choose not to repent before we die. Samuel’s message was a message of hope and not of unchangeable doom. Prophets always teach hope and repentance, but we are limited by time and cannot procrastinate once we have been warned.
“What would lead to this condemnation from the prophet?” Look in Helaman 13:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 33, 35 to find the words that show what the Nephites are guilty of that leads to their destruction. (Riches and treasure) Having riches is not a sin, but what had the Nephites done with riches that made it so bad? (set their hearts on them.) This is a great place for application. If the great sin wasn’t they were doing or what they had, but the real problem was where they put that in relation to God. What are some of the other things that can come before God in our lives and how can we know if something comes before God? (A great quote to share here from Marvin J Ashton is “What takes our time is what we love and what we love it what takes our time.) What we do in our free time is a great indicator of what we really have in our hearts and where God fits into our lives. A great cross reference is Exodus 20 in the 10 Commandments and 3 Nephi 13:33.
What is the resolution to this problem of the people being destroyed? What does that have to do with what Samuel the Lamanite teaches in the next chapters? Help students to understand the significance that the next thing that Samuel the Lamanite talks about is the birth and death of Christ. It is the atonement of Christ that can really solve their problems. That is why Samuel the Lamanite tells them that he is coming and that they need to prepare for it. He understands that they only hope they have to avoid destruction is to accept Christ, and so he teaches them about him. It is also true for us that only Christ can save us from the destruction of sin and death.
The story of Samuel the Lamanite is the great example of this principle. Look in Helaman 16:1-6. What do we know about the life of Samuel the Lamanite that would qualify him for this kind of protection. (Look in Helaman 13:2-4. Samuel was willing to do everything the Lord asked him to do. Clearly the Lord was first in his life.)
Application
“What things will you do in your free time to make sure that God is first in your life THIS WEEK?”
Monday, September 8, 2008
Teaching of the Presidents of the Church. The Great Plan of Salvation
Chapter 17 The Great Plan of Salvation
Principle to Teach: If we want to gain eternal life, we have to understand who God is, and what is His plan for us.
Attention Activity:
Bring three fairly simple puzzles to class. (A website you can try if you don’t have puzzles is http://www.biddingtons.com/content/myartkaprov.html if you scroll down there is a printable paper that you can make your own puzzles out of pictures.) Have three groups or three individuals come up to the front of the class. There is going to be a race to see who can put the puzzle together the fastest. One group gets to look at the puzzle pieces and a picture (or the box) of what the puzzle will look like for 30 second before they start. The second group gets to look at a picture (or the box) for 30 seconds, but they don’t get to look at the pieces. The third group gets to look at nothing for the 30 seconds. After the 30 seconds, let the race begin. Hopefully the group that got to look at the box and the pieces will win. Have the class discuss what the advantages that each group were given might mean in a gospel context. (It really doesn’t matter what answers you get here, just get the class to start talking. You might even call on a few of the quiet people in class to try and get them involved.)
Class Discussion:
After a few answers have been given have students look in the manual on page 211 the first paragraph under the heading “We came to earth to obtain a body…” and find what are the box and pieces that Joseph Smith said we need to study “more than any other” topic. (The answer is in the middle sentence “What is the object of our coming into existence…”) Now is a good time to point out that we are talking about The Great Plan of Salvation. An understanding of the Plan of Salvation is critical. Joseph spends a lot of this chapter talking about life on earth and what we need to do to prepare for the next life. The first thing is mentioned on page 211 3rd paragraph. We came to get a body. The second thing is to “present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom.” Joseph then teaches us how to be able to do that. On page 210 4th paragraph. Have class members look for the reason God instituted laws. (So that we could advance like Him.) Ask, “How have you felt the commandments helping you become a person that is more like God?” “What commandments have been helpful in this process?” An important point in given on page 210 5th paragraph. “What are some of the benefits of living more and more of the commandments?” (Clearer views, greater enjoyment, lost desire for sin, power and glory of God.) “What is the main thing that God is asking us to do then in this great plan? (Make sure to point out that it doesn’t matter where we are in the process of perfection. The answer is the same. We look at where we are, where we want to be, and what we have to do to get there, and then start doing one thing at a time that is necessary to achieve perfection.) Emphasize the last sentence in paragraph 5 “But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment.” Make sure to point out that this is a process and not a time for discouragement, but hope for continual improvement. This might also be a good time to go to page 213 4th paragraph and page 214 1st paragraph. Point out that we can overcome Satan. We are more powerful than his temptations if we have the Holy Ghost guiding us. Again the message is hope, not discouragement that we are not yet perfect.
Ask, “Why was the group that got to look at the box and the picture at such an advantage?” Have class members look on page 212 to find out what the connection is between knowledge and salvation. What knowledge do we need to have, and how do we go about getting it? Ask, “How are you doing at gaining the type of knowledge necessary to gain eternal life? How much time do you dedicate to this type of learning? How much of our time is wasted in things that don’t teach us anything important?”
Application:
“Because the goal is continual improvement, think of one thing that you will do better this week to become exactly like our Father in Heaven.” Have class members write it down and take it with them.
Principle to Teach: If we want to gain eternal life, we have to understand who God is, and what is His plan for us.
Attention Activity:
Bring three fairly simple puzzles to class. (A website you can try if you don’t have puzzles is http://www.biddingtons.com/content/myartkaprov.html if you scroll down there is a printable paper that you can make your own puzzles out of pictures.) Have three groups or three individuals come up to the front of the class. There is going to be a race to see who can put the puzzle together the fastest. One group gets to look at the puzzle pieces and a picture (or the box) of what the puzzle will look like for 30 second before they start. The second group gets to look at a picture (or the box) for 30 seconds, but they don’t get to look at the pieces. The third group gets to look at nothing for the 30 seconds. After the 30 seconds, let the race begin. Hopefully the group that got to look at the box and the pieces will win. Have the class discuss what the advantages that each group were given might mean in a gospel context. (It really doesn’t matter what answers you get here, just get the class to start talking. You might even call on a few of the quiet people in class to try and get them involved.)
Class Discussion:
After a few answers have been given have students look in the manual on page 211 the first paragraph under the heading “We came to earth to obtain a body…” and find what are the box and pieces that Joseph Smith said we need to study “more than any other” topic. (The answer is in the middle sentence “What is the object of our coming into existence…”) Now is a good time to point out that we are talking about The Great Plan of Salvation. An understanding of the Plan of Salvation is critical. Joseph spends a lot of this chapter talking about life on earth and what we need to do to prepare for the next life. The first thing is mentioned on page 211 3rd paragraph. We came to get a body. The second thing is to “present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom.” Joseph then teaches us how to be able to do that. On page 210 4th paragraph. Have class members look for the reason God instituted laws. (So that we could advance like Him.) Ask, “How have you felt the commandments helping you become a person that is more like God?” “What commandments have been helpful in this process?” An important point in given on page 210 5th paragraph. “What are some of the benefits of living more and more of the commandments?” (Clearer views, greater enjoyment, lost desire for sin, power and glory of God.) “What is the main thing that God is asking us to do then in this great plan? (Make sure to point out that it doesn’t matter where we are in the process of perfection. The answer is the same. We look at where we are, where we want to be, and what we have to do to get there, and then start doing one thing at a time that is necessary to achieve perfection.) Emphasize the last sentence in paragraph 5 “But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment.” Make sure to point out that this is a process and not a time for discouragement, but hope for continual improvement. This might also be a good time to go to page 213 4th paragraph and page 214 1st paragraph. Point out that we can overcome Satan. We are more powerful than his temptations if we have the Holy Ghost guiding us. Again the message is hope, not discouragement that we are not yet perfect.
Ask, “Why was the group that got to look at the box and the picture at such an advantage?” Have class members look on page 212 to find out what the connection is between knowledge and salvation. What knowledge do we need to have, and how do we go about getting it? Ask, “How are you doing at gaining the type of knowledge necessary to gain eternal life? How much time do you dedicate to this type of learning? How much of our time is wasted in things that don’t teach us anything important?”
Application:
“Because the goal is continual improvement, think of one thing that you will do better this week to become exactly like our Father in Heaven.” Have class members write it down and take it with them.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Lesson #34 Helaman 6-12. The Pride Cycle
The Pride Cycle
Principle to Teach:
If we learn from patterns in the scriptures, then we don't have to suffer through the same mistakes.
Attention Activity:
I would actually use the attention activity in the lesson. There are many fun ways to incorporate it. You can do it like it says in the book or add to it by doing the following. Get three different sizes of paper plates. Put each one inside a different paper bag. Place the bags on the table with the bag with the smallest plate first, then the middle plate, then the largest plate. (Again you are trying to develop a pattern here.) Tell students that you have something in each bag that creates a pattern. Have them try to guess what is next in the pattern. (Of course they won’t be able to tell you. That is the point) Have one student come up and reach in the bag and feel what is in the bag, but don’t look! Have the student reach in each bag. Then have them say what should come next in the sequence. Now talk about the importance of being able to feel or see what is in the bags. The goal is to relate this to the scriptures. There are patterns in the scriptures intended to help us avoid similar consequences. But, we can’t figure them out unless we actually get involved in order to “feel” what the pattern is. Now go into the scriptures to develop the pattern while emphasizing the whole lesson how it takes study and “hands on” scripture experiences to really understand what the pattern is, you can’t just sit by and expect to get it.
Class Discussion:
Again, the manual takes us through where we want to be. I think there are some additional questions and scriptures that really make this lesson interesting and applicable. The first part is that the people are righteous and are blessed. Have students find in Helaman 6:1 what two words describe the righteousness of the people. (Firmness and Steadiness) If necessary define these words for the class. Ask, “Which one do you think is more important in living righteously?” (There is no real right answer. Both are necessary, but it gets the students thinking, just don’t let it turn into an argument.) You can ask, “What are some commandments that it is difficult to be steady in—meaning you continue to do them?” “Which ones might be hard to be firm in—meaning you do them no matter what?” This can be a time for a quick application question. Ask, “What do you think the Lord would tell you to do to be more firm or steady in keeping the commandments?” Now have class members look in verses 9-13 and mark every positive thing that happened to the people.
The second stage is that they start to become wicked. Have students look in Helaman 6:17,22,25,26,29, and 30 for a word that is repeated in each verse. (Secret) “What are the things that are done in secret? Why would people what to keep things secret? Why is secrecy such a indicator of unrighteousness?” Encourage students to write on this page in their scriptures, “If you have to keep it a secret, it is usually bad.” This is a great time for a youth class to talk about secrecy and the dangers of keeping things secret from their parents. Verse 27 is a great verse to talk about how Satan uses secrets. Satan promised Cain that if would kill Abel it would be a secret. Now Cain is one of the most well known murders of all time. Satan wants us to try to keep things secret because he knows he can get us to do wickedly if he can convince us that no one will know. You can cross reference D&C 1:3 or Alma 39:8 to point out that it is impossible to keep things secret from the Lord. One great way to know that we are in this pattern of starting to fall into sin is if we are trying to do things in secret. If we are, it is usually time to repent!
The third aspect is destruction and suffering. Look in Helaman 11:7-8. What is the purpose of the suffering? Why does God allow us to go through very difficult things? What does this teach us about the character of God?
The fourth aspect is to repent and return to God. The repentance is shown well in Helaman 11:10. Ask, “Why is the fact that they ‘swept away the band of Gadianton’ an indication that they had truly repented?” “What would it have taken to sweep the robbers out of the land?” “How is that similar to what the Lord asks of us when we need to repent?”
Application
There is great application all through this lesson. If you use the plates in the bag activity remember to point out to students that unless you get in and really try to understand this process you can’t apply it to your life and have it make any difference for you. A great way to finish might be to ask students to write down what stage in the process they think they are in. Ask, “How do you stay in the ‘Righteousness and Prosperity’ section of the circle?”
Principle to Teach:
If we learn from patterns in the scriptures, then we don't have to suffer through the same mistakes.
Attention Activity:
I would actually use the attention activity in the lesson. There are many fun ways to incorporate it. You can do it like it says in the book or add to it by doing the following. Get three different sizes of paper plates. Put each one inside a different paper bag. Place the bags on the table with the bag with the smallest plate first, then the middle plate, then the largest plate. (Again you are trying to develop a pattern here.) Tell students that you have something in each bag that creates a pattern. Have them try to guess what is next in the pattern. (Of course they won’t be able to tell you. That is the point) Have one student come up and reach in the bag and feel what is in the bag, but don’t look! Have the student reach in each bag. Then have them say what should come next in the sequence. Now talk about the importance of being able to feel or see what is in the bags. The goal is to relate this to the scriptures. There are patterns in the scriptures intended to help us avoid similar consequences. But, we can’t figure them out unless we actually get involved in order to “feel” what the pattern is. Now go into the scriptures to develop the pattern while emphasizing the whole lesson how it takes study and “hands on” scripture experiences to really understand what the pattern is, you can’t just sit by and expect to get it.
Class Discussion:
Again, the manual takes us through where we want to be. I think there are some additional questions and scriptures that really make this lesson interesting and applicable. The first part is that the people are righteous and are blessed. Have students find in Helaman 6:1 what two words describe the righteousness of the people. (Firmness and Steadiness) If necessary define these words for the class. Ask, “Which one do you think is more important in living righteously?” (There is no real right answer. Both are necessary, but it gets the students thinking, just don’t let it turn into an argument.) You can ask, “What are some commandments that it is difficult to be steady in—meaning you continue to do them?” “Which ones might be hard to be firm in—meaning you do them no matter what?” This can be a time for a quick application question. Ask, “What do you think the Lord would tell you to do to be more firm or steady in keeping the commandments?” Now have class members look in verses 9-13 and mark every positive thing that happened to the people.
The second stage is that they start to become wicked. Have students look in Helaman 6:17,22,25,26,29, and 30 for a word that is repeated in each verse. (Secret) “What are the things that are done in secret? Why would people what to keep things secret? Why is secrecy such a indicator of unrighteousness?” Encourage students to write on this page in their scriptures, “If you have to keep it a secret, it is usually bad.” This is a great time for a youth class to talk about secrecy and the dangers of keeping things secret from their parents. Verse 27 is a great verse to talk about how Satan uses secrets. Satan promised Cain that if would kill Abel it would be a secret. Now Cain is one of the most well known murders of all time. Satan wants us to try to keep things secret because he knows he can get us to do wickedly if he can convince us that no one will know. You can cross reference D&C 1:3 or Alma 39:8 to point out that it is impossible to keep things secret from the Lord. One great way to know that we are in this pattern of starting to fall into sin is if we are trying to do things in secret. If we are, it is usually time to repent!
The third aspect is destruction and suffering. Look in Helaman 11:7-8. What is the purpose of the suffering? Why does God allow us to go through very difficult things? What does this teach us about the character of God?
The fourth aspect is to repent and return to God. The repentance is shown well in Helaman 11:10. Ask, “Why is the fact that they ‘swept away the band of Gadianton’ an indication that they had truly repented?” “What would it have taken to sweep the robbers out of the land?” “How is that similar to what the Lord asks of us when we need to repent?”
Application
There is great application all through this lesson. If you use the plates in the bag activity remember to point out to students that unless you get in and really try to understand this process you can’t apply it to your life and have it make any difference for you. A great way to finish might be to ask students to write down what stage in the process they think they are in. Ask, “How do you stay in the ‘Righteousness and Prosperity’ section of the circle?”
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