3 Nephi 27-30 & 4 Nephi. “This Is My Gospel” The Gospel of Christ, the Three Nephites, and the Rise and Fall of the Nephite Nation

3 Nephi 27-30 & 4 Nephi. “This Is My Gospel” The Gospel of Christ, the Three Nephites, and the Rise and Fall of the Nephite Nation.

Attention Activity:
Have class members look forward and think about their own funeral. Have them write down 10 things that they would like to have said about them at their own funeral. Have them share some of their ideas. Ask, “What are some things that you are involved in that aren’t bad things, but that didn’t make your list?” (Examples might be their job, what car they drive, how big their house is. Younger students might include what their favorite TV show is, what their favorite class is, etc.) Explain that today we are going to talk about this list in two different ways.

Class Discussion:
Christ gives us an important list in 3 Nephi 27. Have class members turn to 3 Nephi 27:8-9, 19-21 to find the list that Christ gives about identifying His true Church. (Called after his name, teaches faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. There are a few others in there that you can add as well.) Now look in verse 2 to find why this list was so important to the people. Ask, “Why should an understanding of the basic doctrines of the Gospel help to end disputations?”
“Now we have looked at a list Jesus created, now lets get back to the list that you created.” Christ gives us a verse about one thing that should be on our list. Look in 3 Nephi 27:27. “What should we be able to say about ourselves by the time we die?” Split the class into two groups. Have half the class pick one of the attributes that was listed on their paper. Because we are trying to be like the Savior we should be able to look at the type of person that we want to become and see similarities to the life of Christ. Have the class members find a story or scripture that shows Christ living or teaching the same attribute that they have listed on their paper. (Example: If they have written that they want to be known as someone who helps others they could share the parable of the Good Samaritan or the story of Christ healing the beggar at Bethesda (John 5:1-16)) Have the other half of the class look in 4 Nephi 1:1-23 for attributes of the Nephites that are either on their list or that they would like to see on their list. Have them be prepared to explain why some of the attributes are so desirable for us today. Have a few class members from each side share their ideas.

Application:
Have class members look in 4 Nephi 1:1-23 to see what the end results were of the type of life that these people were living. What one would be most important to you? What do these end results have to do with the list that you made? “What do you need to do in your life to see the end results and to make your list come true?”