Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

"Lesson 46: The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Christmas),” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),163

The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ. Just as the Old and New Testaments testify of Christ, so does the Book of Mormon. We are blessed for having the Bible and the Book of Mormon as witnesses of Jesus Christ’s life and mission. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of the savior. The Christmas story is also summarized in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 11:12–24.

Read 1 Nephi 10:4, 2 Nephi 25:19, 2 Nephi 29:8, Mosiah 3:5, Alma 7:10, Helaman 14:2–5, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 2:1–2, 9–10, Matthew 20:19, Luke 1:35, Luke2:8, 10–12, and John 3:16.

The New Testament records the birth of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon is another written witness of Jesus Christ and tells what happened in the Americas when he was born. Book of Mormon Prophets, just as Old Testament Prophets, testified of the coming of Christ: Lehi, 1 Nephi 10:4; King Benjamin, Mosiah 3:5; Alma, Alma 7:10; and Samuel the Lamanite, Helaman 14:2–5.

Signs of Jesus Christ’s birth were given in Bethlehem as recorded in Luke 2:6–14 and Matthew 2:1–2. A sign seen in Bethlehem was also seen in America as recorded in 3 Nephi 1:21. Other signs were given in America as recorded in 3 Nephi 1:15, 19.

Six hundred years before the Savior’s birth, Nephi said "his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (2 Nephi 25:19). Alma prophesied that the name of the mother of the Son of God would be "Mary"(Alma 7:10).

Jesus is the "Son of God"; in other words his Father is Heavenly Father (Luke 1:35). Joseph was Mary’s husband. Even though Heavenly Father was the Father of both Jesus Christ’s body and spirit, Joseph took care of Jesus and raised him as a father would raise a son. Just before the birth of Jesus, an angel told Joseph to name the baby would be "Jesus" (Matthew 1:21).

It is important that we have two scriptural witnesses of the birth and mission of Jesus Christ as "the testimony of two nations is a witness . . . that [God] remember[s] one nation like unto another . . . [God] speak[s] the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also" (2 Nephi 29:8).

Compare some of the Savior’s teachings in the Bible with those in the Book of Mormon, such as the following: Matthew 5:16 and 3 Nephi 12:16; Matthew 7:12 and 3 Nephi 14:12; and Matthew 5:44 and 3 Nephi 12:44.

Heavenly Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth save us all (2 Nephi 9:21–22; 3 Nephi 27:13–14; John 3:16). It is this great gift from our loving Heavenly Father that we symbolize and honor when we give gifts to others during the Christmas season.

What family traditions do you have that reminds you of the birth and life of Jesus Christ?

Labels: Alma, Birth, Book of Mormon, Chrstimas Lesson, Helaman, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, John, King Benjamin, Lehi, Lesson 46, Luke, Matthew, Mosiah, Nephi, Samuel, Signs

“Lesson 10: King Benjamin Teaches His People,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, 32

What does being a (use your family name) mean to you? When we are born into a family, we take upon ourselves a family name. This name may represent many important things, such as our heritage, our beliefs, the way we do things, and so on. When we are baptized with proper athority, we become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. When we take the name of Jesus Christ upon us, we are declaring our belief in him and our willingness to follow his teachings. In this lesson we will learn about King Benjamin, a prophet, who taught the importance of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.

Read 2 Nephi 31:5–12, Mosiah 2:1–22; 3:2–19; 4:11–16; 5:5–8, 13–15, and the thirteenth article of faith.

King Benjamin call his people together, so he could pass his Kingship onto his son Mosiah (Mosiah 1:10). The people of Zarahemla responded to the call to gather at the temple to hear their prophet and king (Mosiah 2:1–6). Today we hear or receive the words of the living prophets in General conference, Church publications, Church meetings, and so on. We can prepare ourselves to listen to the words of our leaders, by "[opening our] ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view" (Mosiah 2:9).

King Benjamin served his people by spending his days in thier service, and "not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches . . . even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness . . . I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes" (Mosiah 2:12–15). King Benjamin also taught that "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:16–19). How do you think serving others shows our gratitude and love for Heavenly Father?

They were also promised that they would "prosper in the land" if they obey Heavenly Father’s commandments (Mosiah 2:22), and that Christ should come to live on the earth and be crucified and resurrected (Mosiah 3:5–7, 9–10, Mosiah 3:11–13). Jesus Christ suffered and died that we might repent of our sins, be baptized, be resurrected, and live with Heavenly Father forever. His sacrifice for us is called the Atonement.

"There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" (Mosiah 3:17). Jesus Christ asks us to "keep his commandments", to "[put] off the natural man", and to "Submit our will to the Savior’s will in order to take upon ourselves his name" (2 Nephi 31:5–12; Mosiah 2:22, Mosiah 3:19). King Benjamin told his people they should "always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God", to be humble, to be steadfast in our faith, to teach our children, and be "willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things" (Mosiah 3:21; 4:11–15; 5:5). We are blessed to "a state of never-ending happiness" when we take on the name of Christ and are faithful to our covenants (Mosiah 2:41).

The people of Zarahemla "all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us . . . we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2,5–9). We can experience this mighty change by putting "off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord," and becoming "as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit" (Mosiah 3:19).

Labels: Baptize, Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, King Benjamin, Lesson 10, Mosiah, Nephi