Seminary: 85 3 Nephi 14

Background: Christ taught the 12 apostles about proper motivation for doing what is right. He then taught them about the beatitudes.


Write: Judge: to form a judgment or opinion of; decide upon critically (verb)

What does the verb form of this word mean?

What would you feel comfortable judging?

What things SHOULD we judge?

There are some things that we should make judgments on and some things that we should no.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks:

“I have been puzzled that some scriptures command us not to judge and others instruct us that we should judge and even tell us how to do it. I am convinced that these seemingly contradictory directions are consistent when we view them with the perspective of eternity. The key is to understand that there are two kings of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make, and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles” (Judge Not and Judging [CES fireside for young adults, 1 Mar. 1998], 1).

Split the class into three groups

Have each group read a section from “Final Judgment and Intermediate Judgment” pg. 304 from the Book of Mormon instruction manual: The final judgment, Intermediate Judgment and Making righteous intermediate judgments

Have group 1 explain The final judgment

Have group 2 explain Intermediate judgment

Have group 3 explain Making righteous intermediate judgments

3 Nephi 14:1-2

How do these verses correspond to Elder Oaks’ statement?

3 Nephi 14:3-5

What judgment is required in these verses?

What could the “beam” represent?

Why is it important to make correct judgments about our own weaknesses and sins?

3 Nephi 11:12

According to this verse how does following the Spirit help us to make righteous judgment?

3 Nephi 14:6

What judgment is required in these verses?

Why would it be important to be careful about who tell sacred things?

How can you judge which path in life to follow?

How does Elder Oaks’ message help in this decision?

Seminary: 84 3 Nephi 13

Background: While Christ was with the Nephites he taught them similar things that he taught the Jews. He taught them the Beatitudes and teaches that he had come to fulfill not replace the Mosaic law.


Pictures: Blessing the sacrament (Gospel art kit 603), Passing the sacrament (Gospel art kit 604).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks:

“If a person performs a seemingly righteous act but does so for the wrong reasons, such as to achieve a selfish purpose, his hands may be clean but his heart is not ‘pure.’ His act will not be counted for righteousness…

“We must not only do what is right. We must act for the right reasons. The modern term is good motive. The scriptures often signify this appropriate mental attitude with the words full purpose of heart or real intent.

“The scriptures make clear that God understands our motives and will judge our actions accordingly” (Pure in Heart [1988], 13, 15).

How does this quote apply to these pictures?

What are some proper motives for blessing or partaking of the sacrament?

How might blessings we receive vary depending upon our motives?

Matthew 6:1 (read footnote b)

3 Nephi 13:1-4

What do these verses teach about proper motive?

What did the Savior warn against?

How does this apply to our service, tithe and fast offering payments and worship?

Can someone be blessed for doing the right thing for the wrong reason?

Why would this be the case?

How much more blessed would a person be if they did the right thing for the right reason?

Matthew 6:2 (footnote a)

3 Nephi 13:5-15

What is a hypocrite?

What does the Savior warn against in these verses?

How can these teachings help you improve your prayers?

What should we avoid when praying?

3 Nephi 13:16-24, scan and see how they relate to the warnings from the Savior.

Bishop Robert D. Hales:

“We must examine our motives. A good check and balance in decision making is to look at our motives for making our decisions. We should ask ourselves, ‘Are my motives selfish, or is there charity in the decision I am about to make? Is my decision in keeping with the commandments, both in the spirit and the letter of the law? Is my decision basically right, honorable, and compatible with the golden rule? Have I considered the impact of my decision on others?’

“’Let all your [decisions] be done with charity’ (1 Corinthians 16:14).

“Beware of fear and greed. Be aware of your true motives.” (Ensign, Nov. 1988, 11).

What are some of the rules that Full-Time missionaries have to follow that regular members do not.

Why do missionaries have these additional rules?

How does obeying these rules help them to succeed in their work?

These blessings of obedience are applicable not just to missionaries but to everyone.

Seminary: 83 3 Nephi 12

Background: The people who survived the destruction gathered around the temple. They heard God the Father announce the arrival of Jesus Christ and the Christ then descended from the sky. He brought up 12 persons and gave them the priesthood, and commissioned them to preach and to baptize. He provided the approved method of baptism.


Write: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence” (Joseph Smith)

Is this statement true?

How many of you desire to be happy?

Have any of you ever felt happy?

This quote is from Joseph Smith, the full quote is:

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it?

What is the path that leads to happiness?

What would it take to gain the type of happiness that Joseph Smith spoke of?

What are some events that could happen in your lives over the next five years that could bring happiness?

Have any of you thought something would bring make you happy, only to find out later that it did not?

Why do you think it failed to bring happiness?

What is a blueprint?

What are they used for?

What happens when someone does not use the blueprints?

http://www.projectcartoon.com/cartoon/1111

Would you be interested in a “blueprint” or plan for a perfect life?

President Harold B. Lee told us about one:

“In his Sermon on the Mount the Master has given us somewhat of a revelation of his own character, which was perfect, or what might be said to be ‘an autobiography, every syllable of which he had written down in deeds,’ and in so doing has given us a blueprint for our own lives…

“Each of his declarations is begun by the word ‘Blessed.’…’Blessedness is an inward fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstances can seriously affect’ [in a Commentary on the Holy Bible, ed. J. R. Dummelow (1909), 639]. These declarations of the Master are known in the literature of the Christian world as the Beatitudes and have been referred to by Bible commentators as the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven….May I speak of them as something more than that as they are applied to you and me. They embody in fact the Constitution for a Perfect Life.” (Decisions for successfully living [1973], 56-57).

3 Nephi 12:1-12

Discuss each of the beatitudes

What does it mean?

How could it help us to be happy?

Robert Matthews:

“These choice, brief statements are not separate, disjointed platitudes; each has a relationship to the others. Let us look at them from the more complete list given in the Nephite sermon and in the Joseph Smith Translation. The Beatitudes deal first with a person’s relationship to God. They speak of such things as faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost. (These particular features are missing from the King James Version.) The emphasis then shifts to a person’s feelings about himself, or of those feelings that spring from within himself, or of those feelings that spring from within. For example: Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Then the emphasis shifts to a person’s attitude toward others. For example: Blessed are the peacemakers. And finally a fourth emphasis appears-how a person should handle other people’s attitudes toward himself. Thus, blessed are all they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake of who are reviled and persecuted falsely” (Robert J. Matthews, A Bible! A Bible! [1990], 240).

Seminary: 82 3 Nephi 11

Background: The people of Nephi just experienced severe catastrophes followed by a period of darkness. They heard a voice that told them they would have been protected if they were righteous. The darkness dispersed and left the people to think over what had occurred.


The people who were left after the destruction were gathered together around the temple discussing the recent events.

3 Nephi11:3-6

Why do you think the people didn’t understand the voice the first two times?

What do you think that it means that they “did open their ears”?

What is the difference between listening and hearing something?

How can we “open our ears” to understand God’s words?

3 Nephi 11:7-11

What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost?

What do you image it would like to be among the Nephites during this experience?

Elder Melvin J. Ballard:

“On this occasion I had sought the Lord,…and that night I received a wonderful manifestation and impression which has never left me. I was carried to this place [the Salt Lake Temple]-into this room….I was told there was another privilege that was to be mine; and I was led into a room where I was informed I was to meet someone. As I entered the room I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being I have ever conceived of, and was taken forward to be introduced to Him. As I approached He smiled, called my name, and stretched out His hands towards me. If I live to be a million years old I shall never forget that smile. He put His arms around me and kissed me, as He took me into His bosom, and He blessed me until my whole being was thrilled. As He finished I fell at His feet, and there saw the marks of the nails; and as I kissed them, with deep joy swelling through my whole being, I felt that I was in heaven indeed. The feeling that came to my heart then was: Oh! If I could live worthy…so that in the end when I have finished I could go into His presence and receive the feeling that I then had in His presence, I would give everything that I am and ever hope to be!” (in Melvin J. Ballard…Crusader for Righteousness [1966], 66).

3 Nephi 11:12-14

How did the people show their respect towards the Lord?

What did the Lord offer the people?

Why would he offer this to the people?

3 Nephi 11:15-16

What happened next?

About how many people do you think there were, 2,500?

How long would you think this process took?

The Lord showed great patience and love for these people through this event.

After the Lord showed himself to the people so that they knew who he was, what do you think the next logical thing for him to do? (setup his church)

In order to setup his church what was needed? (ordain priesthood and setup leadership)

What did he need to teach his leaders about so that they could show their desires to be members of the church? (about baptism)

3 Nephi 11:21-26

Who should be baptized? (those that repent of their sins and desire to baptized in his name).

How should they be baptized? (in water by someone with the power and authority and in his name)

What are the words that should be used (calling them by name saying having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, amen.

The Prophet Joseph Smith:

“Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved, and enter into the Kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 198).

3 Nephi 11:29

When was the last time you were involved in an argument?

What feelings did you have during the argument?

What was the mood after the argument was over?

How did the people on both sides handle the argument?

Why is it that the Lord taught about contention?

Why would Satan want us to contend with each other?

Seminary: 81 3 Nephi 8-10

Background: The chief judge of the land was murdered. Instead of appointing a new chief judge, the people divided up into tribes. There was no longer a central government. They had a common code of conduct between the different tribes to prevent wars among them though they were free to make their own laws as they saw fit.


Have the students close their eyes.

Read: 3 Nephi 8:5-23

What most impressed you about these verses?

What did you feel while listening to the verses?

What do you imagine the people who experienced this destruction felt?

Who can tell what happened in Jerusalem at Christ’s death?

Matthew 27:45-54

What similarities are there between these two events?

Why do you think darkness and destruction accompanied Christ’s death?

John 8:12

What does Jesus say that he is?

How did these events affect the righteous, the wicked?

What reasons did the Lord have for destroying the wicked?

At the second coming there will be destruction and calamities. We can be blessed and protected during these times.

How can we be blessed and protected?

3 Nephi 11:1

Where did the people congregate after the calamities?

Why do you think this was the case?

Elder Lance B. Wickman:

“Climbing atop the Mount of Olives with his disciples, the Savior prophesied the cataclysmic events that would precede the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming. He then issues this portentous admonition to his disciples, ancient and modern: ‘Then you shall stand in the holy place; whoso readeth let him understand’ (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:12; italics added; see also Matthew 24:15). Latter-day revelations provide understanding. They teach that in out day, amidst strife and catastrophe and pestilence, there are two kingdoms locked in grim struggle for the souls of men-Zion and Babylon. More than once they repeat the injunction to ‘stand in holy places’ for a refuge from these storms of latter-day life (D&C 45:32; see also D&C 87:8; 101:16-23). Prominent among such holy places, and key to all the others, is the temple of the Lord.” (Ensign, Nov. 1994, 82-83).

Why is the temple so important in our lives?

What safety can it bring?
While it was still dark, the people heard a voice.

3 Nephi 10:3-8

What did the voice tell them?

What was the people’s reaction?

Why did they have this reaction?

Seminary: 80 3 Nephi 5-7

Background: The robbers petitioned the Nephites to join them, they did not but instead banded together with the Lamanites and gathered together in the land of Zarahemla. With the Lord’s help they defeated the robbers.

Write: Cause [Therefore] Effect (don’t write the middle word)

What do these words mean?

Write: “Therefore” between the two words with an arrow outlined around it.

Write 3 Nephi 5:3 under “Effect” and 3 Nephi 5:1-2 under “Cause”

3 Nephi 5:3

What “Effect” followed the word “therefore” in this verse? (the Nephites forsook their sins)

3 Nephi 5:1-2

What “caused” the effect? (they knew that the prophecies of Christ’s birth were fulfilled and that all things spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled).

3 Nephi 5:21-26 (read silently)

According to these verses what blessings come to the descendants of Jacob who are gathered in the last days? (Among other blessings, they came to “know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ”).

What can knowing our Redeemer do for us?

President Marion G. Romney:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity-the pure live of Christ-will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, 67).

Write: arthritis, cancer, chicken pox, heart disease, leprosy, malaria, rheumatic fever

What do you think is the most dreaded human disease?

Hugh Nibley:

“What we read about in the Book of Mormon is the ‘Nephite Disease’-and we have it!...We can be most grateful, therefore, regardless of how sick others may be, that God in the Book of Mormon has diagnosed our sickness for our special benefit, and prescribed a cure for us” (Huch Nibley, Since Cumorah [1967], 354).

What do you think was the “Nephite Disease”?

3 Nephi 6:10, 13, 15 (Pride)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

“Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy health” (Ensign, Nov 1990, 65)

Ezra Taft Benson:

“Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance (see Mosiah 3:11; 3 Nephi 6:18). In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride-it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby (see Nephi 4:15; Mosiah 1:3-7; Alma 5:61).

“Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.

“The central feature of pride is enmity-enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.’ It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us” (Ensign, May 1989, 4).

How does someone diagnose a sickness?

How can we diagnose a spiritual sickness?

Seminary: 79 3 Nephi 3-4

Background: Wickedness among the Nephites abounds. The Nephites and the Lamanites group up together to defend themselves against their common enemy the Gadianton Robbers.


What is the best letter you have ever received?

What is the worst letter you have ever received?

Giddianhi, the leader of the Gadianton Robbers sent a letter to Lachoneus, the Chief Judge of the Nephites.

Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.

And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus, that ye should be so foolish and vain as to suppose that ye can stand against so many brave men who are at my command, who do now at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety for the word—Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.

And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having proved them in the field of battle, and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction.

Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it with mine own hand, feeling for your welfare, because of your firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble spirit in the field of battle.

Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword and that destruction should come upon you.

Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.

And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct.

And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.

And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddianhi.

If you were Lachoneus how would you feel about this note?

What would be your response?

Let’s see what kind of man Lachoneus was and how he responded to this letter.

3 Nephi 3:11-12

How did he feel about the letter?

Why type of man did it say he was?

3 Nephi 3:13-16

What response to the letter did he had?

1. He sent a note to all the people and told them to gather together in on place, Zarahemla

2. Caused that fortifications should be build around the city

3. Caused that guards should be placed around the city both day and night

4. Told them that if they did not repent the Lord would not save them

5. Prophesied unto the people.

3 Nephi 3:17-18

How did Lachoneus prepare their armies?

• Organized them into groups with Chief captains

• Appointed a leader of the chief captains, Gidgiddoni, who had the spirit of revelation.

How would these things help their armies?

When have we seen the benefits of this in the past?

3 Nephi 3:20

What did the people want?

3 Nephi 3:21

What was Gidgiddoni’s response to the people?

Why would the Lord not support them if they went up against the Gadianton Robbers?

Two years after the letter was sent to Lachoneus, the robbers came up to the land of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites. The Nephites had stripped the land clean of vegetation and animals and the robbers could not find anything to live off of. The Nephites were able to win against them and killed Giddianhi and his successor Zemnarihah. The robbers went home to the mountains and the Nephites praise the Lord for their victory.

Seminary: 78 Helaman 12

Background: Nephi asks the Lord to bring a famine to the land to humble the people. The people repent and Nephi asks the Lord to bring rain. Many of the Nephites again turn wicked but are driven out of the land. They take on the name of the Gadianton Robbers and are living in the mountains. The Nephites tried to gather a force to eradicate them but were unsuccessful.


Write: “I guess one of the greatest mysteries of mortality is why mankind fails to learn from history.” – Elder L. Tom Perry (Ensign, Nov. 1992, 16)

What is the missing word (history)?

Why would this be the case?

-Discuss each of the parts in the pride cycle

Where in the cycle do you think our country is in?

When the Lord chastens a nation for its wickedness do faithful members sometimes suffer?

Helaman 11:34-36

According to these verses how quickly can the cycle repeat itself?

Review Helaman 12:1-6 and look for reasons people tend to repeat history.

What can we do to avoid this cycle?

Helaman 12:23-24

What is Mormon’s counsel for those who desire to avoid this cycle?

What does it mean to hearken to God?

Who will be saved?

In what ways do people pass through a “personal pride cycle”?

What portions of the cycle would we want to experience?

How can we skip steps 2 and 3 and continue going from step 1 to 4 and over again?

What have you found that helps you be humble and repentant?

President Ezra Taft Benson:

“The outlook for the world is not encouraging, but we know what the answer is. There is only one answer, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peace must come from the heart. Men’s hearts must change, and righteousness must rule in the lives of the people of the world before peace can come. May God hasten the day. May the message of the restored gospel go forward in great force, by increasing numbers, that God’s children may escape the calamities which are impending” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1945, 157).

How can “men’s hearts change”?

What calamities are coming?

Seminary: 77 Helaman 10-11

Background: Nephi showed the power of God unto the Nephites by prophesying about the murder of Seezoram the Chief Judge.


Draw: Picture of a chain

How might some people compare God’s commandments to a chain?

Why do some people feel restricted by the commandments?

How does sin take away our agency?

In what ways does keeping the commandments make us free?

Example of a maze

Elder Donald L. Staheli:

“Regardless of our age and stage in life, daily obedience to gospel principles is the only sure way to eternal happiness. President Ezra Taft Benson put it most poignantly when he said, ‘When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.’” (Ensign, May 1998, 82).

What do people find irritating about the commandments? Why?

What is a quest? (A diligent search or journey toward a noble goal).

How would viewing the commandments as a blessing make a difference in how we obey them?

How would having more of God’s power in your life be a blessing?

Today we will see an example of someone that had received this power

Helaman 10:4

What does it unwearying mean? (diligent, faithful, without, complaint).

In what ways had Nephi sought God’s will?

Helaman 10:5

What do you think it means to be “blessed forever?”

In what ways did the Lord make Nephi mighty?

What does the Lord mean by “all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word” mean?

What does he mean by “for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will”?

Helaman 10:6-10

What power was Nephi given?

Why did the Lord give him this power?

What is the sealing power?

How could having power over the whole earth help a prophet keep his people humble?

How can it be used to bless people?

How can it be used to chasten people?

Does this power exist on the world today?

Who has it?

What does it mean to be sealed?

How could this bless our lives?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

“This, then, is the doctrine of the priesthood….

This is the power we can gain through faith and righteousness.

“Truly, there is power in the priesthood-power to do all things!

“If the world itself was created by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can move mountains and control the elements.

“If one-third of the hosts of heaven were cast down to earth by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can put at defiance the armies of nations or stay the fall of atomic bombs.

“If all men shall be raised from mortality to immortality by the power of the priesthood, surely that same power can cure the diseased and the dying and raise the dead.

“Truly there is power in the priesthood-a power which we seek to acquire to use, a power which we devoutly pray may rest upon us and upon our posterity forever”
(Ensign, May 1982, 34).

Helaman 10:11-12, 15-16

What was Nephi commanded to do after he received this power?

How did he respond?

What can we learn from Nephi’s example?

How did the Nephite’s respond to his testimony?

What did the Lord do to protect them?

Seminary: 76 Helaman 7-9

Background: The Lamanites are more righteous than the Nephites, they have been preaching to the Nephites to try to save them. The Gadianton Robbers were in control of the Nephite government.

Video: Book of Mormon Video 17 “The Pride Cycle”

Can someone please summarize this story?

Wave any of you ever thought… I would have like to live at the same time as…?

Who was it and why?

Write: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities [1997], 1)

What makes our days “the worst of times”?

What makes them the “best of times?”

“The plan of happiness is available to all of [God’s] children. If the world would embrace and live it, peace, joy, plenty would abound on the earth. Much of the suffering we know today would be eliminated if people throughout the world would understand and live the gospel” (Ensign, May 1995, 23).

How can the gospel help make any day be “the best of times”?

Compare Helaman 7:21 and Doctrine and Covenants 121:35

What are motivations that can lead a person to wickedness?

Helaman 7:21	D&C 121:35
“to get gain”	“their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world”
“to be praised of men”	“aspire to the honors of men”

Elder Russell M. Ballard:

“One of Satan’s clever tactics is to tempt us to concentrate on the present and ignore the future. The Lord warned Joseph Smith that ‘Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them’ (D&C 78:10). The ‘things which are prepared for them’ are the promised rewards of eternal life, which come as a result of obedience. The devil attempts to blind us to these rewards. President Heber J. Grant said that ‘if we are faithful in keeping the commandments of God His promises will be fulfilled to the very letter….The trouble is, the adversary of men’s souls blinds their minds. He throws dust, so to speak, in their eyes, and they are blinded with the things of this world’ (Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham [Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1941], pp. 44-45). He tempts us with the transitory pleasures of the world so that we will not focus our minds and efforts on the things that bring eternal joy. The devil is a dirty fighter, and we must be aware of his tactics” (Ensign, Nov. 1990, 36).

Have any of you seen fights in movies where one of the fighters kicks dirt into the eyes of their opponent?

What affect does this action have on the opponent?

Is this a “fair fight” tactic? Why?

Elder Ballard mentioned that Satan uses this manner of tactics in dealing with us. He wants us to not be able to see the whole picture.

Write: What you do not know can’t hurt you

Is this a true statement?

Let’s compare the recent events in Chile and Hawaii. Is anyone familiar with what happened?

The Chileans did not have any warning that the 8.8 earth quake was coming. The death toll as of Sunday night was 708.

One of the results of that earthquake was the generation of some tsunamis that hit the Hawaiian islands and some other south pacific islands. They had fair warning and as a result were able to take cover and so far there has not been any deaths.

If the persons in Chili had a fair warning that there was going to be an earthquake do you think that the impact would have reduced?

Helaman 7:4-5

Who filled the judgment seats of the Nephites?

How did the Gadianton Robbers gain positions of power and authority?

How did they use that power and authority?

How did these wicked persons treat the righteous?

We must be careful of secret combinations in our days.

Elder M. Russell Ballard:

“The Book of Mormon teaches that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families but to entire civilizations….

“If we are not careful, today’s secret combinations can obtain power and influence just as quickly and just as completely as they did in Book of Mormon times. Do you remember the pattern? The secret combinations began among the ‘more wicked part’ of society, but eventually ‘seduced the more part of the righteous’ until the whole society was polluted [Helaman 6:38]” (Ensign Nov 1997, 38).

What is a secret combination?

What is alluring about them?

How can we keep ourselves protected from them?

How can we keep our city, state, nation protected from them?

How can the principles of the Gospel help protect against them?

What would happen to secret combinations if there wasn’t a ‘more wicked part’ of society?

Elder Ballard continued:

“As a church, we recognize that the gospel of Jesus Christ, with its saving truths and teachings, provides the most effective preventative and rehabilitative assistance in overcoming criminal behavior. Parents bear the first and greatest responsibility to teach their children principles of gospel living and good citizenship….

“We should also support the efforts of individuals, organizations, communities, and governments to assist
them and help prevent crime. We should work within our respective legal and judicial systems to enact and enforce laws that provide necessary protection against criminals while ensuring essential rights and freedoms. And we should volunteer to support and assist government leaders in promoting programs designed to protect and strengthen families and communities….

“I know it is sometimes hard to stand for truth and right. Yet we need to be positive examples if we are to help others find a better way. Thankfully, we can draw strength from those who have gone before us. While the road we walk today, the courage required to be faithful is similar, and their experiences are instructive” (Ensign, Nov 1997, 38-39)

What solutions did Elder Ballard give that could help us improve our community?

How can we support our parents in their responsibility to teach their children?

Who can we look to for strength in times of trial and times of ease?

How can we obtain strength?