44 I Would that I Could Persuade All…to Repent

I Would that I Could Persuade All…to Repent

I Would that I Could Persuade All…to Repent

Book of Mormon Videos https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/videos-and-images/book-of-mormon-videos?lang=eng 

Mormon 2:18; 5:8 Although Mormon saw so much violence, wickedness, and bloodshed, he didn’t share it all with us. We just finished reading 4 Nephi. From 3 and 4 Nephi, then also Mormon, we have witnessed how far a once righteous and prosperous people can fall. Sorrowfully, we are witnessing that in our own nation and the world.

Even though Mormon’s people was rejecting his message of repentance, he has invited all of us to repent and come to Jesus and find life and hope through Him.

Mormon 3:17–20 Mormon’s message and invitation is to us. He wrote to the ends of the earth, and his message continues to spread to the living and the dead.

Mormon 3:21–22 “Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. … Repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ”.

Video: “Moroni Preserves the Record to Bring the House of Israel to Christ”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2020-03-0820-moroni-preserves-the-record-for-the-latter-days-moroni-10-title-page?lang=eng

I can follow Jesus Christ regardless of what other people do.
Mormon 1–6

How did Mormon’s faith in Jesus Christ make him unique and give him opportunities to serve and bless others?

Mormon 1:2–3, 13–17 Mormon was a sober child and was quick to observe. He was teachable. He remained sober and faithful in his youth and was visited by the Lord. He knew and tasted of the goodness of Jesus. He desired to teach the people, but they’d rejected the prophets and the truth.

Mormon 2:18–19 Mormon had seen a continuous display of wickedness and abominations throughout his life. Despite feeling sorrow and sadness because of the evil around him, Mormon retained his faith in Jesus Christ, knowing that he would be lifted up at the last day.

Mormon 3:12 Mormon and served and loved his people completed. Though he was young, he had developed a parental type love because of his concern and care them. His heart was full of love and he prayed for their well-being, but he knew that the Lord couldn’t bless them in their wickedness.

Be an Example and a Light

How has Mormon’s example made a difference for you?

Quick to Observe

Video: “Something Different about Us: Example”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2010-12-0007-something-different-about-us-example?lang=eng

Help others share what they learn. When people share what they’ve learned, they strengthen their own faith and the faith of others (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:122). Try asking your family or class what experiences they had as they studied God’s word.

For kids:

Like Mormon, I can follow Jesus Christ.
Mormon 1:1–3; 2:1, 23–24; 3:1–3, 12, 17–22

How can you be like Mormon? Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? Do you pray to your Heavenly Father in Jesus’s name?

Read Mormon 1:1–3 How old was Mormon when he received a special assignmen  from Ammaron? Why did Ammaron trust Mormon with this mission? How does being a disciple of Jesus Christ help us develop these good qualities?

Because Mormon followed Jesus Christ, he was given opportunities to serve and bless others.

Mormon 1:1–3 At 10-years-old Mormon received an important assignment.

2:1, 23–24 Mormon became the leader of the Nephite armies when he was sixteen.

3:1–3, 12, 20–22 Mormon became a missionary of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preached repentance and baptism to a people that wouldn’t hear his message; but, he wrote his message to us too.

Video: Chapter 49: Mormon and His Teachings

How can your faith in Jesus Christ help the people that you know? Or how can your faith in Jesus Christ empower you to help others?

For kids:

Godly sorrow leads me to Christ and to lasting change.
Mormon 2:8–15

Read Mormon 2:8, 10–15 What’s the difference between being sorry that you got caught doing something wrong and being sorry that you displeased your Heavenly Father or made someone else sad?

Mormon 2:12 Repentance, whether our own or others around us, should bring joy to our hearts.

True sorrow when we’ve done something wrong should cause us to turn to our Heavenly Father and to seek for His help.

Godly sorrow leads me to Christ and to lasting change.
Mormon 2:10–15

Mormon 2:13 Mormon hoped his people would repent, but their sorrowing wasn’t unto repentance.

Mormon 2:10–15 When we have godly sorrow, we are willing to take our concerns and guilt to Heavenly Father and ask Him to help us to know that to do and how to resolve things the best we can, and we will commit once again to do His will.

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 No one likes feeling the struggle of admitting guilt and making things right. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of repentance and change through faith in Him. When we repent, we can rejoice, we can more power to do what’s right and the Lord blesses us.

Divine Discontent

For kids:

Heavenly Father gives me many blessings.
Mormon 3:3, 9

Take time to name and draw things that you are thankful for.

Read Mormon 3:3, 9 Heavenly Father wants us to show gratitude to him for our blessings and to give Him the credit for the good things He does for us each day.

Why is it dangerous to be boastful? How can we show Heavenly Father that we are thankful and that we love Him?

Doctrine and Covenants 59:21  “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

 “They did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them.”
Mormon 3:3, 9

Mormon 3:3, 9 People can be so blind when they forget God and don’t follow the Spirit. We have no power to do anything, other than what God has given us. We need to acknowledge Him and be thankful for His love and grace.

What blessings have come to you by acknowledging God’s presence in your life?

Mormon 2:26 When the Spirit is not with us, then we don’t have the same strength and advantages as when we follow the Spirit.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:21  “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

O Remember, Remember

For kids:

Heavenly Father wants me to love everyone.
Mormon 3:12

Mormon didn’t stop loving the Nephites, even though they were very wicked. How can we keep loving everyone, even the people that really disappoint us?

Mormon 3:12 We can pray for people, serve them, hope for the best for them, and trust that God loves them even more than we do.

Jesus Said Love Everyone Show pictures of people from all over the world and acknowledge that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us all.

Jesus Christ stands with open arms to receive me.
Mormon 5:8–24; 6:16–22

Mormon 5:8–24 Heavenly Father and Jesus love us so much that they keep providing ways and means for us to return to them. Even though the Nephites were destroyed, the records were preserved by Mormon and his son Moroni. They have been instrumental in the gathering of Israel in this last days, when all are invited to Come unto Christ and found happiness and salvation through Him. We are blessed with the ordinances of the gospel and with living prophets; we also have ancient records that teach us what is important for our times: to always remember Jesus Christ and to follow Him, so that we can always have His Spirit to be with us.  

6:16–22 Mormon expresses his own sadness and the Lord’s sadness at the fallen people of the Nephites and Lamanites. He also testifies of the reality of the resurrection and the judgment day.

Jesus has told us many times that “His hand is stretched out still.” He stands with open arms ready to embrace us all. What will you do to feel His embrace in your life? What will you do so that others can feel that too?

When have you felt Jesus reaching out to you and for you? When have others reached out to you with His love and in His name? When have you reached out to others?

Come unto Jesus

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/1?lang=eng

Ammaron instructs Mormon concerning the sacred records—War commences between the Nephites and the Lamanites—The Three Nephites are taken away—Wickedness, unbelief, sorceries, and witchcraft prevail. About A.D. 321–26.

Vs 2-4 Ammaron chose Mormon as the record keeper when Mormon was only 10-years-old. Trust.

Vs 15 Mormon was visited by Jesus Christ when he was 15 years old.

Vs 16-17 He wasn't permitted to preach to the people because of their willful disobedience and

wickedness.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/2?lang=eng

Mormon leads the Nephite armies—Blood and carnage sweep the land—The Nephites lament and mourn with the sorrowing of the damned—Their day of grace is passed—Mormon obtains the plates of Nephi—Wars continue. About A.D. 327–50.

Vs 1-2 Mormon was only 15 when he became the head of an army of the Nephites.

Vs 26-27 Because the people did repent and turn to the Lord, they had to just fight in their own strength. Mormon was so sad for the calamity of this fallen people.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/3?lang=eng

Mormon cries repentance unto the Nephites—They gain a great victory and glory in their own strength—Mormon refuses to lead them, and his prayers for them are without faith—The Book of Mormon invites the twelve tribes of Israel to believe the gospel. About A.D. 360–62.

Vs 2-3 The Lord asks Mormon to cry repentance to the people at this time, to give them and invitation and chance to repent and blessed. They are not repentant.

Vs 11-16 Mormon refuses to lead the Nephites because of their pride, wickedness, vengeance and evil. He stood as an idle witness at this time.

Vs 17-22 Mormon then turned his thoughts and effort to us, the generations that live now. He invites and persuades us to come to Christ, to be baptized and to prepare for the Judgment day.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/4?lang=eng

War and carnage continue—The wicked punish the wicked—Greater wickedness prevails than ever before in all Israel—Women and children are sacrificed to idols—The Lamanites begin to sweep the Nephites before them. About A.D. 363–75.

Vs 4-5 The Lord prefers that we are not the aggressor. The wicked punish the wicked.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/5?lang=eng

Mormon again leads the Nephite armies in battles of blood and carnage—The Book of Mormon will come forth to convince all Israel that Jesus is the Christ—Because of their unbelief, the Lamanites will be scattered, and the Spirit will cease to strive with them—They will receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days. About A.D. 375–84.

Vs 1-2 Mormon tries one more time to assist the Nephites, but he realizes that the judgments of God will come upon them because of their wickedness and pride.

Vs 8-10 Mormon gives a message for the descendents of this people and for the future Gentiles who care about the House of Israel.

Vs ll ff Mormon wrote that that we would know what he wrote, and we do, because we have his record. Do I sorrow for the souls who were lost? Do I care for the House of Israel then and now? What am I doing to help gather Israel?

Vs 14-15 The Book of Mormon was given to persaude the Jews, the remnants of Lehi's seed, the Gentiles and all the world that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mormon was commanded to write the records so that we, the Book of Mormon descendants, and the Jews might all be invited to come unto Christ, repent, and be saved.

Vs 19-23 At the beginning of this Country’s foundations, the Gentiles received great blessings; and they scattered and slaughtered the seed of Lehi. But our Heavenly Father remembers them, and He has heard the prayers of the righteous on behalf of them; and if we do not repent, they will rise up and scatter and destroy us.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/morm/6?lang=eng

The Nephites gather to the land of Cumorah for the final battles—Mormon hides the sacred records in the hill Cumorah—The Lamanites are victorious, and the Nephite nation is destroyed—Hundreds of thousands are slain with the sword. About A.D. 385.