1 Nephi CHAPTER 11 Nephi sees the Spirit of the Lord and is shown in vision the tree of life—He sees the mother of the Son of God and learns of the condescension of God—He sees the baptism, ministry, and crucifixion of the Lamb of God—He sees also the call and ministry of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. About 600–592 B.C.
1 Nephi CHAPTER 12 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.
1 Nephi CHAPTER 13 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.
1 Nephi CHAPTER 14 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.
1 Nephi CHAPTER 15 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.
Nephi Sees a Vision
“Condescension” means the voluntary descent from a position of rank or dignity. One truth we can learn is that the condescension of God demonstrates His love for us. (Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024))
Nephi Desired to Know More and Believed He Could
Ensign January 2020 “Family Study Fun: Visionary Word Scrambler”
Because Nephi “desired” to know the truth, and “believing” he could (see 1 Nephi 11:1), his eyes were opened and he saw many wonders in vision.
- Write the following scrambled words and scriptures on cards:
- gnivri (1 Nephi 11:15)
- lewtve stlesaosp (1 Nephi 12:9)
- etiglnse (1 Nephi 13:3)
- nma (1 Nephi 13:12)
- pogsle (1 Nephi 13:34)
- Read the scriptures to unscramble the words.
Discussion: Why did the Lord reveal so much to Nephi? We may not have visions as Nephi did, but we can open our eyes, minds, and hearts to revelation. Share a time when you have had a revelatory experience.
Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to earth because He loves me.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “1 Nephi 11-15” To teach Nephi about God’s love, an angel showed Nephi events from the Savior’s life. You could do the same for your children—give them pictures of the events Nephi saw in 1 Nephi 11:20, 24, 27, 31, and 33 (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 30, 35, 39, 42, 57). As you read these verses, help your children find the picture that matches it. What do we learn about Jesus Christ from these verses and pictures? (Or, as you read these verses, ask the children to hold up their picture when they hear the verse that matches it. Or for older children: Invite the children to match verses from 1 Nephi 11:16–33 with pictures. Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15”)
Singing a song like “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35) could help your children feel God’s love. After you sing, ask your children what they learn from the song. What else do we learn about God’s love from 1 Nephi 11:22–23?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15” Tell the children about some of the things Nephi learned that Jesus Christ would do during His life (see 1 Nephi 11:16–33), and show them pictures of some of these events (see, for instance, Gospel Art Book, nos. 41, 46, 47, 49, 56, 57, 58, 59). Share what the Savior has done for you. Show pictures to help the children think of ways we can share God’s love (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 109, 110, 115).
Friend January 2020 “Come, Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 1 Nephi 11:24 together and help your little ones say, “Jesus came to earth because He loves me.” Help your little one flip through copies of the Friend and draw a heart next to each picture of Jesus. This would be a great time to share your feelings about the Savior.
The Book of Mormon teaches precious truths.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “1 Nephi 11-15” To help your children value the “plain and precious” truths in the Book of Mormon, you could draw a picture and invite your children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. You could use this to teach that things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read together 1 Nephi 13:40 and talk about how the Book of Mormon (“these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible (the “first” records). What “plain and precious” truths have you learned from the Book of Mormon?
Nephi saw that many Plain and Precious Things would be Removed from Bible
Draw a picture on the board, and invite the children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. Help them understand that, like this picture, some things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read parts of 1 Nephi 13:40 that teach how the Book of Mormon (which Nephi calls “these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible.
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) A bicycle is a simple and effective form of transportation. Cycling can also be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. What are some of the essential parts that allow a person to operate a bicycle safely and effectively? Imagine you owned a bicycle and someone intentionally removed certain essential parts from it.
- What might those actions indicate about his or her feelings toward you?
- What could happen if you attempted to operate the bicycle with missing parts?
- Who might you contact to repair and restore your bicycle to function properly?
In a similar way, Satan has sought to harm and confuse God’s children by removing and changing important parts of Jesus Christ’s gospel. As you study 1 Nephi 13, look for what the Savior has done to help us overcome Satan’s obstacles.
The video “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God” (Gospel Library) could help your children see why it’s important to have both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Children might enjoy re-creating the illustration from the video. (watch to 5:41)
Why is it helpful to have more than one witness? Draw a dot on the board, label it Bible, and invite each child to draw a different straight line passing through the dot to illustrate that teachings in the Bible can be interpreted many ways when the Bible stands alone. Erase the lines, and draw a second dot labeled Book of Mormon. Invite a child to draw a straight line that passes through both dots to show that there is only one way to interpret the gospel when the Bible and Book of Mormon are used together.
Read 1 Nephi 13:26–29 together, and invite the children to look for what happens when people do not have the “plain and precious” truths of the gospel. How did the Lord restore truths that had been lost? (see verses 35–36, 40). Invite the children to share their testimonies of truths they have learned from the Book of Mormon, or share your own.
Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History “Lesson 20: Joseph Smith Translates the Bible and Other Scriptures,” (See more at link) Have the children stand in a line. Whisper the two- or three-sentence message into the ear of the first child in line. Have each child in turn whisper the message to the next child. Instruct each child to say the message only once. Continue until the message reaches the last child in line. Ask the last child to repeat the message aloud. Compare the message the last child received with the original message to see how the message changed.
- How had the message changed by the time it reached the end of the line? What was left out? What was added?
- Why do you think the message changed as it passed from person to person?
Explain to the children that just as their message changed as it was passed from person to person, over many years some of the scriptures in the Bible had been changed as people translated the Bible and made copies of it by hand. Mistakes were made: some incorrect teachings had been added to the Bible, and some important teachings had been left out. (see Articles of Faith 1:8).
Watch the following video until 3.12
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15 Hide around the room pictures representing gospel truths that are clarified in the Book of Mormon, such as baptism, the sacrament, and resurrection. Invite the children to find these pictures. Explain that the Book of Mormon brought back gospel truths that had been lost (during the apostasy).
- Help the children memorize the eighth article of faith. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Church News “The Book of Mormon Restores Precious Truths” By Elder Merrill J. Bateman
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist temptation.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “1 Nephi 11-15” Give your children a chance to share what they remember about Lehi’s vision. It might help to use a picture, like the one in last week’s outline. What kept people from reaching the tree? What helped them reach it? You might ask them to find the iron rod in the picture. Read together 1 Nephi 15:23–24 to find out what the iron rod represents and how it can help us.
The word of God gives me power to resist temptation.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15 How did the iron rod help the people get through the mists of darkness? How can reading the word of God help us resist temptation and darkness today? Complete the activity page with the children. While they are doing it, ask them to talk about some of the temptations children face. How can they remember to hold on to the iron rod every day? Sing “The Iron Rod” (Hymns, no. 274) as part of this activity. (How do we “hold fast” to the word of God? ((1 Nephi 15:24).)
Song: “Hold to the Rod“
Lesson Four: Tree of Life Vision
Game Instructions: Print and cut out the tree, the path, the mists of darkness and the temptations in the Tree of Life Vision Pictures. Glue a “Temptation” to the back of each “Mist of Darkness.” Tape a mint to each piece of fruit on the tree of life. Cover the rod of iron and the path with the remaining mists of darkness.
Direct a volunteer to choose a mist of darkness and read the situation that is on the back. Instruct the children to look in the bible topical guide for the temptation’s subject and find a scripture that would help them avoid and resist that temptation. Have the volunteer read the scripture the children chose. The volunteer can then take a fruit (mint) off the tree. Have another child pick a mist of darkness and do the same process again. Continue until each child has had a turn. After the game is finished, remind the children that if we use the word of God to guide us, it will help us avoid temptations and lead us to eternal life.
• How do we hold onto the word of God? By making it part of our life. We do this by studying and abiding by the teachings found in the scriptures and the words of the latter day prophets, and by seeking for and listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Heeding and obeying the word of God will help us avoid the deceptions and temptations of Satan so that we can avoid going astray.
The word of God gives me power.
- Display a picture of Lehi’s dream, like the one in last week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Invite the children to find the iron rod in the picture, and help them understand how holding to the word of God can protect us (see 1 Nephi 15:23–24). Give the children something similar to an iron rod to hold, such as a pipe or stick, while you read verse 24. Where do we find the word of God? What can we do to make the word of God part of our lives every day?
Additional Resources
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15”
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