“Helaman 10: The Lord Blesses Nephi,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Helaman 10,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Helaman 10

The Lord Blesses Nephi

After his prophecies regarding the murder of the chief judge, Nephi contemplated all the Lord had shown to him, but he was also discouraged because of the wickedness of the people. As he made his way home, he had a remarkable experience in which the Lord blessed him for his faithfulness in doing His will. This lesson can help you understand truths from Nephi’s experience that can invite the Lord’s direction and power into your life.

Invite students to be responsible for their own learning. While a teacher’s role is important, learners are ultimately responsible for their own education. Students are edified when they search the word of God to discover truths about Jesus Christ and His gospel for themselves. Help your students see the value of personal reflection, pondering, and class interaction.

Student preparation: Invite students to read Helaman 10 and to look for what they can learn from Nephi’s example that can bless their lives.

Possible Learning Activities

Becoming qualified

Consider beginning class by inviting a student who knows how to do a particular skill, like tie a tie, to explain to another student how to do it. After a brief attempt, the knowledgeable student could then show the other student how to perform the skill. If you choose to do this, skip to the second question that follows.

Can you think of a time when you learned something from the example of someone else? What was it?
Why can learning by example be particularly effective?

Today you will have opportunities to learn truths from the example of the prophet Nephi. You might remember that Nephi had been falsely accused of being involved in the murder of the Nephite chief judge (see Helaman 9:16–20). Through inspiration, Nephi identified the murderer and was set free (see Helaman 9:20–38). As Nephi returned home, he had a significant experience with the Lord that is recorded in Helaman 10. The following three activities will help guide your study of the chapter.

Consider distributing to the students the following handouts and inviting them to complete the activities.

You could divide the students into small groups to complete one of the study activities. Be sure to appoint a discussion leader for each group. After students have had sufficient time to complete the first study activity, form new groups and have them complete a different study activity. This process could be repeated until students have worked through all three study activities.

Another idea could be to give students time to study the materials from one of the handouts individually and to prepare a short lesson about what they learned. Students could then be given opportunities to teach their lesson to a small group, or a few volunteers could teach their lesson to the class.

Study Activity 1

Pondering and Personal Revelation

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“Helaman 10: The Lord Blesses Nephi”

What have you learned about receiving revelation in your life? In the first part of Helaman 10, we learn about an experience Nephi had in which he received revelation and power from God. Nephi’s example teaches us how we can increase our ability to receive and recognize revelation from the Lord.

Read Helaman 10:1–3, looking for what led to Nephi receiving revelation from the Lord.

What did you find?

Note the word pondering in verses 2 and 3. You may want to mark that word in your scriptures.

One truth we can learn from these verses is that pondering the things of the Lord prepares us to receive revelation.

How might you describe pondering to someone who is unsure what it is?
Why might pondering help us receive revelation?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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President M. Russell Ballard

It is important to be still and listen and follow the Spirit. We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world.

Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world, during His mortal ministry, found time to do so. (M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, May 4, 2014], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

What are some of the distractions that can make it difficult to ponder spiritual things?
What are some of the “things of the Lord” you might take time to ponder?
What experiences have you had or do you know about in which pondering led to receiving revelation?

Think of a goal you could make to apply this truth to your life. Consider recording your goal in your study journal.

Study Activity 2

Seeking to Do the Lord’s Will with Unwearyingness

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“Helaman 10: The Lord Blesses Nephi”

Reflect on a time when you were asked to do something that seemed very difficult. The Lord gave the prophet Nephi difficult commandments when He asked him to call the wicked Nephites to repentance. Even though it was hard, Nephi worked diligently to follow the Lord’s will.

Read Helaman 10:4–5 and look for what the Lord said to Nephi as a result of his faithfulness.

What are some of the words or phrases that stand out to you in these verses? Why?

One truth we can learn from these verses is that when we seek to do the Lord’s will and serve Him with unwearyingness, the Lord will bless us in many ways.

What can make it difficult to want to do the Lord’s will?
What could you remember about the Lord that would make it easier to follow His will rather than your own?

The word unwearyingness used in these verses means tirelessness or diligence.

It may be helpful to invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:33 and a related teaching the Lord has shared about unwearyingness. Students could write this reference next to Helaman 10:4–5 in their scriptures.

What are some of the ways Jesus Christ served Heavenly Father with unwearyingness?
How might you serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with unwearyingness in our day?

Think of a goal you could make to seek Heavenly Father’s will and serve Him with unwearyingness. Consider recording your goal in your study journal.

Study Activity 3

The Sealing Power

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“Helaman 10: The Lord Blesses Nephi”

Imagine the Lord granting you power to do whatever you asked of Him. To the prophet Nephi, God said He would grant anything Nephi desired because he would “not ask that which is contrary to [God’s] will” (Helaman 10:5).

Read Helaman 10:7, looking for one of the things the Lord granted Nephi the power to do.

The power described in verse 7 is called the sealing power. From this verse, we learn that the sealing power binds and looses on earth and in heaven. It may be helpful to know that to bind means to connect or link and to loose means to disconnect or dissolve.

Consider writing the verses listed in the following paragraph on the board and inviting students to write them as cross-references next to Helaman 10:7 in their scriptures.

The sealing power mentioned in verse 7 is the same sealing power held by Elijah (see 1 Kings 17:1), Peter and the apostles (see Matthew 16:15–19; 18:18), and Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:46). The keys of this same power are held today by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those to whom he may delegate them. With this power, families can be sealed together forever through temple ordinances.

Why do you think Heavenly Father wants us to make covenants that apply to this life and the next?
In what ways have you been blessed by the knowledge that families can be sealed eternally?
How does the knowledge that families can be united eternally impact your thinking or choices now?

After students have completed the learning activities, consider inviting multiple students to share something they felt was especially important or meaningful from their studies. If time permits, it could also be helpful to read Helaman 10:11–19 to see what Nephi did after this sacred experience with the Lord.

Testify of the truths studied today, and encourage the students to act on any spiritual impressions they had.

Commentary and Background Information

How can I better understand and utilize pondering?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained:

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President Henry B. Eyring

When we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully. (Henry B. Eyring, “Serve with the Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 60)

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

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Elder David A. Bednar

The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed. …

Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction. (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6–7)

How can I place the Lord’s will above my own?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

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Elder Dale G. Renlund

When we consider the goodness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our trust in Them increases. Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His children. We seek not to change His will but to align our will with His and secure for ourselves blessings that He wants to grant, conditioned on our asking for them. We yearn to be more meek, more pure, more steadfast, more Christlike. These changes qualify us for additional heavenly blessings. (Dale G. Renlund, “Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 43)

What are some modern-day examples of the truths studied today?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about God’s love and timing in giving revelation.

The following video illustrates the value of the sealing power available in the Lord’s temples.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Helaman 10:11–12. Responding promptly to the Lord’s direction

Think about emphasizing Nephi’s example of a prompt response to the Lord’s direction. Consider inviting students to read Helaman 10:11–12 and to identify what the Lord commanded Nephi to do and how he responded. The following questions might be helpful in discussing these verses:

When have you seen someone respond promptly to the Lord’s direction?

What are some examples of ways a teenager might respond promptly to the Lord’s direction?

Helaman 10:2–3. Pondering prepares us for revelation

To further emphasize the principle that pondering prepares us for revelation, you might have students identify the same pattern in 1 Nephi 11:1; Doctrine and Covenants 76:19; and Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–2, 11.