Lesson 29 — Nephi Prophesies Purpose

Lesson 29 - Nephi Prophesies

Purpose • To teach the children that Heavenly Father sends prophets to teach us about the Savior, help us repent, and warn us of things to come.

The Still Small Voice Through a still small voice, the Spirit speaks to me To guide me, to save me from the evil I may see. If I try to do what’s right, he will lead me thru the night, Direct me, protect me, and give my soul his light. Listen, listen. The Holy Ghost will whisper. Listen, listen to the still small voice. Words and music: Merrill Bradshaw, 1929– 2000. © 1969 IRI

Our opening prayer will be given by: (Enter Name Here)

• On the floor there are some footprints. • Please line up and one at a time, follow the footprints.

• Who did you find at the end of the footprints? • What do these foot prints remind you to do? Follow Prophet The He The Knows Way

Follow the Prophet – He knows the Way • If we obey these words, we will know the truth and avoid being deceived. • Todays lesson is about the Prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman. • Nephi knew a murder had been committed and who the murderer was without being at the scene of the crime.

As you learn more about the prophet Nephi, You can strengthen your confidence in the words of the living prophet

As you learn more about the prophet Nephi, You can strengthen your confidence in the words of the living prophet

As you learn more about the prophet Nephi, You can strengthen your confidence in the words of the living prophet Thomas S. Monson

Nephi Prophesies

• There was a group of murderers and plunderers that were formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton. • They were known as Gadianton’s robbers.

• They had taken an oath that they would protect and preserve each other.

• They developed secret signs and words so they could know other members of the band of robbers.

• The Gadianton robbers did wicked things, such as murder, plunder, steal, and commit all manner of wickedness contrary to the laws of God and man.

Watch the slides Watch the video Discussion Questions

• Wicked men had become judges over the Nephites. • They punished the righteous people but not the wicked people.

• Nephi was sad to see so much wickedness among the people.

• One day he was praying on a tower in his garden. • His garden was by the highway that led to a marketplace in Zarahemla.

• People passing by on the highway heard Nephi praying. • A large group gathered, wondering why he was so sad.

• When Nephi saw the people, he told them he was sad because of their wickedness. • He told them to repent.

• He warned them that if they did not repent, their enemies would take their homes and cities and the Lord would not help them fight their enemies.

• Nephi said the Nephites were more wicked than the Lamanites because the Nephites had been taught the commandments but were not obeying them.

• He said that if the Nephites did not repent, they would be destroyed.

• Some of the wicked judges were therefor speaking against them and their law. • They wanted the people to punish Nephi for speaking against them and their law.

• Some of the people agreed with the wicked judges. • Others believed Nephi; they knew he was a prophet and spoke the truth.

• Nephi told the people that they had rebelled against God and would soon be punished if they did not repent.

• Nephi told the people to go find their chief judge. • He would be lying in his own blood, murdered by a brother who wanted his position.

• Five men from the crowd ran to see the chief judge. • They did not believe that Nephi was a prophet of God.

• When they saw Seezoram, the chief judge, lying in his blood, they fell to the ground in fear. • Now they knew that Nephi was a prophet.

• Seezoram’s servants had already found the chief judge and had run to tell the people. • They returned and found the five men lying there.

• The people thought the five men had murdered Seezoram.

• They threw the five men into prison and then sent word throughout the city that the chief judge had been killed and that the murderers were in prison.

• The next day the people went to where the chief judge would be buried. • The judges who had been at Nephi’s garden asked where the five men were.

• The judges asked to see the accused murderers.

• The accused murderers were the five men who had run from Nephi’s garden to the chief judge.

• The five men said they had found the chief judge lying in blood, just as Nephi had said. • Then the judges accused Nephi of sending someone to murder Seezoram.

• Knowing that Nephi was a prophet, the five men argued with the judges, but they would not listen. • They had Nephi tied up.

• The judges offered Nephi money and his life if he would say he had plotted to kill the chief judge.

• Nephi told the judges to repent of their wickedness. • Then he told them to go to Seantum, Seezoram’s brother.

• Nephi told them to ask Seantum if he and Nephi had plotted to murder Seezoram. Nephi said Seantum would say “no. ”

• Then the judges were to ask Seantum if he had killed his brother. • Seantum would again say “no, ” but the judges would find blood on his cloak.

• Nephi said Seantum would then shake and turn pale and finally confess to killing his brother.

• The judges went to Seantum’s house, and everything happened as Nephi said it would. • Nephi and the five men were set free.

• As the people walked away from Nephi, some said he was a prophet; others said he was a god. • Nephi went home, still sad about their wickedness.

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• Who were the Gadianton robbers? (Helaman 6: 18. ) • What oaths had this band taken? (Helaman 6: 21– 22. )

• What wicked things had the Gadianton robbers done? (Helaman 6: 23. )

• What did Nephi do because of the wickedness of the people? (Helaman 7: 6– 7, 10. ) • What did the people do when they saw him on the tower? (Helaman 7: 11– 12. )

• What did Nephi say to the people? (Helaman 7: 13– 18. ) • Why do you think he talked about repentance? • What must we do to repent?

• What did Nephi say would happen to the people if they did not repent? (Helaman 7: 19, 22. ) • How did Nephi know these things would happen? (Helaman 7: 29. )

• What have other prophets said will happen to us if we do not repent? • How can listening to the living prophet help us in our lives? (D&C 21: 4– 6. )

• How did the judges respond to Nephi’s teachings? (Helaman 8: 1. ) • How did some of the people defend Nephi? (Helaman 8: 7– 9. ) • Why does it sometimes take courage to stand up for the truth? • What can we do to sustain the living prophet?

• What were the five men thinking about as they ran to the judgment seat? Helaman 9: 2

• How do we know that the five men eventually believed all of Nephi’s words? (Helaman 9: 4– 5, 39) • What can we do to strengthen our testimonies of the living prophet?

• How did the other judges try to convince the people that Nephi was a false prophet? (Helaman 9: 16) • What was Nephi’s response to their accusations? (Helaman 9: 25– 35. )

• What effect did Nephi’s revelation have on some of the people? (Helaman 9: 39– 41. ) • How have you been blessed by following the prophets?

• What have all the holy prophets testified of? (Helaman 8: 14– 16. ) • What has the living prophet taught us about Jesus Christ? • President Monson continues to reveal knowledge from heavenly father. • He relays inspired messages that are meant to help us better ourselves. • In the fall 2011 conference, President Monson had these words to share.

You Can Know for Yourself By President Thomas S. Monson “In order for us to be strong and to withstand all the forces pulling us in the wrong direction or all the voices encouraging us to take the wrong path, we must have our own testimony. Whether you are 12 or 112—or anywhere in between—you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Read the Book of Mormon. Ponder its teachings. Ask Heavenly Father if it is true. We have the promise that ‘if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost’ (Moroni 10: 4). ”

Elder James E. Faust Has made the following statement: “We have been promised that the President of the Church will receive guidance for all of us as the revelator of the Church. Our safety lies in paying heed to that which he says and following his counsel” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, p. 11; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, p. 10; see also D&C 21: 4– 6). What do you think of what Elder Faust said?

The ninth article of faith states: 9 We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Does anyone have this memorized? Let’s say this together.

• • • Let’s role play the story from Helaman 8 – 9. It’s the story that we just presented. Can you remember the story?

Testimony • The Church is lead by a living prophet today. • I want to testify to you that they speak the truth of what he has taught, and continues to teach us. • We will be blessed by following and living by the guidance of these inspired men.

Our Closing Prayer will be given by: (Enter name here)

THE END

• Images and clipart are from lds. org, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public domain or permitted for church and home use. • The lesson and scripture story are from lds. org. • Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference. • This presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. • Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.

Helaman 6: 18 • 18 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishkumen and a. Gadianton. And now it had come to pass that there were many, even among the Nephites, of Gadianton's band. But behold, they were more numerous among the more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gadianton's robbers and murderers. Return

Helaman 6: 21– 22 • 21 But behold, Satan did stir up the ahearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their bstealings. • 22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their asecret signs, and their bsecret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant. Return

Helaman 6: 23 • 23 And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit awhoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God. Return

Helaman 7: 6– 7, 10 • 6 Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of anot many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul: • 7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have ajoyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, bfirm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—

Helaman 7: 6– 7, 10 • 10 And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the agarden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway. Return

Helaman 7: 11– 12 • 11 And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the atower; and they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people. • 12 And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together. Return

Helaman 7: 13– 18 • 13 And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and said unto them: Behold, awhy have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tell you of your iniquities? • 14 Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities! • 15 And because of my amourning and lamentation ye have gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need to marvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts.

Helaman 7: 13– 18 • 16 Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to aeverlasting misery and endless wo? • 17 O repent ye, repent ye! a. Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you? • 18 It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not ahearken unto the voice of the bgood shepherd; yea, ye have cprovoked him to anger against you. Return

Helaman 7: 19, 22 • 19 And behold, instead of agathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts. • 22 And for this cause awo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this bgreat city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you cstrength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies. Return

Helaman 7: 29 • 29 Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I aknow these things; but behold, I bknow that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be. Return

D&C 21: 4– 6 • 4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give aheed unto all his words and bcommandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all choliness before me; • 5 For his aword ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. • 6 For by doing these things the agates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of bdarkness from before you, and cause the heavens to cshake for your dgood, and his name's eglory. Return

Helaman 8: 1 • 1 AND now it came to pass that when Nephi had said these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also belonged to the secret band of Gadianton, and they were angry, and they cried out against him, saying unto the people: Why do ye not seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to the crime which he has done? Return

Helaman 8: 7– 9 • 7 And it came to pass that thus they did astir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out: b. Let this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent; • 8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many, and he aknoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities; • 9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have atestified concerning those things. Return

Helaman 9: 2 • 2 Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man be a prophet and God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we do not abelieve that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true. Return

Helaman 9: 4– 5, 39 • 4 And now behold, when they saw this they were astonished exceedingly, insomuch that they fell to the earth; for they had not believed the words which Nephi had spoken concerning the chief judge. • 5 But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came upon them lest all the judgments which Nephi had spoken ashould come upon the people; therefore they did quake, and had fallen to the earth. Return

Helaman 9: 16 • 16 And now it came to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto the people, and did cry out against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might declare it unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith, that he might raise himself to be a great man, chosen of God, and a prophet. Return

Helaman 9: 25– 35 • 25 And now behold, I will show unto you another sign, and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy me. • 26 Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantum, who is the abrother of Seezoram, and say unto him— • 27 Has Nephi, the pretended prophet, who doth prophesy so much evil concerning this people, agreed with thee, in the which ye have murdered Seezoram, who is your brother? • 28 And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay. • 29 And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered your brother?

Helaman 9: 25– 35 • 30 And he shall stand with fear, and wist not what to say. And behold, he shall deny unto you; and he shall make as if he were astonished; nevertheless, he shall declare unto you that he is innocent. • 31 But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak. • 32 And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From whence cometh this blood? Do we not know that it is the blood of your brother? • 33 And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale, even as if death had come upon him.

Helaman 9: 25– 35 • 34 And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and this paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou art guilty. • 35 And then shall greater fear come upon him; and then shall he confess unto you, and deny no more that he has done this murder. Return

Helaman 9: 39– 41 • 39 And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the five, for they had been converted while they were in prison. • 40 And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a prophet. • 41 And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god, for except he was a god he could not aknow of all things. For behold, he has told us the thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief judge. Return

Helaman 8: 14– 16 • 14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he alifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. • 15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should alive, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might blive, even unto that life which is eternal. • 16 And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also aall the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham. Return

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