Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

“Lesson 34: Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites the Beatitudes,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),121

Jesus Christ taught the Nephites to become more like our Heavenly Father. As we choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ throughout our lives, we will gradually learn to become like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If we do the things the Savior has commanded us to do, he will bless us. It is an eternal law that obedience brings blessings.

Read 3 Nephi 12 and 3 Nephi 13, D&C 130:20–21 and the thirteenth article of faith.

When Jesus Christ visited the Americas, after he was resurrected, he chose twelve disciples and told the Nephites to listen to and obey them, and promised they would be blessed for doing so (3 Nephi 12:1). He taught the Nephites the same "Beatitudes" he taught in the Sermon on the Mount in Jerusalem (see Matthew 5–7). The word beatitude means happiness or blessing.

3 Nephi 12:3 / Matthew 5:3 - Poor in Spirit who come to Christ
- Receive the Kingdom of Heaven
Being Poor in Spirit means you are teachable, not conceited or boastful.

Being “poor in spirit” is not enough unless we come unto the Savior. This applies to each of the other Beatitudes as well.

3 Nephi 12:4 / Matthew 5:4 - Those who Mourn
- Shall be comforted
How as the Gospel helped you to feel comforted?

3 Nephi 12:5 / Matthew 5:5 - The meek
- Shall inherit the earth
Meekness is to be gentle and kind and to show self-control.

3 Nephi 12:6 / Matthew 5:6 - Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
- Shall be filled with the Holy Ghost
We should want to be good as much as we want food and water.

3 Nephi 12:7 / Matthew 5:7 - The Merciful
- Shall obtain mercy
Being merciful means you are willing to forgive, and to be kind and loving.

"For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (3 Nephi 13:14–15).

3 Nephi 12:8 / Matthew 5:8 - The pure in heart
- Shall see God
Being Pure in heart means you are sincere and genuine, to have clean minds and hearts, to enjoy good things, and to turn away from evil or wickedness in thought and action.

3 Nephi 12:9 / Matthew 5:9 - Peacemakers
- Shall be called the children of God
Peacemakers help create peace.

3 Nephi 12:10–12 / Matthew 5:10-12 - Those Persecuted for Jesus
- Shall receive the kingdom of heaven
Have you ever been persecuted, or made fun of for being a Christian?

The Savior also taught that we should repent and come unto him “as a little child” (3 Nephi 9:22).

Just as salt preserves food, our relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior is preserved when we obey their teachings and keep our covenants. As salt adds flavor to food, we can add goodness to the world by living righteously (3 Nephi 12:13 / Matthew 5:13).

A light under a bucket or can wouldn't give much light, like wise we shouldn't hide our good examples, as we follow Christ, or knowledge of the Gospel from the rest of the world (3 Nephi 12:14–16). In what ways can you let your light (or example) shine?

"when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face" (3 Nephi 13:16–18).

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (3 Nephi 13:19–20). What treasures can we take with us from this life into the next life? What treasures that seem important to us now can we not take with us?

"except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (3 Nephi 12:20).

Labels: Beatitudes, Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Lesson 34, Nephi