“1 Nephi 6–7: Identifying ‘the Things of God,’” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“1 Nephi 6–7: Identifying ‘the Things of God,’” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

1 Nephi 6–7

Identifying “the Things of God”

Nephi and his brothers talking with Ishmael

If you were to write a record to be kept for future generations to learn from, what might you include? Nephi expressed his desire that his writings would be pleasing to God and persuade others to follow Jesus Christ. This lesson will help you understand how the purposes of the Book of Mormon can help you in your study and in your life.

Focusing on the author’s intent. According to its title page, the Book of Mormon was written “by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation” to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ. As students study, encourage them to ponder why each author may have recorded a particular teaching or event and how it helps readers come closer to Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Encourage students to do their daily personal study of the Book of Mormon. Invite them to ponder their experience studying the Book of Mormon so far and what they are learning.

Possible Learning Activities

Why study the Book of Mormon?

The following is intended to help students identify why Nephi included what he did in his record. If you would like to use a visual, set a copy of the Book of Mormon alongside other books and invite students to role-play this situation as a class or in pairs.

Imagine how you might respond if someone asked you the following questions:

There are lots of books about religion and becoming a better person; why should I read the Book of Mormon? What will it do for me? How is it different or better than other books?

Invite a few students to share what they might say. Thank them for their responses and compliment them on ways they answer well. Invite them to look for more insights as they study.

Nephi shared his intent, or purposes, in recording what he did in the Book of Mormon. Knowing these purposes can help us understand why we should read the book and what it can do for us.

Read 1 Nephi 6:3–6 and consider marking words or phrases that identify Nephi’s purposes in keeping his record. It may be helpful to know that “the God of Abraham, … Isaac, and … Jacob” (verse 4) is a title for Jesus Christ.

How would you explain why Nephi recorded what he did?

According to Nephi, his writings were meant to persuade us to come to Jesus Christ and contained only things that are pleasing to God.

Take a moment to think about your experience reading the Book of Mormon so far.

Determine if it would be best for students to respond to the following questions aloud, think about their responses individually, or write their responses in their study journals.

Is the Book of Mormon helping you know the things that are pleasing unto God? If so, how?
Do you feel that studying the Book of Mormon is helping you come closer to Jesus Christ and be saved? Why or why not?
How might knowing the things of God and coming closer to Jesus Christ be a blessing in your life?

Coming unto Jesus Christ and knowing the things that are pleasing to God

A useful scripture study skill is to look for Nephi’s purposes as you read the Book of Mormon. You will have the opportunity to practice doing this as you study 1 Nephi 7.

Consider displaying the following instructions, scripture references, and summaries and inviting students to choose a section to study. Determine if it would be best for students to study individually, in pairs, or in small groups. It may be beneficial to walk around the room and help any students who may have questions or need assistance understanding or personalizing what they are reading.

The events Nephi recounted in 1 Nephi 7 could be divided into three major parts. Read the following summaries of each part. Select one and study it further, looking for anything that pleases God and helps us come unto Christ.

Part 1. 1 Nephi 7:1–5. Nephi and his brothers returned to Jerusalem again to persuade Ishmael’s family to join their journey to the promised land. This allowed Nephi and his brothers to marry and have families.

Part 2. 1 Nephi 7:6–18. Laman and Lemuel bound Nephi, intending to leave him to die in the wilderness. But Nephi exercised great faith, and the Lord miraculously delivered him.

Part 3. 1 Nephi 7:17–22. Nephi sincerely forgave his brothers for their attempt to kill him, and the group returned to Lehi and Sariah.

When students finish studying, have them discuss what they learned and write their answer to the following question on the board.

What did you learn from your study that you think would please God and help you come unto Christ?

Students may share principles such as marriage and family are central to God’s plan; if we exercise faith in the Lord, He is able to do all things for us according to His will; and forgiving others brings peace.

How might what you’ve learned help you in your life?

If needed, consider asking follow-up questions such as the following: What might it look like to apply what you learned in your life? What next steps could you take?

Reflect on your experience studying today as you specifically looked for things that would help you come unto Jesus Christ and that are pleasing to God.

How might your scripture study improve if you consistently approach your study this way?

Consider concluding with personal testimony or allowing students to share what they have learned or felt from their study.

Commentary and Background Information

What blessings can come from sincerely studying the Book of Mormon and recording the truths it contains?

Consider watching the following video featuring youth from eastern Europe describing their experiences reading the Book of Mormon and recording what they learned.

Why is family so important to the Lord? What difference can I make in my own family now?

The scriptures speak of the need for Lehi’s sons to marry so they can have children in the promised land, and through modern prophets we learn that family is central to the Lord’s plan to bring to pass our eternal destiny. The following resources may help you more deeply understand the importance of family and the impact families can have.

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Julie B. Beck, “Teaching the Doctrine of the Family,” Ensign, Mar. 2011, 12–17
Gospel Topics, “Family,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

How can I forgive others?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following:

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” [Luke 6:37], Christ taught in New Testament times. And in our day: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” [Doctrine and Covenants 64:10]. It is, however, important for some of you living in real anguish to note what He did not say. He did not say, “You are not allowed to feel true pain or real sorrow from the shattering experiences you have had at the hand of another.” Nor did He say, “In order to forgive fully, you have to reenter a toxic relationship or return to an abusive, destructive circumstance.” But notwithstanding even the most terrible offenses that might come to us, we can rise above our pain only when we put our feet onto the path of true healing. That path is the forgiving one walked by Jesus of Nazareth, who calls out to each of us, “Come, follow me” [Luke 18:22]. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 78–79)

While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk shared the following:

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Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk

Brothers and sisters, are there people in our lives who have hurt us? Do we harbor what seem like fully justified feelings of resentment and anger? Are we letting pride keep us from forgiving and letting go? I invite all of us to forgive completely and let healing occur from within. And even if forgiveness doesn’t come today, know that as we desire it and work for it, it will come—just as it eventually did for me. (Larry J. Echo Hawk, “Even as Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 16)

Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternate beginning

Students could discuss activities for which the main purpose may often be overlooked. For example, going to school can become about completing tasks instead of gaining an education. Ask students to ponder the consequences of overlooking something’s larger purpose. Help them understand that many people misunderstand the purpose of the Book of Mormon and that this lesson will address that purpose.

Finding gospel principles

Students could look for principles of the gospel as they read the three portions of 1 Nephi 7. After reading, they could ask themselves questions like “What is one of the main lessons I learned from these verses?”

If students need help understanding and identifying principles, consider how the following resources may help:

“Parable of the Gems“ (video, 6:47), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
David A. Bednar, “The Principles of My Gospel,” Liahona, May 2021, 123–26
Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86–88

Emphasizing the doctrine of the family

To help students understand how the Lord feels about the importance of marriage and family, consider inviting them to ponder how they would respond to the following question: “Why does the First Presidency care so much about you and provide so many resources for you?” (Julie B. Beck, “Teaching the Doctrine of the Family,” Ensign, Mar. 2011, 12). As students study 1 Nephi 7:1–5, consider sharing additional portions of Sister Beck’s address or “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).