Helaman 13–16

Overview

Many Nephites rebelled against God and His commandments, so God sent Samuel the Lamanite to them with a message to repent. Samuel risked his life to teach them that repentance is a gift from Jesus Christ that leads to happiness and salvation. As part of his prophecies, he told of signs that would announce the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Helaman 13–16

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand the role of prophets and how they help us.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share how they know the Lord was with His ancient prophets and is now with His modern prophets.
Content to display: The chart at the beginning of the lesson; images of Samuel the Lamanite, Noah, Moses, Peter, and Joseph Smith
Materials for students: Several copies of recent general conference editions of the Liahona magazine
Videoconference teaching suggestion: As students review examples of how God was with Noah, Moses, Peter, and Joseph Smith, consider dividing the class into four breakout rooms. Each room could be assigned to study and prepare to share about one of these prophets when the groups come back together.

Helaman 13, Part 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students better understand the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share how they felt after experiencing the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature in their lives. Remind them not to share anything too personal.
Videos: “Repentance and Conversion” (14:35; watch from time code 0:00 to 0:50 and from 0:50 to 1:27); “Painted into a Corner” (3:41)
Content to display: The instructions for activities A, B, and C
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting the full-time missionaries serving in your area to come to the class and share a story about someone they have taught on their mission who experienced the mercy and love of Jesus Christ through repentance. Be sure to receive permission from your coordinator or program administrator and local priesthood leaders before extending the invitation.

Helaman 13, Part 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students overcome any obstacles to repentance.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how many of the following words they would use to describe repentance and why: punishment, hope, blessing, change, progress, misery.
Image to display: A mountain lake
Materials for students: A copy of President Russell M. Nelson’s three-paragraph statement for each student
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Display President Nelson’s statements from the lesson on the screen. Allow students to use the drawing feature to mark phrases they think can help us overcome obstacles to repentance. Invite students to share why they marked what they did.

Helaman 14

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students strengthen their belief in Jesus Christ as they understand signs God has given us.

Student preparation: Invite students to prepare to share how light could be compared to Jesus Christ. They could think about flashlights, light bulbs, or natural lights like the sun and stars.
Content to display: An announcement for an event in your life that you sent to loved ones in advance; a matching quiz
Materials for students: Paper, crayons, markers, and other materials for creating an announcement
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to create digital announcements for the birth or death of the Savior. Then allow students to share their screens as they explain the announcements they created. Or students can create announcements using paper, markers, or crayons and simply show them on camera.

Doctrinal Mastery Review 18

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the truths taught in various Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passages.

Student preparation: Invite students to prayerfully choose a Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passage that could bless their life as they study it.
Materials for students: Paper for individuals and groups
Content to display: “Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery: Alma–Moroni”; a picture of Jesus Christ
Videoconference teaching suggestion: At the beginning of the lesson, students will be invited to write a few sentences about themselves. If possible, invite students to send their responses to you directly using the private chat feature. This will allow students to guess who wrote the responses when you read them to the class.