DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES IN THIS LESSON:

•The Lord calls prophets to warn His children and testify of the truth (see 1 Nephi 1:4–20; 2:2).

•The Lord extends tender mercies to those who exercise faith in Him (see 1 Nephi 1:14, 20).

•The Lord provides a way for us to keep His commandments (see 1 Nephi 2:11–20; 3:7–28; 4:1–38; 5:8).

•The scriptures preserve the word of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 5).

Chapter 2 1 Nephi 1-5

The Lord calls prophets to warn His children and testify of the truth. 1 Nephi 1:4-20; 2:2

Lehi warned the people in Jerusalem

according to the revelations he had

received.

GROUP 1: 1 Nephi 1:4-11

GROUP 2: 1 Nephi 1:12-17

GROUP 3: 1 Nephi 1:18-20

Answer the following questions:

•In what ways were Lehi’s experiences similar to experiences of other prophets?•What parallels do you see between Lehi’s vision and later experiences and the experiences of the Prophet Joseph Smith?•What warning did Lehi declare to the people?

ACTIVITY

What warnings has the President of the Church given recently?

How do people’s responses to the prophet today compare with people’s responses to Lehi’s message?

What gives you confidence to follow the counsel of the prophet?

The Lord extends tender mercies to those who exercise faith in Him. 1 Nephi 1:14, 20

1 Nephi 1:20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

“Since last October I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase “the tender mercies of the Lord.” Through personal study, observation, pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15).”

Elder David A. Bednar, April 2005 General Conference, The Tender Mercies of the Lord

I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to

bestow such gifts upon us.

“The word chosen in 1 Nephi 1:20 [1 Ne. 1:20] is central to understanding the concept of the Lord’s tender mercies. The dictionary indicates that chosen suggests one who is selected, taken by preference, or picked out. It also can be used to refer to the elect or chosen of God (Oxford English Dictionary Online, second ed. [1989], “Chosen”).

“Some individuals who hear or read this message erroneously may discount or dismiss in their personal lives the availability of the tender mercies of the Lord, believing that “I certainly am not one who has been or ever will be chosen.” We may falsely think that such blessings and gifts are reserved for other people who appear to be more righteous or who serve in visible Church callings. I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us.

“To be or to become chosen is not an exclusive status conferred upon us. Rather, you and I ultimately determine if we are chosen. Please now note the use of the word chosen in the following verses from the Doctrine and Covenants:

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

“Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men” (D&C 121:34–35; emphasis added).

“I believe the implication of these verses is quite straightforward. God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added. He does not limit “the chosen” to a restricted few. Rather, it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which definitively determine whether we are counted as one of God’s chosen.”

GROUP 1: 1 Nephi 1-7

GROUP 2: 1 Nephi 8-14

GROUP 3: 1 Nephi 15-22

ACTIVITY

Look in the chapter headings for instances of deliverance. List your findings. Assign a rep to report.

Almost every chapter in 1 Nephi describes the deliverance of a person or a group of people. Deliverance is a central theme in the

Book of Mormon.

The Lord provides a way for us to keep His commandments.

1 Nephi 2:11-20; 3:7-28; 4:1-38; 5:8

In 3:1-5, what command is given to Lehi and his sons?

Why do you think Laman and Lemuel would say that this command was “a hard thing”?

SCRIPTURE MASTERY!!!1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord

hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that

they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

How do you think Nephi knew that God would prepare a way?

What is the difference between the attitude of Nephi and Sam and the attitude of Laman and Lemuel?

Why Nephi and Sam were more ready to obey the Lord?

(see Student Manual, p.410)

The distance from Jerusalem to the Red Sea is approximately 180 miles. Lehi and his family had “traveled three days” beyond this point (see 1 Nephi 2:5–6). This meant at least a 12- to 14-day trip one way from Jerusalem to their temporary home in the valley of Lemuel.

(see 1 Nephi 3-4)Obtaining the Brass Plates from Laban

In this story, what are some examples of how God helped Nephi accomplish the things He had commanded, even when those tasks seemed impossible?

The scriptures preserve the word of the Lord. 1 Nephi 5

2 Nephi 5:10-1610 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.

11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;

12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;

13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.

14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.

15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.

16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.

sundayschoolapologetics.blogspot.com

According to 1 Nephi 5:17, how did the study of these scriptures affect Lehi?

Why do you think that studying the contents of the brass plates mentioned in verses 10–16 would bring about the blessings described in verse 17?

How did Lehi and Nephi show that they valued the scriptures?

What can we do to show that we value the scriptures?

1 Nephi 5:17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865578467/The-standard-works-digital-vs-print-What-works-for-you.html

Digital VS Traditional?

Something to

WITHOUT SCRIPTURES WITH SCRIPTURES

VS

More than 300 years after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, his descendants discovered a group of people whose ancestors had also fled Jerusalem. These people, who now lived in a city they called Zarahemla, had not carried written scriptures with them. (see Omni 1:14-17)

What happened to this people’s faith and language because they did not have a scriptural record? Why do you think the lack of the scriptures had this effect on them?

How did they feel when they learned that Mosiah and his people had a scriptural record?

The people of Zarahemla and the Nephites united under the leadership of Mosiah. After Mosiah died, his son Benjamin served as the people’s king. Benjamin taught his sons “concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass” (see Mosiah 1:1-5)

How did King Benjamin and his people benefit because the brass plates had been preserved?

What can we do to preserve the scriptures for ourselves and our families?