1 Nephi 13:20–42

Plain and Precious Truths

The Restoration of the Savior’s gospel is a blessing in so many ways. One blessing is that it brings to light many of the plain and precious truths that were lost from the Bible. Nephi saw the events of the Restoration long before they happened and understood the important role that his record would play in the Restoration. This lesson can help you understand how the Book of Mormon and other revealed scripture help restore plain and precious truths of the Savior’s gospel.

Safety check

A bicycle is a simple and effective form of transportation. Cycling can also be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. What are some of the essential parts that allow a person to operate a bicycle safely and effectively? Imagine you owned a bicycle and someone intentionally removed certain essential parts from it.

• What might those actions indicate about his or her feelings toward you?

• What could happen if you attempted to operate the bicycle with missing parts?

• Who might you contact to repair and restore your bicycle to function properly?

In a similar way, Satan has sought to harm and confuse God’s children by removing and changing important parts of Jesus Christ’s gospel. As you study 1 Nephi 13, look for what the Savior has done to help us overcome Satan’s obstacles.

There are many who stumble

Nephi was shown in vision important events of the latter days, including a book being brought to the promised land by the Gentiles. Read about the book in 1 Nephi 13:20–25 and look for what it contained.

• What did you learn from your reading?

Consider making a note in verse 20 that the book Nephi beheld refers to the Holy Bible. Making notes in your scriptures can help you personalize them and increase the effectiveness of your scripture study. For example, making notes in your scriptures may help you remember spiritual insights in the future or be a blessing to you or others in a moment of need.

• What did you notice about the way the Bible was described?

Read 1 Nephi 13:26–29, looking for what happened to the Bible after it went forth from the “apostles of the Lamb.”

• What happened to the Bible?

• How could the removal of plain and precious truths from the Bible cause people to stumble spiritually?

• How are these verses similar to the bicycle analogy?

“The gift and power of the Lamb”

After witnessing that plain and precious truths were altered or removed from the Bible, Nephi learned that the Lord in His mercy would not allow the world to remain confused or blinded (see 1 Nephi 13:30–34). Nephi saw that the gospel would be restored in its fulness through the “gift and power of the Lamb” (1 Nephi 13:35).

To learn how the Savior accomplished this, read 1 Nephi 13:35–39 and consider marking the following phrases and noting their meaning in your scriptures or study journal.

Scripture reference and phrase	Interpretation
Scripture reference and phrase 1 Nephi 13:35 “these things”	Interpretation The Book of Mormon
Scripture reference and phrase 1 Nephi 13:39 “other books”	Interpretation Includes the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Scripture reference and phrase 1 Nephi 13:39 “records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb”	Interpretation The Holy Bible

Read 1 Nephi 13:40–41, looking for a description of what the scriptures of the Restoration will make known unto all people.

• What did you discover?

Consider recording the following truth in your scriptures or study journal: The Book of Mormon and other latter-day scriptures restore plain and precious truths that testify of Jesus Christ and establish the fulness of His everlasting gospel.

• Why do you think the truths from the Savior’s gospel are described as plain and precious?

• What do you learn about the Lord from His role in restoring plain and precious truths?

• What is a truth or teaching from latter-day scripture that is plain and precious to you?

• How has that truth helped you draw closer to Jesus Christ?

Plain and precious truths restored

The following are some examples of plain and precious truths that have been restored. Choose at least two topics that you would like to study. Read the Bible reference in parentheses first and imagine what is contained in the verse or verses is all anyone ever knew on the subject. What questions might that raise for you? Next, read the additional scripture references from the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price. Record the plain and precious truths you discover from your chosen topics.

1. Record the plain and precious truths you discover from your chosen topics. Include in your response why you are grateful that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored these plain and precious truths.

   The Godhead (Matthew 3:16–17)

   • Joseph Smith—History 1:17

   • Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23

   The Atonement of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:41–44)

   • Alma 7:11–13

   • Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19

   Premortal life (Jeremiah 1:5)

   • Abraham 3:22–25

   • Doctrine and Covenants 138:55–56

   The sacrament (Matthew 26:26–28)

   • Moroni 4:1–3; 5:1–2

   • Doctrine and Covenants 59:8–12

   The gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:14–15)

   • 3 Nephi 11:31–35; 27:13–21

   • Articles of Faith 1:4

   • What did you learn about your chosen topic?

   • How can this truth help you rejoice in and better follow Jesus Christ?

   • Why are you grateful that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ brought forth additional scripture and restored plain and precious truths?

Optional: Want to Learn More?

How does the Book of Mormon help me come unto Jesus Christ?

In the video “Bishop Caussé—Plain and Precious Truths (for Youth)” (0:48), Bishop Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of the Church, taught how the Book of Mormon teaches us about Jesus Christ and invites us to come unto Him.

1 Nephi 13:20–29. Why are the Book of Mormon and other latter-day scripture so important?

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 217). He also said that he believed the Bible “as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers” and that “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 207).

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

Elements … missing from the Bible were both “plain and most precious.” They were plain in their simplicity and clarity, being easy to “the understanding of … men”; they were precious in their purity and profound worth, their saving significance and eternal importance to the children of God. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 5)

Should I still study the Bible along with the Book of Mormon and other latter-day scripture?

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

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16). We love the Bible and other scriptures. That may be surprising to some who may not be aware of our belief in the Bible as the revealed word of God. It is one of the pillars of our faith, a powerful witness of the Savior and of Christ’s ongoing influence in the lives of those who worship and follow Him. The more we read and study the Bible and its teachings, the more clearly we see the doctrinal underpinnings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. …

You young people especially, do not discount or devalue the Holy Bible. It is the sacred, holy record of the Lord’s life. (M. Russell Ballard, “The Miracle of the Holy Bible,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 81–82)