3 Nephi 1

• On a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest, how would you rate your level of belief or confidence that God fulfills the words of His prophets? Why?

When Samuel the Lamanite came among the Nephites, he prophesied that “five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God” (Helaman 14:2). Prophets had prophesied about the coming of Jesus Christ for thousands of years, and the anticipated time for His birth had arrived. The book of 3 Nephi begins at the end of those five years.

• If you were one of those who believed Samuel, what do you think you would have felt at this time?

As you study, look for similarities between circumstances in 3 Nephi 1 and circumstances in our day. You may want to mark meaningful words and phrases that strengthen your trust in God and the words of His prophets.

In the beginning of 3 Nephi 1, we learn that Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land and that his son Nephi was now the prophet among the Nephites.

Read 3 Nephi 1:4–9, looking for challenges the Nephite believers faced at this time.

• What do you think enabled some to “watch steadfastly” (verse 8) despite the threat of death?

Read 3 Nephi 1:10–14 to learn what happened next.

• How do you imagine Nephi felt when he heard the Lord’s voice?

• What do you think the Lord wanted Nephi and the people to understand?

• What truths can you identify from these verses?

Among several truths found in these verses, we learn that the Lord will fulfill all the words He has spoken through His prophets. You may want to mark this truth in verse 13.

Read 3 Nephi 1:15–22, looking for how the people responded when the prophecy was fulfilled.

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icon, record

1. Answer the following questions:

   • Why do you think people responded so differently?

   • How were the believers strengthened during this experience?

   • In what ways could this experience increase your confidence in the Lord’s plan for your life?

Like the Nephites in 3 Nephi 1, we live in times that can seem filled with uncertainty about the future. How can we have confidence in the Lord and His words given through His prophets?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder David A. Bednar

Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises. As we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” [2 Nephi 31:20], we are blessed with an eternal perspective and vision that stretches far beyond our limited mortal capacity. We will be enabled to “gather together, and stand in holy places” [Doctrine and Covenants 101:22] and “be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” [Doctrine and Covenants 87:8]. (David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 11)

Think about why you might struggle between having faith in God and feeling uncertainty or fear about your life. These reasons are personal to each individual but could include the following:

• Being ridiculed or attacked for your beliefs in Jesus Christ

• Having troubled family relationships, including parents separated through divorce

• Experiencing anxiety or depression

• Worrying about loved ones who experience same-sex attraction

• Suffering from addiction or struggling to overcome damaging habits

• Fearing that the blessings of the gospel are unattainable

• Feeling unworthy or unforgiven

In John 16:33, Jesus Christ stated, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

You may want to record your feelings about what you have learned today. You could include actions you felt prompted to take or how you are strengthened by understanding that God fulfills the words He speaks through His prophets.