Table of Contents
3 Nephi CHAPTER 12 Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34.
3 Nephi CHAPTER 13 Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord’s Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.
3 Nephi CHAPTER 14 Jesus commands: Judge not; ask of God; beware of false prophets—He promises salvation to those who do the will of the Father—Compare Matthew 7. About A.D. 34.
3 Nephi CHAPTER 15 Jesus announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled in Him—The Nephites are the other sheep of whom He spoke in Jerusalem—Because of iniquity, the Lord’s people in Jerusalem do not know of the scattered sheep of Israel. About A.D. 34.
3 Nephi CHAPTER 16 Jesus will visit others of the lost sheep of Israel—In the latter days the gospel will go to the Gentiles and then to the house of Israel—The Lord’s people will see eye to eye when He brings again Zion. About A.D. 34.
Friend October 2024 “I Can Read the Book of Mormon” After you read, color part of the picture. You can read these scriptures that go along with each week’s reading from Come, Follow Me.
3 Nephi 12
Jesus Called Twelve Apostles
Who did Jesus Christ say the Nephites should listen to and obey? (3 Nephi 12:1.) Why is it important that we listen to and obey our Church leaders today?
Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes
Lesson 34: Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes
I should hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16:
- Without letting the other children hear, ask one child to pretend to eat or drink, and let the other children guess what he or she is doing. How does it feel to eat good food or drink clean water? How do we nourish our spirits? Invite the children to read 3 Nephi 12:6 to find out what the Savior wants us to “hunger and thirst after.” How do we show that we want righteousness as much as we want food and drink?
- Have pictures of food and drink with scriptures printed on them. Cut off a little piece like a bite and see what the children can learn from that piece. Give them the rest of the that item and ask what they learn from the whole scripture. Explain that a little nibble here and there isn’t enough to keep us spiritually fed and strong.
See more ideas here Feast Upon the Words of Christ
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
- Jesus Christ taught the twelve Nephite disciples that they would be blessed as they followed His commandments. Our Heavenly Father knows that we need certain things, and He promises that we will receive them as we seek His kingdom first in our lives. (See 3 Nephi 13:31–33.)
I can be a good example by following Jesus.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 12-16”
- Sometimes children might not realize how much their examples can bless others. Use 3 Nephi 12:14–16 to encourage them to let their light shine. For example, when you read “you” or “your” in these verses, ask your children to point to themselves. Tell the children about the light you see in them when they follow Jesus Christ and how it inspires you to follow Him too. You could also sing together a song that encourages the children to shine like a light, such as “I Am like a Star” (Children’s Songbook, 163).
- To encourage your children not to hide their light (see 3 Nephi 12:15), let them take turns hiding or covering a lamp or other light. They could uncover the light each time they name something they can do to be a good example to others.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light” Tell the children about the light you see in them when they do “good works,” and explain how their light and examples help others and inspire you to do good works too.
Latter Day Kids “Let Your Light So Shine”- Come Follow Me” Video and lesson ideas to go along with it.
Video: The moose gets lost at sea and he doesn’t know which way to go. A lighthouse light guides him back home.
More ideas for being a good Example
3 Nephi 13
I should do good things for the right reasons.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
- Ask each child to search 3 Nephi 13:1–4, 5–8, or 16–18 and identify the good works mentioned in these verses (explain that doing “alms” means giving to the poor). Why did the Savior say not to be like some of the people doing these things?
New Testament Seminary Student Manual (2023) “Matthew 6:1–18”
Think about the following statement: Gustavo fixed his neighbor’s fence.
- What do you think about Gustavo?
Would your opinion change if Gustavo fixed the fence because he broke it in a fit of rage? What if he fixed it as part of a service project that his mom made him attend? What if he fixed it because he didn’t want his neighbor’s dog coming into his yard or because he was trying to impress his neighbor’s daughter? Or what if he simply wanted to be kind?
- Why are our motives important?
We read in Matthew 6 that the Savior continued His Sermon on the Mount and taught about motives for doing good works. To help you think about the reasons you do good works such as ministering, serving others, praying, and attending [church], do the following activity.
Create a three-column chart in your study journal. Fill out the top of the chart as follows:
| What are three good works you have done in the past week? (List one per row.) | What were your reasons for doing them? | How did you feel after you did these good works? |
- Give each child a slip of paper with a righteous act written on it (or let them think of their own examples). Ask them to think of good reasons and bad reasons for doing those things. Encourage them to always do good things for the right reasons.
“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 12-16”
- Reading these verses could prompt a discussion about the things we treasure. Maybe you could lead your children on a treasure hunt to find things that remind them of treasures with eternal value.
- Are there some treasures on earth that are keeping you from laying up treasures in heaven?
Friend January 2017 “The Next Level” Max takes a week off from playing games and he learns new things, spends time with his family, serves, and feels the Spirit.
Friend October 2016 Which is laying up treasures in heaven.
Ensign September 2020 “Family Study Fun”
Read 3 Nephi 13:19–21 together and talk about what it means to focus on heavenly treasure.
- Decorate or label a box as a “treasure chest.” Invite each family member to put a gospel item inside (Book of Mormon, picture of ancestor, temple recommend, etc.).
- Tell everyone to close their eyes while one person hides the treasure chest nearby. Then everyone should try to find it.
- When someone finds the treasure, they should take their item out of the box and share why it is special to them.
- Take turns hiding and sharing until all the treasure is gone.
Discussion: Why is spiritual treasure more valuable than earthly treasure? What can our family do to focus on spiritual instead of earthly treasure this week?
Friend October 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Treasure Box” Jesus Christ said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (3 Nephi 13:21). Decorate a box with hearts and pictures of the Savior. Then write or draw things that you can do to be like Him and put them in your new treasure box. You can look through your box each Sunday to remind you to follow Jesus that week!
For younger children: Help your child find their heartbeat or your heartbeat. Talk about how we can’t see our hearts but we can feel them. Similarly, we can’t see God but we can feel His love.
3 Nephi 14
Heavenly Father answers my prayers.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 12-16”
- As you read 3 Nephi 14:7, your children could do actions that represent each of the Savior’s invitations in this verse. For example, they could raise their hands (ask), make binoculars with their hands (seek), or pretend to knock on a door (knock). Help your children think of things they can say and ask for in their prayers.
Friend January 2021 “Jaechan’s First Day” Jaechan was excited to start school. But after his mom dropped him off at the gate, he got lost in the school halls and couldn’t find his classroom. He was scared and said a prayer asking for his mom to come find him. A few minutes later his mom came around the corner. She had a feeling she should check to make sure he made it to class okay.
- Your children might enjoy a game in which they ask for something and receive something entirely different. In 3 Nephi 14:7–11, what did the Savior want us to know about our Father in Heaven?
Friend September 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones”
- Read 3 Nephi 13:9–13 together and help your little ones say, “Heavenly Father wants me to pray to Him.” Collect pictures of people doing different gospel activities, including praying, from Church magazines or at medialibrary.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Turn all the pictures upside-down, then take turns flipping them over. Whenever you see someone praying, help everyone practice folding their arms, bowing their heads, and closing their eyes.
- President Russell M. Nelson said: “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! … Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95).
The Savior wants me to hear and do what He teaches.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 12-16”
- Think of ways you could help your children visualize the parable in these verses. Perhaps they could draw pictures, do actions, or build things on solid and sandy foundations. They could also substitute their names for “wise man” as they read 3 Nephi 14:24–27 or sing “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281). Or they could stand up every time they hear the word “doeth” in 3 Nephi 14:21–27 and 15:1.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
- As a class, read 3 Nephi 14:21–27 and 15:1, and ask the children to stand up every time you read the word “doeth.” Why does the Savior emphasize doing His sayings, not just hearing or remembering? Invite the children to draw a picture of verses 24–25 and write on the rock “Jesus” and something Jesus taught us to do.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 12-16”
- Here’s an object lesson you could try: ask your children to imagine that one of their legs represents hearing the Savior’s words and the other represents doing what the Savior taught. Invite your children to try to balance only on their “hearing” leg. What would happen if a strong wind blew through the room? Then you and your children could look for specific things the Savior taught us to do: see 3 Nephi 12:3–12, 21–26; 13:5–8.
Use this example to illustrate why it is safer to do what the Savior says and not just hear His words.
Spiritual safety comes from hearing and doing what the Savior teaches.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
- Show the children a rock and some sand. Ask them to point to the rock when you describe a choice to follow the Savior and point to the sand when you describe a choice not to follow Him. Testify that when we do what the Savior says, we are strong like a house built on a rock.
Some possible choices:
Sleeping during scripture study time.
Sharing your favorite treat with a friend.
Listening carefully to the scriptures.
Telling someone thank you.
Hurting someone because you’re mad at them.
Sitting in sacrament meeting reverently.
Saying meaningful prayers.
Telling Mom/Dad “no” when they ask you to help them clear the table.
Giving your sibling a hug.
Saying nice words to other people.
Sing together “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281), or read 3 Nephi 14:24–27. Help the children substitute their names for “the wise man” as they sing. Why did the wise man’s house stay standing during the storm? Review verse 24 to emphasize that he both heard and did what the Savior said.
3 Nephi 15-16
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Book of Mormon Stories “The Good Shepherd” Images and Video
Friend September 2020 “Family Night Fun”
See more about Jesus being the Good Shepherd here.
Additional Resources
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) “3 Nephi 12:1-16”
The Beatitudes
| Reference | Attribute |
|---|---|
| 3 Nephi 12:3 | Poor in spirit. To be humble, or “to recognize gratefully [one’s] dependence on the Lord—to understand that [one has] constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that [one’s] talents and abilities are gifts from God” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 86). |
| 3 Nephi 12:4 | Mourn. To feel and express sorrow about something. A person may mourn for the trials of mortality that they and others experience. A person may also mourn because of sorrow for sin. |
| 3 Nephi 12:5 | Meek. To be “Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Meek, Meekness,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). |
| 3 Nephi 12:6 | Hunger and thirst after righteousness. To have a great desire to know and do the will of God. |
| 3 Nephi 12:7 | Merciful. To be “compassionate, respectful, forgiving, gentle, and patient, even when you are aware of others’ shortcomings” (True to the Faith, 103). |
| 3 Nephi 12:8 | Pure in heart. To be counted among those who “love the Lord, who seek to follow Him and keep His commandments, who are striving to live virtuous lives and endure faithfully to the end. The pure in heart are those who control their thoughts to keep themselves free from immoral fantasies and deeds” (Sheldon F. Child, “Words of Jesus: Chastity,” Ensign or Liahona, Jan. 2003, 44). |
| 3 Nephi 12:9 | Peacemaker. “To help people find common ground when others are seeing differences” (Henry B. Eyring, “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 63). |
| 3 Nephi 12:10–12 | Persecuted for Christ’s name’s sake. To be willing to obey and defend Jesus Christ and His teachings, even when one may be mocked or mistreated for doing so. |
Uncover things that we should treasure in our hearts.” Give your child the paintbrush and have them slowly brush away the rice or sand to uncover the gold coins. Discuss these pictures with your child and describe their importance. On the coins are images of things that we should value. If they get a blank coin, have them share something important to them.
