The Bucket List

2 Nephi 2

Lesson 23 and 24

محام البني

Lehi Blesses and Counsels

JacobBorn in the wilderness not long after Lehi and his family fled Jerusalem in 600 BC (1 Nephi 18:7)

While young he felt the affects of his brothers’ wickedness

In the land of promise he is given a blessing and wise counsel from his father

“And Jacob and Joseph also being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother;…” (1 Nephi 18:19)

2 Nephi 2:1

Consecrate Our Afflictions

For thy gain consecrate --means to dedicate or make holy“It is in our extremities that we become acquainted with God, which is life’s greatest blessing.

The soul of the righteous is sanctified through suffering.”Joseph Fielding McConkie andRobert L. Millet

“All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7)

2 Nephi 2:2

When have you seen that the Lord can consecrate our afflictions for our gain?

Salvation“Your salvation is sure, through both your righteousness and the merits of the great mediator.”

Fullness of Time—The day of Christ’s mortal ministry—designated “the meridian of time”

Paul wrote:“…the dispensation of the fulness of times.” as the day in which we live—the day in which all things are to be restored (Ephesians 1:10)

2 Nephi 2:3-4

Yesterday, today, and forever

To know how the spirit of the Lord operates in one dispensation is to know how it operates in all dispensations,hence the operations ofthe spirit areforever the same.

Merits, Mercy, and Grace

2 Nephi 2:8

“…unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah…”

Make these things known

Relying on Christ:Obedience, righteousness, acceptance of the truth—all are essential to salvation, yet with them all we have nothing save it be for the merit, mercy, and grace of Christ. As there is none other name by which men can be saved.Joseph Fielding McConkie andRobert L. Millet

Insert Video: Saved by the Merits of Christ

Intercession for All

2 Nephi 2:9-10

The Mosaic code required the Israelites to consecrate the firstfuits of their harvest to God. These were to be brought to the temple and given to the priests for their support.

Believe and be saved

Firstfruits—those dedicated to him and his service (D&C 88:98)

Christ is spoken of as “the firstfruits” thus conveying the idea that the fruits or labors of his life were fully consecrated to his Father. Joseph Fielding McConkie andRobert L. Millet

Opposition in All Things

2 Nephi 2:11-13

No virtue can exist without its corresponding evil

Without danger there could be no courage

Without suffering there could be no sympathy

Without poverty there could be no generosity (charity)

Without darkness there could be no light

Therefore:There must be wickedness so there might be righteousness

A purpose for the

creation of man

In Heaven and In Earth

2 Nephi 2:14

“The knowledge and power of God are not limited to earthly things.

He has complete knowledge and power over us

All are subject to the mind and will of God.

God has created

all things

“If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them, If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth, and if I should say it, it would be done.” (1 Nephi 17:50)

Eternal Purposes

2 Nephi 2:15

“For behold, this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) Immortality

Adam and Eve are the mortal parents of allAdam—The father of all(D&C 138:8)

Adam took upon him an appropriate body, the body of a man, and so became a ‘living soul.’ …All who have inhabited the earth since Adam have taken bodies and become souls in like manner…Man began life as a human being, in the likeness of our Heavenly Father. First Presidency of the Church

The FallChoice

“the Fall” refers to the conditions that came to Adam and Eve and their descendants because of Adam and Eve’s choice to partake of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

What choice did the Lord give to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? He allowed them to choose whether or not to eat the forbidden fruit.

“Agency, which embraces the right of choice, is fundamental to the plan of salvation. There can be no forced righteousness.” Joseph Fielding McConkie andRobert L. Millet

2 Nephi 2:15

“If there is no opportunity for wickedness there can be no opportunity for righteousness.” (2 Nephi 10:23)

WITHOUT THE FALL

All things would have remained as they were when they were created

Adam and Eve would have had no children

Adam and Eve would have remained in a state of innocence, unable to know joy or misery, good or sin

2 Nephi 2:19-25 2 Nephi 9:6 Helaman 14:16

BECAUSE OF THE FALL

Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden to till the earth

Adam and Eve brought forth children—the family of all the earth

Adam and Eve and their descendants would experience mortal life, including misery, joy, and the ability to do good and to sin

We are subject to physical and spiritual death

“Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” (Moses 5:11)

Insert Video: Act For Themselves

“Adam fell that man might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” 2 Nephi 2:25

Scripture Mastery -- Fell

Scripture Mastery

2 Nephi 2:22-26

The forbidden fruitThe Lord honored the agency of Adam and Eve after teaching them the consequences of partaking of the forbidden fruit. God said, “Thou mayest choose for thyself” (Moses 3:17).

“Just why the Lord would say to Adam that he forbade him to partake of the fruit of that tree is not made clear in the Bible account [see Genesis 2:17], but in the original as it comes to us in the Book of Moses [see Moses 3:17] it is made definitely clear. It is that the Lord said to Adam that if he wished to remain as he was in the garden, then he was not to eat the fruit, but if he desired to eat it and partake of death he was at liberty to do so” Joseph Fielding Smith Jr

The Three Pillars of EternityThe most transcendent event in all history was the atoning sacrifice of Christ.The Atonement came in answer to the Fall.Understanding The Fall one must understand the nature of The Creation, for it is from the original state in which things were created that they have fallen, and to which, through the Atonement, they are in large measure intended to return.

2 Nephi 2:22-26

Important to understand:

Why things were created as they were

Why it was essential to the eternal plan for the salvation of man that Adam fall

Why the blood of Christ needed to be shed in an infinite sacrifice

Insert Video:Three Pillars of God’s Plan

Needing Christ

“Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ.“No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind. And no other book in the world explains this vital doctrine nearly as well as the Book of Mormon”Ezra Taft Benson

2 Nephi 2:22-26

The AtonementAdam and Eve’s choice allowed us to come to earth (see 2 Nephi 2:25), where we experience sorrow, pain, and death.

Through the Atonement, Jesus Christ redeems us from the Fall and offers redemption from our sins (see 2 Nephi 2:26).

Because of the Atonement, we are free to choose liberty and eternal life or captivity and death (see 2 Nephi 2:27).

Not to Be Acted Upon“Being acted upon means somebody else is pulling the string…Many of you worry about your future…After a lifetime of dealing with human affairs, I am persuaded that your future will be beyond your dreams if you observe the following:

1. Do not live on the edge.

2. Avoid not only evil, but even the appearance of evil

3. Follow the counsel of Nephi to act for yourselves and not be acted upon.

4. Seek first the kingdom of God and receive the great promise that all else will be added upon you.

5. Follow the counsel of Church leaders.”James E. Faust

Insert Video:To Act or Be Acted Upon (0:58)

Insert Videos:

Things to Act and Things to Be Acted Upon (0:56)

Agency

2 Nephi 2:27-30

Men are free to choose

Liberty and eternal life—through the Mediator of all men

Captivity and death—according to the power of the devil

Or

“Our destiny is not based on chance. It is based on choice!”Boyd K. Packer

Scripture Mastery -- Agency “ Wherefore, men are free according to

the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” 2 Nephi 2:27

Scripture Mastery

We have enough knowledge of the mysteries of heaven to save ourselves, yet not enough to deny mortality as a time and place of trial and testing. It is not necessary to have all the answers to all things or to be able to see the end from the beginning

“Difficulty comes when agency is used to make choices that are inconsistent with …covenants. Study the things you do in your discretionary time, that time that you are free to control. Do you find it is centered in those things that are of highest priority and of greatest importance?Or do you unconsciously, consistently fill it with trivia and activities that are not of enduring value nor help you accomplish the purpose for which you came to earth? Think of the long view of life, not just what’s going to happen today or tomorrow.Don’t give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.”Richard G. Scott

2 Nephi 2:27

Godly:IntelligenceWisdomTruthVirtueLight

That which is of God exalts

Men Might Be MiserableLike unto

themselves Ungodly:FoolishnessCarnalityDarkness

That which of Satan corrupts

Our fallen condition“In this fallen condition, we have a conflict within us. We are spirit children of God, with the potential to be ‘partakers of the divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:4).

However, ‘we are unworthy before [God]; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually’ (Ether 3:2). We need to strive continually to overcome unrighteous passions and desires” True to the Faith

The Will of the Flesh

2 Nephi 2:29

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious

promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the

divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

“…and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.”

2 Nephi 2:30

Mortality is the time of probation.

“For those with a knowledge of the gospel, probation ends at death. For those who have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel in mortality, the day of probation continues into the world of spirits.

The Last Days of ProbationEverlasting welfare of your souls

Have the students teach from theSeminary Manual 2012

The Book of MormonThe following charts are the sheets to hand out to 4 groups…printed in the manual.

Each set of instructions contains five assignments. Encourage all students to participate by ensuring that each person in each group receives an assignment. In groups of more than five, students may share assignments. In groups with fewer than five students, some individuals will need to do more than one assignment. Inform students that they will have about three minutes to prepare and that each group will have about five minutes to teach.

Group 1: God created us to act

A. Hold up a rock in front of the class. Invite a student to read 2 Nephi 2:14 aloud. Before he or she reads, ask the class to look for Lehi’s description of two types of things that God has created in the heavens and the earth. (“Things to act and things to be acted upon.”) Ask: How does this verse relate to us and to the rock? (We were created to act, while the rock was created to be acted upon. The rock, like many other creations, cannot act on its own.)B. Ask a student to read the first sentence in 2 Nephi 2:16. Ask the class: In Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, why do you think it is important that we act for ourselves? After students have responded, ask: How do we sometimes wait to be acted upon rather than act for ourselves?C. Write D&C 58:26–28 on the board. Invite the class to turn to this passage. Lead them in reading it together out loud.D. Ask: What can we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28about acting for ourselves? What are some ways we can seek to be anxiously engaged in bringing to pass much righteousness? When have you seen your diligence bring to pass much righteousness? (After one or two students have responded, you may also want to share an experience.)E. Share your testimony about the importance of acting for ourselves and seeking to bring to pass much righteousness.

Group 2: Good enticement and evil enticement

A. Invite a student to read the second sentence in 2 Nephi 2:16. Ask the class: What does the word entice mean? (To invite, persuade, or attract.)B. Ask the class: What are some ways Heavenly Father entices us to do good? (Students might mention promptings from the Holy Ghost, promised blessings for obeying the commandments, and teachings of latter-day prophets.)C. Read 2 Nephi 2:17–18 aloud, and invite students to follow along in their scriptures. Ask them to identify what the devil seeks for all of us. (He wants us to be miserable.)D. Ask: How can you know which enticements come from God and which come from the devil? (As part of this discussion, you may want to refer to Moroni 7:16–17.) After the class has responded, ask: What are some examples of things that entice people to do wickedly and that lead to misery?E. Share your testimony about God’s enticements leading to goodness and happiness and the devil’s enticements leading to wickedness and misery. As part of your testimony, you may want to share an experience to illustrate how you know this is true.

Group 3: We are accountable for our choicesA. Read this statement to the class: “You are free to choose and act, but you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 12).Ask: What are some examples of consequences that may not be immediate but that may come? (One possible answer is that cancer often results from smoking.)B. Invite students to read 2 Nephi 2:26–27 silently, looking for words and phrases that show future consequences of choices we make now. Ask students to report on what they find. (Answers may include “punishment of the law at the great and last day,” “liberty,” “eternal life,” “captivity,” “death,” and “miserable.”) Write students’ responses on the board.C. Ask: Why do you think it is important for us to understand the consequences of our choices in this life? After students have responded, ask: How can knowing these consequences motivate us to make righteous choices?D. Point out that in 2 Nephi 2:27, Lehi says that we “are free to choose liberty.” Ask: In your experience, how do righteous choices help us remain free to choose? Can you ofer examples of this? (Be prepared to share an example of your own.)E. Share your testimony that we are accountable to God for our choices and that consequences always follow our choices.

Group 4: Choosing the good part

A. Have a student read 2 Nephi 2:28 aloud. Ask the class to look for four things Lehi desired for his sons. After the verse has been read, invite students to share what they have found.B. Ask: What are some ways we can look to the great Mediator, Jesus Christ, to help us make righteous choices?C. Invite a student to read 2 Nephi 2:29 aloud. Ask the class: How can our choices give the devil power to take us captive? As part of this discussion, point out that many of Satan’s temptations target “the will of the flesh,” or our physical appetites. When people give in to these temptations, they can become addicted to harmful substances and behaviors. Read the following statement by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “From an initial experiment thought to be trivial, a vicious cycle may follow. From trial comes a habit. From habit comes dependence. From dependence comes addiction. Its grasp is so gradual. Enslaving shackles of habit are too small to be sensed until they are too strong to be broken. … Addiction surrenders later freedom to choose” (“Addiction or Freedom,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 6–7).Share your testimony about righteousness leading to freedom from harmful habits and addictions.D. Read 2 Nephi 2:30 to the class. As they follow along, invite them to focus on these words: “I have chosen the good part.” Ask: What does this statement teach about Lehi?E. Ask students to ponder the following questions: Whom do you know who has “chosen the good part” like Lehi? In what ways would you like to follow this person’s example? After students have had time to ponder, ask for one or two to share their thoughts. Then share your own thoughts.

What Have We Learned?Who is narrating this account?

Who is speaking?

Who is receiving the message?

What is happening in this account?

What has happened before this event?

What is the message of this story?

What did the writer intend for us to learn from this story? (Doctrine or Principle)

Sources:

Joseph Fielding Smith and Robert L. Millet Doctrinal Commentary of the Book of Mormon pg. 190, 202

First Presidency of the Church (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund) in an official statement titled “The Origin of Man”

Ezra Taft Benson (“The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987, 85).

Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp., 5 vols. [1957–66], 4:81).

Boyd K. Packer (CES Religious Educators Symposium, Aug. 10, 1993 p. 9)

Richard G. Scott Ensign May 1996

James E. Faust Ensign Nov 1995

(True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 57).