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 37: Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites to Pray,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),132

Pray can help us to not enter into temptation.

Read 3 Nephi 18:15–25, 19, and 20:1. Also read Alma 13:28–29, Matthew 26:41, and Doctrine and Covenants 31:12, 61:39.

Jesus wants us to pray always "lest ye enter into temptation" (3 Nephi 18:15, 18).

"Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in" Jesus's name (3 Nephi 18:19; 3 Nephi 19:6–8).

If you pray in faith for what is best for us, "it shall be given unto you" (3 Nephi 18:20). Heavenly Father always knows what is best for us. Sometimes this is different from what we want.

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed" (3 Nephi 18:21).

Jesus Christ said we should pray for those who are not members of the Church, and "suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not" (3 Nephi 18:22–23).

To “hold up your light that it may shine unto the world” (3 Nephi 18:24) means to be a good example to others.

The twelve disciples of Jesus Christ taught the Nephites who were gathered to "pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus" (3 Nephi 19:6). Kneeling shows respect for Heavenly Father. We should show reverence while praying.

As the disciples prayed, they desire "that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them" (3 Nephi 19:9). This gift was given to them through baptism (3 Nephi 19:13–14).

Jesus, when he prayed to Heavenly Father, said "Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these . . . it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them . . . I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me . . ." (3 Nephi 19:20, 28). Expressing thanks is such an important part of our prayers, because it shows our gratitude for the things God has done for us. What are some things you are thankful for?

We can pray unceasingly and "not cease to pray in [our] hearts" (3 Nephi 20:1). We should always have a prayer in our hearts "lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him" (3 Nephi 18:15, 18).

“There is a great tendency for us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received” - Ezra Taft Benson, thirteenth President of the Church (God, Family, Country, p. 199).

The basic parts of a prayer:

a. Address our Heavenly Father.
b. Thank him for …
c. Ask him for …
d. Close "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Labels: Alma, Book of Mormon, D and C, Jesus Christ, Lesson 37, Matthew, Nephi, Pray

“Lesson 33: The Savior Appears to the Nephites,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),118

In this lesson we will learn that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, that he is our Savior, and that he lives today.

Read 3 Nephi 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Also review the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite from Lesson 31.

Samuel's prophecies "came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. And there was also a great and terrible tempest . . . the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain . . . the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth . . . when [these things] were done . . . there could be no light, because of the darkness, . . ." (3 Nephi 8:5–25).

The Savior's voice could be heard through the darkness saying, "Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for . . . it is because of their iniquity and abominations that [the slain] are fallen! . . . great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness . . . all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they . . . if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life" (3 Nephi 9:2, 12-14).

"I am Jesus Christ the Son of God . . . the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled . . . by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled" (3 Nephi 9:15–17). With so much confusion in the world today, especially about the Nature of God, it is very important for us to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and what his purpose was on this earth.

Jesus continued saying, "Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin . . . Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved" (3 Nephi 9:21-22). With a new understanding the Atonement "the people who were spared alive . . . their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer" (3 Nephi 10:10).

Twice the people at the temple in the land Bountiful hear the voice from heaven and did not understand it (3 Nephi 11:3–4). So they could understand the voice they stopped conversing and "did open their ears to hear it" (3 Nephi 11:5–6). Likewise if we want to listen and be ready to receive what Heavenly Father wants us to hear we need to listen closely to the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.

What they heard was Heavenly Father telling them "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him" (3 Nephi 11:6–7). From this introduction we learn that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, they are two separate beings, the Father loves the Son, and we are to hear, or listen to the Son. A similar experience was had by those who witnessed Jesus Christ being baptized (Matthew 3:17), as well as by Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove (Joseph Smith History 1:17).

The people then saw "they saw a Man decending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them" (3 Nephi 11:8). The Savior told them who he was and the people fell down to the earth (3 Nephi 11:10–12). How would you have felt if you had been there?

Christ then had the people feel the wounds in his body so they would know he had "been slain for the sins of the world" (3 Nephi 11:14–15). Jesus Christ also give Nephi the power to perform baptisms (3 Nephi 11:19–21).

The greatest news in the world today is that Jesus Christ lives. Many people think of him as having lived long ago and having died on the cross. The knowledge members of his church have makes us feel especially close to the Savior. We know that he suffered for our sins and gave his life for us and that he lives and directs his church today.

Labels: Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Lesson 33, Matthew, Nephi, Samuel

“Lesson 21: The Zoramites and the Rameumptom,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, 71

Empty worship does no more good for our spiritual nourishment than eating cardboard does for our physical nourishment. In this lesson you will learn about appropriate and sincere ways to worship God.

Read Alma 31; 34:1–30, 38–41; and 35:1–9.

"the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord . . . the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them" (Alma 31:1–3, 8). "for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God" (Alma 31:8–11).

"they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue . . . the top thereof would only admit one person . . . whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof . . . from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they were chosen of him" (Alma 31:13–18, 21–23).

This type of self centered, repetitive, and open worship draws more attention to our selves then it does our hearts towards God. Many of the things the Zoramites believed were wrong. Is it important to know who Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really are and what they are like, so that we know how to worship them appropriately.

The Repetitive nature of the Zoramites’ prayers and their lack of worship outside of their synagogues show that they were insincere (Alma 31:23, 27). How can we make our prayers more sincere?

The Zoramites also thought they were better than others (Alma 31:24–25, 27–28). In what ways might we sometimes feel we are better than others? Pride is a serious sin as it leads us away from God.

Alma and the other leaders "were astonished beyond all measure" when the Zoramites (Alma 31:19, 24, 30–31).

The Zoramites’ hearts were set on "their costly apparel . . . all their precious things" (Alma 31:28). What are some worldly things that people today set their hearts on? When we set our hearts on worldly things, we become prideful and forget about God.

Alma prayed for himself and for his companions that they "may have success in bringing [the Zoramites] again unto . . . Christ." (Alma 31:31–35). Praying for specific things, help make Alma's prayer more sincere. How has praying helped you with a problem?

Amulek testify that Jesus Christ "shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world" (Alma 34:8).

"ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." (Alma 34:18–27). We can worship Heavenly Father every day of the week by praying every day.

"after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and . . . [don't] impart of your substance . . . [then] your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith" (Alma 34:28).

The people of Ammon (the Anti-Nephi-Lehies) "did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants." (Alma 35:9). How should we treat a stranger or those who are poor among us? How is this showing love for Heavenly Father? (see: Matthew 25:40; Mosiah 2:17).

If we humbly and sincerely worship Heavenly Father, he will bless us, and we will receive answers to our prayers.

Labels: Alma, Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Lesson 21, Matthew, Mosiah, Rameumptom, Worship, Zoramites