Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

Heavenly Father sends prophets to teach us about the Savior, help us repent, and warn us of things to come. If we obey the words of the Prophet, we can know the truth and avoid being deceived. This lesson is about the prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman. Nephi knew a murder had been committed and who the murderer was without being at the scene of the crime. As your learn more about the prophet Nephi, you can strengthen your confidence in the words of the living prophet.

Read Helaman 6:18–23, 7, 8, 9, and the ninth article of faith.

The Gadianton robbers were "murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton" (Helaman 6:18). They had taken oaths "that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings . . . that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother" (Helaman 6:21–22). They had done "murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness" (Helaman 6:23).

Because of the wickedness of the people, Nephi "did exclaim in the agony of his soul . . . [he] bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway." (Helaman 7:6–7, 10). When the people saw him "they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people" (Helaman 7:11–12).

Nephi told the people "ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts . . . O repent ye, repent ye! . . . turn ye unto the Lord your God." (Helaman 7:13–18). What must you do to repent? (See Lesson 14)

Nephi said that if they did not repent "this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away" (Helaman 7:19, 22). Nephi know these things would happen "because the Lord God has made them known unto [him]" (Helaman 7:29).

How can listening to the living prophet help us in our lives? (D&C 21:4–6.)

The judges respond saying "Why do ye not seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to the crime which he has done?" (Helaman 8:1). Some of the people defend Nephi saying "he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent" (Helaman 8:7–9). Sometimes it takes courage to stand up for the truth. We too can sustain the living prophet by following his teachings and example.

All the holy prophets have testified of "the Son of God" (Helaman 8:14–16). Our living prophet has also taught us about Jesus Christ.

Nephi told the people that their chief judge "is murdered, and . . . [the murderers] both belong to your secret band, whose author is Gadianton" (Helaman 8:27–28.) Nephi knew what had happened because he was a prophet.

As the men ran to the judgment seat they thought "if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true" (Helaman 9:2). These five men eventually believed all of Nephi’s words (Helaman 9:4–5, 39). What can we do to strengthen our testimonies of the living prophet?

The other judges "did cry out against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might declare it unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith" (Helaman 9:16). Nephi’s response was to show them another sign that helped them to capture the murderers (Helaman 9:25–35).

"there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a prophet" (Helaman 9:39–41).