2 Nephi 3–5

Overview

Before his death, Lehi quoted a prophecy made by Joseph of Egypt about Joseph Smith roughly 1,700 years before the birth of Christ. After Lehi’s death, Nephi wrote about some of his deepest feelings, showing us by example how we can turn to the Lord when we experience the challenges of mortality. Because Laman and Lemuel planned to kill him, Nephi was warned to take “those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God” (2 Nephi 5:6) and flee into the wilderness. He and those who followed him established a new community, where they flourished and lived lives that resulted in happiness.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Doctrinal Mastery: 2 Nephi 2:27

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 2:27, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Student preparation: Invite students to try to memorize 2 Nephi 2:27. Remind students they can use the Doctrinal Mastery app.
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider placing a link to the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) in the chat when you begin the “Practice application” section of the lesson so that students can find the document quickly.

2 Nephi 3

Lesson purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help students deepen their testimony of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Student preparation: Invite students to read or watch Elder Neil L. Andersen’s talk “Joseph Smith,” from the October 2014 general conference (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 28–31), and look for why it is important to have a personal testimony that Joseph Smith was called by God.
Content to display: The images of the four Josephs at the beginning of the lesson
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider dividing students into breakout groups to discuss their thoughts and feelings about Joseph Smith or bear testimony that he was a prophet.

2 Nephi 4

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students respond faithfully to temptation and discouragement by turning to the Lord.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to ask God for help with a temptation or challenge they are facing.
Handout: “Nephi’s Psalm and Me”
Videos: “Heavenly Father Knows Me” (3:18); “Wheelz: Overcoming Is Possible” (7:13); “Fragile” (3:46)
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Select at least one of the statements from the “Commentary and Background Information” section and prepare to display it for students while they share their thoughts and feelings about 2 Nephi 4.

2 Nephi 5:1–9

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students to follow the warnings that the Lord lovingly gives to protect them.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to come to class prepared to share an experience when someone gave them a warning that they were grateful for.
Content to display: Warning signs or images of warning signs
Object lesson: Something dirty or sticky on one of the seats and warning signs all around that seat
Videos: “The Nephites Flee into the Wilderness” (5:33; watch from time code 0:00 to 3:21); “Enemy Territory” (3:37)
Materials for students: A copy of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (booklet, 2022) for each student or copies for small groups of students to share
Videoconference teaching suggestion: At the beginning of the lesson, rather than inviting students to read the warning that the Lord gave Nephi, consider showing the video “The Nephites Flee into the Wilderness” (5:33) from time code 0:00 to 3:21.

2 Nephi 5

Note: This lesson is broken into three mini activities. Consider inviting three students in advance to prepare to teach the class using these activities.

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students discover what they can do to live after the manner of happiness.

Student preparation: Invite students to discuss with a trusted friend or family member the difference between happiness and fun.
Item: The handouts for the three mini activities to give to students in advance, if assigned
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Instead of assigning the three activities to three students in advance, you could divide the class into groups of three and assign each student in each group one of the three activities. Then use breakout rooms to allow the students to teach their groups what they prepared. If you use this option, consider moving from group to group as students are teaching.