Table of Contents
Helaman CHAPTER 7 Nephi is rejected in the north and returns to Zarahemla—He prays upon his garden tower and then calls upon the people to repent or perish. About 23–21 B.C.
Helaman CHAPTER 8 Corrupt judges seek to incite the people against Nephi—Abraham, Moses, Zenos, Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, and Nephi all testified of Christ—By inspiration Nephi announces the murder of the chief judge. About 23–21 B.C.
Helaman CHAPTER 9 Messengers find the chief judge dead at the judgment seat—They are imprisoned and later released—By inspiration Nephi identifies Seantum as the murderer—Nephi is accepted by some as a prophet. About 23–21 B.C.
Helaman CHAPTER 10 The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power—He is empowered to bind and loose on earth and in heaven—He commands the people to repent or perish—The Spirit carries him from multitude to multitude. About 21–20 B.C.
Helaman CHAPTER 11 Nephi persuades the Lord to replace their war with a famine—Many people perish—They repent, and Nephi importunes the Lord for rain—Nephi and Lehi receive many revelations—The Gadianton robbers entrench themselves in the land. About 20–6 B.C.
Helaman CHAPTER 12 Men are unstable and foolish and quick to do evil—The Lord chastens His people—The nothingness of men is compared with the power of God—In the day of judgment, men will gain everlasting life or everlasting damnation. About 6 B.C.
Helaman 7-9
Nephi Prophecies
Book of Mormon Stories “The Murder of the Chief Judge” Images and Video
The Lord wants me to remember Him.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Helaman 7-12”
- To start a conversation about remembering the Lord, you could tell your children about a time when you forgot something. Let them share similar experiences of their own. Then you could read together Helaman 7:20–21 and ask your children what they think it means to forget God. (Explain that the word forget can also mean “to neglect” or “ignore.”) Maybe your children could draw pictures of things that could cause us to forget the Lord and use their drawings to cover a picture of Jesus. Ask the children to think of things they can do each day to remember Heavenly Father and Jesus. As they share their thoughts, they could take away the drawings one by one until the picture of the Savior is revealed.
- Help the children complete this week’s activity page.
Friend August 2020 “Family Night Fun”
- Sometimes the Nephites forgot to “remember the Lord” and obey His commandments (see Helaman 12:5). How does remembering Jesus help you do what’s right?
- Read Helaman 8:19–25 together and talk about how Nephi wanted people to remember what the prophets taught.
- Set out items that represent the gospel (scriptures, pass-along card, Church magazine, CTR ring, etc.).
- Look at the items for one minute. Then invite someone to leave.
- Remove one item, then invite the person to return and try to remember what is missing.
- Play again until everyone has a turn.
- Discussion: What can we do to remember important gospel lessons that bless our lives?
- Ensign August 2020 “Family Study Fun”
Prophets testify of Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Helaman 7-12”
- Help your children search Helaman 8:13–23 to find names of prophets who taught about Jesus Christ. Maybe they can pass around a picture of Jesus each time they find one. What has our living prophet taught about the Savior?
- You could also sing together a song about prophets, such as “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11). Maybe you and your children could pick a key phrase from the song and write one word from the phrase on each of several paper footprints. Then you could lay the footprints on the floor leading to a picture of the Savior, and your children could follow the footprints toward the picture. How has following the prophet led us to Jesus Christ?
Friend August 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Many people in the scriptures taught and testified of Jesus Christ (see Helaman 8:16–20). You can start building your testimony of Him too! A testimony is something you believe or know is true about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Write down your testimony and practice sharing it with your family or friends.
For younger children: Ask your little ones what they love about Jesus Christ. Then share your testimony of the Savior with them.
Helaman 10-12
Nephi Receives Great Power
I will be spiritually safe as I follow the prophet.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Helaman 7–12: “Remember the Lord”
- Invite the children to make a list on the board of things a prophet does (see “Prophet,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help them search Helaman 7:1–2, 27–29; 8:22–23; and 10:3–4, 6–7 to see how Nephi did some of the things in their list. When have we seen our prophet today do these things? Bear your testimony of the living prophet. To illustrate the importance of prophets, show the first minute of the video “Watchman on the Tower” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Helaman 7–12: “Remember the Lord”
- Read together Helaman 11:3–7 (or review “Chapter 39: Nephi Receives Great Power,” Book of Mormon Stories,108–10, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children to listen for what happened to the people who did not listen to the prophet. What can happen when we do not listen to the prophet? How are we blessed when we follow Him? Share something that our prophet has taught, and encourage the children to follow his teachings.
Book of Mormon Stories: Nephi Receives Great Power Images and Video
Friend October 2017 “A Friendly Primary Visitor” A pilot comes to Primary and acts out flying and what could happen if he didn’t listen to the control tower. He likens the control tower to the prophet.
Friend September 2015 – ” How Can I Stay Safe….in Life” – Air traffic controller guides plane through fog. Prophets guide us.
Friend August 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read Helaman 11:18 together and help your little ones say, “I will listen to the prophets and apostles.” Watch a short video of testimonies of the prophet and apostles at http://bit.ly/333rMkn. Teach your children the name of each person who speaks. When you see the prophet, help your children cup their hands around their ears to listen extra closely to what he has to say.
Pondering the words of God invites revelation.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Helaman 7-12”
Nephi was blessed with revelation when he pondered the things the Lord had shown him.
- To help your children understand what it means to ponder, you could read together “Ponder” in Guide to the Scriptures (Gospel Library). What are some other words that are similar to ponder? Perhaps you could read Helaman 10:1–3 together and replace the word ponder with those other words. Talk with your children about ways to make pondering part of their scripture study.
Ponder means to meditate and think deeply and often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding. (Guide to the Scriptures)
What does it mean to ponder? (To think about and consider) The scriptures tell us that many prophets received revelation from the Lord as they were pondering upon the things of God. We also open ourselves up to revelation as we ponder upon our problems during scripture study, during church meetings, and during our prayers.
- What happened when Nephi pondered the scriptures? (see Helaman 10:3–7). Share a time when you received revelation after pondering a scripture or a modern-day revelation or a spiritual experience. Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Helaman 7–12: “Remember the Lord”
I will obey Heavenly Father.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Helaman 7-12”
- Nephi obeyed Heavenly Father even when it meant doing something difficult. For an example of this, you and your children could read Helaman 10:2, 11–12. Maybe your children could act out what Nephi did—walk toward one side of the room (as if they are going home), stop, turn around, and walk toward the other side of the room (as if they are returning to teach the people). What are some things Heavenly Father wants us to do?
Friend June 2006 “Keep the Commandments”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Helaman 7–12: “Remember the Lord”
- Help the children understand that sometimes Heavenly Father wants us to do something that is different from what we want to do, but we can obey Him like Nephi did. Share statements like “Sometimes I want to get angry, but Heavenly Father wants me to be … ,” and let the children finish the statements. Encourage the children to remember to stop and think about what Heavenly Father wants them to do and then do it.
Priesthood
Helaman 10-11 Nephi receives the sealing power and the protection of the priesthood to do Heavenly Father’s work.
Lesson 30: Nephi Receives Great Power
Primary 4: Book of Mormon ““Lesson 30: Nephi Receives Great Power” Begin your class with the lights turned off. Ask the children if they have noticed something unusual. Ask someone to turn on the lights. Talk about the power of electricity that gives light. Discuss what things in the children’s homes run on electricity (stove, refrigerator, fans, tools, and so on). Explain that this lesson is about a different kind of power, a power stronger than electricity: the power of the priesthood of God. (See more lesson ideas at link.)
- Tell the children you are thinking of a word. Ask them to listen to the following descriptions and raise their hand when they know the word.
- It is the power of God.
- Through this power the Lord blesses his children and his church.
- Those who hold this power represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Those who hold this power are appointed to do the things the Savior wants done.
- What is the name of this power? (The priesthood.)
Remaining Spiritually Steady
Book of Mormon 2020 for Individuals and Family
Can you think of an object lesson you can use to help your family understand what “unsteadiness” means? For instance, you might invite a family member to try balancing something on his or her head. You could then invite family members to look in Helaman 12:1–6 for reasons people can be unsteady in following the Lord. How can we remain spiritually steady?
Additional Resources
- Primary 4: Book of Mormon “Lesson 29: Nephi Prophesies”
- Primary 4: Book of Mormon “Lesson 30: Nephi Receives Great Power” Priesthood lesson ideas
- Come Follow Me Kids
- News with Naylors
