4 Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God
Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God
Book of Mormon Videos https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/videos-and-images/book-of-mormon-videos?lang=eng
1 Nephi 11-15
We are all entitled to life-changing spiritual
experiences and visions, when we are seeking to do the Lord’s will. Some people
have experienced monumental visions, because God had a monumental assignment
for them. We can know what they experienced is real, even if we are not given
the same vision, by the power of the Holy Ghost. God will always give us what
is necessary for our stewardship and our personal needs.
Nephi certainly had a life-changing experience, when
he was permitted to see the same visions his father experienced. He also
recounts the added understanding that he received, both for his benefit and now
for ours. Nephi “saw the ministry of the Savior, the future of Lehi’s posterity
in the promised land, and the latter-day destiny of God’s work.”
How did Nephi’s
vision prepare him for the work that lay ahead of him?
How
has
reading about Nephi’s vision helped you gain understanding, and how can
it help you prepare for the work God has for you to do?
Nephi saw latter-day saints who belonged to the
church of the Lamb. Are you one of the saints he saw? Are you striving to be?
1 Nephi
14:14 Today
there are saints who are “scattered upon all
the face of the earth; and they [are] armed with righteousness and with the
power of God in great glory.”
What things
arm us with the power of God in great glory? (Certainly the following do: the
scriptures, partaking of the sacrament, being baptized, making and keeping
covenants, receiving the temple endowment and sealing ordinances both for
ourselves and for our kindred dead, serving others, and missionary work.)
Video: Nephi Sees a Vision of Future Events: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/1-nephi-10-15/2019-07-0500-nephi-sees-the-vision-of-his-father-lehi-1-nephi-10-15-eng?lang=eng
God sent Jesus Christ as an expression of His love.
We find a deeper meaning to the Tree of Life representing the Love of God. The angel showed Nephi symbols and events from the life of our Savior. Jesus Christ was sent to save the world as the ultimate expression of God’s love (See John 3:16-27).
Bible videos that show the life, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/videos-and-images/bible-videos?lang=eng
How has Jesus helped you feel our Heavenly Father’s love?
God’s Love:
The Most Joyous to the Soul
For kids:
Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ because He loves me.
“To teach
Nephi about God’s love, an angel showed Nephi events from the Savior’s life.”
1 Nephi
11:20, 24, 27, 31, and 33
Gospel Art Book, nos. 30, 35, 39, 42, 57 (pictures to correspond to above scripture; children can choose the picture that matches the verses read)
How much does the Savior love us?
Are you happy that Heavenly Father sent His Son for you?
1 Nephi 11:22–23 How does the love of God make you feel? How does it help you to know that Heavenly Father sent Jesus for you?
I can be “armed with righteousness” and power.
Even though Nephi didn’t live to witness all that took place in the vision he
saw, it was still of great worth to Him.
Why was it valuable for Nephi to
receive the knowledge that he gained?
Why is it valuable for you to read Nephi’s vision and prophecies today?
As you read Nephi’s vision consider why the things that are written are important for all of us to know, especially you.
1 Nephi
14:14 “For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God,
that I will work a great and a marvelous work among
the children of men; a work which shall be
everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of
them unto peace and life eternal, or unto
the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of
their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into
destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.”
That great and marvelous work is taking place now. We have the agency to choose to follow Jesus or just worldly ambitions or nothing at all; we have the opportunity to choose life, because of Jesus eternal life is available to us as we seek to live the Doctrine of Christ.
With the Power
of God in Great Glory
What is the “great and abominable church” that Nephi saw?
We see the great and abominable church spreading rapidly in our day. President Oaks said that it is “any philosophy or organization that opposes belief in God. And the ‘captivity’ into which this ‘church’ seeks to bring the saints will not be so much physical confinement as the captivity of false ideas.” Stand as Witnesses of God
What are some idea, philosophies, and practices in the world today
that oppose a belief in God?
How are they dangerous to the
security of individuals, families, and nations? How are they in direct opposition to our Father’s Plan of Happiness
for us?
What have we been given to help us stay on the covenant path? How can we be supportive of family and
friends in an agreeable way, even when we disagree over important matters?
How does your identity as a son or
daughter of God, a child of the covenant, and a disciple of Christ help you
discern between truth and error? What gifts
do you have that help you stay on the covenant path?
“How does the Savior help you avoid—and escape from—the captivity of false ideas?”
For kids:
The Book of Mormon teaches precious truths.
1 Nephi
13:40 The
Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a wonderful second
witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ and the truths that are recorded in the
Bible. It helps to restore some of the things that were once plain and precious
truths found in the Bible, which were removed either because people didn’t
understand them, or because they wanted to cause confusion.
The Book of Mormon clearly testifies
of Jesus Christ, of His resurrection, and the need of all the people of the
world to have a Savior. We can come unto Jesus and be saved.
What plain and precious truths, that are found in The Book of Mormon, are very special to you?
Video: The Book of Mormon—a Book from God: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2014-07-1020-the-book-of-mormon-a-book-from-god?lang=eng
Multiple lines and churches can cross through a single point (the Bible).
But if you have two points (The Bible and The Book of Mormon) only one line can
cross through.
This establishes the doctrine of Christ. And there is only One Lord, one faith,
and one baptism.
“The Book of Mormon restores gospel truths lost during the Apostasy.”
God will answer me if I ask in faith.
What steps do we need to take to open the lines of communication with God? What are some things that you can personally work on doing?
Vs 3 Nephi acknowledges that his
father told of things that were hard to understand, unless you ask of God.
Spiritual truths must be spiritually understood. We need to ask of
God.
Vs 8-9 Besides knowing or believing there is a God, we
need to believe in ourselves to, that we are His children. He loves us and He
wants to impart knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to us. But we have to keep
His commandments, and we need to ask.
1. Nephi had a desire to understand the things that his father saw in vision, and he was in the habit of praying, not murmuring, honoring his parents, and keeping the commandments.
2. Nephi found a quiet place to pray. He received a remarkable vision.
3. In contrast, his brothers were disputing about the things their father told them. (Don’t we speculate and dispute over what the prophet means today sometimes too?)
4. Nephi asked why his brothers were disputing?
5. They didn’t understand what their father said about the natural branches of the tree and the Gentiles.
6. Nephi asked them, “Have ye inquired of the Lord? ”
7. They responded, “We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.”
8. Nephi then asked, “How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?”
What commandments were they failing to keep? Why is humility so important in gaining spiritual knowledge?
9. Nephi gives his brothers a reminder. “Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.”
If I want answers to my prayers, there are steps I can take. Like Nephi, I can be humble and develop a desire to understand. I can practice praying with more intent on a regular basis and develop a greater love and trust in my Heavenly Father. I can stop murmuring and express more gratitude to God and to others. I can honor my parents and the lessons I’ve learned from them. I can honor the prophet and church leaders. I can strive to keep the commandments. I can find quiet places to study, to ponder, and to pray.
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist Satan’s influence.
See notes in scripture reading.
1 Nephi 15:23–25 Nephi taught and encouraged his brothers to stay on the covenant path.
Vs 25 “I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with
all the faculty which
I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep
his commandments always in all things.”
Nephi’s message once one of love and concern for his brothers and their families.
He wanted all his family to gain salvation.
Are you holding fast to the word of God? Is Jesus, the Word of God, at the
center of your life and are your eyes focused on Him? Do you hearken to the word of God as given in the scriptures and
proclaimed by the prophets.
“How does holding fast to the word of God help you
resist the adversary?”
Building a Life Resistant to the Adversary
For kids:
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist temptation.
What do you remember about Lehi’s vision?
Show a picture of the Tree of Life and those who are holding on to the Iron Rod.
What kept
people from reaching the tree? What
helped them reach it?
1 Nephi 15:23–24 The Iron Rod is the Word of God, and those who hold fast on to it will never perish. Stay on the covenant path.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/11?lang=eng
Vs
1 Desiring, believing, and pondering help to prepare us for revelation.
What things do you see in the verse that helped Nephi to prepare? How will you
prepare to be open and ready to receive impressions and revelations from God?
Vs 2-5 In order to receive revelation,
we first should have a desire, and we need to express that desire to our Heavnely
Father.
We must believe the words spoken by God's prophets and trust that
what we receive from God is true.
Vs 6 God is pleased when we are believing;
especially when we believe in His Son. He will bless us according to our
righteous desires as when we are believing, seeking, and obeying.
Vs 7 Because Nephi believed, had great faith, and was obedient, he saw Jesus
Christ.
Vs 10-11 After
Nephi was shown the Tree of Life, the Lord and Nephi talked with each other. We
are created in the image of God. We can communicate with Him in the same way we
communicate with each other.
Vs 13-23 Nephi saw Nazareth, and he saw Mary; and He saw that she was
the mother of the Son of Gd. He learned that the Tree of Life is the Love of
God. Knowing God's love through the Gift of His Son is the most precious Gift
and most desirable and joyous.
Vs 24-25 Nephi saw Jesus going forth among the people, and many fell down
and worshiped Him.
The Rod of Iron is the Word of God, it is the Love of God, it is
Jesus Christ. He is our Path and our Way back to the Father.
Vs 27-34 The condescension of God, is
that Jesus was willing to come and live among men, so that He could bring those
who chose to follow Him back into our Father's presence.
Nephi saw John the Baptist baptize Jesus, and He saw His mortal
ministry, and His apostles. He saw His crucifixion.
He beheld Jesus's works and the call of His apostles. He beheld
his ministry and His miracles.
He beheld the Lamb of God being
crucified. And he saw multitudes gathered together to fight against the
apostles and the Lamb. (Did Nephi see the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, too?)
Vs 35-36 Great and spacious building is the wisdom, pride,
sophistry of the world. It belongs to the great and abominable church and those
who seek to fight against Jesus and His Zion.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/12?lang=eng
Nephi
sees in vision the land of promise; the righteousness, iniquity, and downfall
of its inhabitants; the coming of the Lamb of God among them; how the Twelve
Disciples and the Twelve Apostles will judge Israel; and the loathsome and
filthy state of those who dwindle in unbelief. About 600–592 B.C.
Vs 6-7 Nephi saw
the destruction that would happen in his land at the time Jesus was crucified
in the land of his birth. After that, He saw Jesus come down and visit the
righteous of those who were left; and he saw that Jesus ordained twelve
disciples in the Americas as well.
Yes, indeed he
saw the resurrected Christ.
The 12 Disciples
in the Americas are like the 12 Disciples in Israel; and they will be judges of
the Nephite and Lamanite people.
Vs 12-15 Nephi saw three generations of his people who lived in
righteousness after Jesus's resurrection, and also many of the fourth
generation.
Then he saw many gathered together to battle.
Vs 16-18 Fountains of filthy water, and the river, are
the depths of hell. Mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil. Large
and spacious building is the vain imaginations and the pride of the children of
men. The wicked are separated from the righteous by a great and terrible gulf.
Vs 19-21 Nephi
saw that the Lamanites destroyed his peeople; because their pride and giving in
to the temptations of the devil left them weak.
Vs 22-23 After 400 years, the people all turned to war and wickedness and
dwindled in unbelief. There are great lessons to be learned from past civilizations,
so that we do not make the same mistakes they did; the same mistakes which are
currently being made.
Those left of the Lamanites and Nephite became a dark, loathsome, and filthy
people.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/13?lang=eng
Nephi
sees in vision the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles, the discovery
and colonizing of America, the loss of many plain and precious parts of the
Bible, the resultant state of gentile apostasy, the restoration of the gospel,
the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion. About
600–592 B.C.
Vs 1-4 Nephi was shown the nations and kingdoms of the
last days. He saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great
(big) church.
Vs 4-6 This
abominable church slays the saints of God, and tortures and binds them; and
puts a yoke of iron on them, and brings them into captivity. The devil is the
founder of this church.
How are we slain
or our faith and ideas silenced and crushed?
Is there a yoke and bondage upon us? If so, what can we do to find relief and release?
In our day, Satan is seeking to destroy all good principles and God given
rights and rites. How can we best
oppose that? How does it help to
know that the Battle is the Lord’s, and that He has already won it for us?
Vs 8-9 Should riches and worldly praise be the hallmarks of a true
church? They never have been. Should any church's goal be the bondage and
destruction of other people?
The Lord's church is all about truth, agency, and freedom.
Vs 10 Nephi saw the Gentiles that were in Europe who were then
divided from his descendants, but who would come to the Americas.
Vs 12 Nephi
saw Christopher Columbus and his voyage to the Americas.
Vs 13-15 Nephi
saw that many Europeans were seeking freedom and were led by the Spirit of God
to the land of promise.
Vs 16 If we humble ourselves before the Lord, the power of God will be with us
or upon us, just like it was with the early settlers of this land.
Vs 17-19 God's hand was in the establishment of the Americas. He
protected them againts the nations from which they had come. "The Gentiles
that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the
hands of all other nations."
Vs 20-24 The
Gentiles brought the Bible with them to the New World.
Vs 23-24 “Behold it proceedeth out of the
mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews,
which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of
Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and
it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many;
nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto
the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.
24 And
the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew;
and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of
the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear
record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.
Vs 25-28 To become with the Bible was
pure and easy to be understood. After the apostles were killed, there were those
who purposefully hid and deleted truths, taking way from the gospel of Jesus
Christ many things that were plain and precious, and taking out the covenants
of the Lord.
The covenants of the Lord and the doctrine of Christ are
fundamentally necessary parts of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
They wanted to pervert the right way of the Lord and to lead men
astray. They were laying Satan's foundation for the great and abominable
church, by taking plain and precious things out of the book of the Lamb of God.
Those who purposefully deceive to entice saints away are uniting
with the great and abominable church.
Vs 29 Because so many truths were
missing from the Bible, many people have stumbled.
Nephi's record was going to bring back many of the truths that
were taken out of the Bible.
Vs 30-32 The Lord is merciful. He won't allow the
descendants of Lehi to be utterly destroy, nor will He allow the Gentiles to
forever remain in blindness.
Vs 33-37 After the Gentiles have persecuted the American Indians (or Native
Americans), and after they have stumbled because they don't have the full
truth, the Lord will be merciful.
The Gentiles will have the record of Nephi and the prophets who
followed after him. "Behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth
unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb."
37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have
the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved
in the everlasting kingdom of the
Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace,
yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
Vs 38-39 Nephi saw that the Gentiles took the Bible and other
scriptures to his people. He saw that the Bible and the Book of Mormon would
convince the Gentiles and the Lamanites and the Jews that the records of the
prophets and the twelve apostles are true.
Vs 40-41 The Book of Mormon is another witness that Jesus is the Christ, and it
establishes the truth of the Bible.
Vs 42 Jesus will
manifest Himself to all nations.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/14?lang=eng
An angel
tells Nephi of the blessings and cursings to fall upon the Gentiles—There are
only two churches: the Church of the Lamb of God and the church of the
devil—The Saints of God in all nations are persecuted by the great and
abominable church—The Apostle John will write concerning the end of the world.
About 600–592 B.C.
Vs 1-2 We need to hearken and we need to not harden our
hearts. Then we will be blessed with power, and we will be the seed of Joseph.
Vs 5 Faith in the Lord, Repentance, Baptism by immersion, and
receiving both the gift of the Holy Ghost and admission into the Lord's church
will help us establish a covenant relationship with the Lord; the same covenant
that He made with the house of Israel.
Vs 7 The choice is ours. Agency is given to us. We would be wise to use it to
choose to follow Jesus, then we will be blessed in all ways. We will live.
Vs 7 “For
the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children
of men; a work which
shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the
convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance
of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto
their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both
temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have
spoken.”
Vs 10 Those who are for Christ build up His Kingdom; and those who
are anti-Christ seek to destroy the works of God.
Vs 12 Even though we are few in number, we have no reason to fear if we are
righteous; because those that be with us are more than those that be with them.
Vs 14 This is what we need to do. We need to invite people to come unto
Christ, enter the waters of baptism, make covenants in the temple, be good
disciples, and be armed with power the power of God in great glory.
God will deliver us from those of all nations who fight against
the Lamb of God, if we stand with Jesus!
Vs 17 The Father's work certainly has commenced. But
it will only roll forth more boldly as people turn towards Him and make
covenants with Him. He has a way prepared to fullfil all the covenants He has
made.
Vs 18-25, 27 John the Beloved will write concerning the end of the world. His words
are just and true.
We just finished reading the Book of Revelation and it is powerful and
wonderful.
Vs 26 There are more records that the Lord will bring forth in due
time.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng
Lehi’s
seed are to receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days—The
gathering of Israel is likened unto an olive tree whose natural branches will
be grafted in again—Nephi interprets the vision of the tree of life and speaks
of the justice of God in dividing the wicked from the righteous. About 600–592 B.C.
(See notes above in the study section)
Vs 3 Nephi acknowledges that his
father told of things that were hard to understand, unless you ask of God.
Spiritual truths must be spiritually understood. We need to ask of
God.
Vs 8-9 Besides knowing or believing there is a God, we
need to believe in ourselves to, that we are His children. He loves us and He
wants to impart knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to us. But we have to keep
His commandments, and we need to ask.
Vs 12 The
House of Israel is compared to an Olive Tree. Lehi's family is a branch of the
House of Israel that was broken off and sent to another part of the vineyard.
Vs 13-16 The truth will be restored to Lehi's children and they be restored
to the truth. They are of the House of Israel and children of the covenant. The
covenant will be made available to them again.
The will again have a relationship with Jesus Christ and be
grafted in to the true vine. They will have the principles and the ordinances
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Vs 18-19 All of Israel will be gathered together again in
the last days.
Vs 21-24 We should stay on the path leading to the tree of
life. We can do this by holding on to the iron rod, which is the word of God.
Jesus told us to search the scriptures. Certainly we are encouraged to keep our
covenants and to be led by Him to eternal life when we read the scriptures.
Jesus is also known as the word of God, so we need to hold fast to our
testimony of Him, and always remember Him. Prayer, Scriptures, the Sacrament,
and serving Him show that we are focusing on Him and remembering Him. Following
His prophets shows that we value His word
Vs 25 How much
do we love our own families and friends? Do we exhort them with all the
feelings of our heart and with all our energy to Come unto Christ and be
perfected in Him?
Vs 26-30 River of water is filthiness
and a representation of an awful hell. An awful gulf separated the wicked from
the tree of life and the saints of God. The Justice of God also divides the
wicked from the righteous. The brightness of God's justice is like a flaming
fire, which ascends up to God forever and ever and has no end.
It seems that the devil doubly binds souls that follow him to
hell, and God doubly binds the souls that follow Him to heaven.
Vs 33-36 We all will stand before God to
be judged of our works. Those who are filthy cannot dwell with God, because the
kingdom of God is not filthy.
The wicked will be rejected from the righteous, and from the tree
of life. They will not gain eternal life or live with God.
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