“Helaman 13, Part 1: The Lord’s Mercy,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)
“Helaman 13, Part 1,” Book of Mormon Student Manual
Helaman 13, Part 1
The Lord’s Mercy
How do you think God feels about us when we have sinned? Many Nephites rebelled against God and His commandments, so God sent Samuel the Lamanite to them with a clear message to repent so they could be forgiven. This lesson can help you better understand the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature.
Misery from sin
President Russell M. Nelson told the following story about a woman in difficult circumstances. Think about what you would want her to know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Watch “Repentance and Conversion,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 0:00 to 0:50, or read the following statement.
While Elder David S. Baxter and I were driving to a stake conference, we stopped at a restaurant. Later when returning to our car, we were approached by a woman who called out to us. We were startled by her appearance. Her grooming (or lack of it) was what I might politely call “extreme.” She asked if we were elders in the Church. We said yes. Almost unrestrained, she told the story of her tragic life, swamped in sin. Now, only 28 years old, she was miserable. She felt worthless, with nothing to live for. … Pleading tearfully, she asked if there was any hope for her, any way up and out of her hopelessness. (Russell M. Nelson, “Repentance and Conversion,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 102)
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If you were to talk to this woman, what truths about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would you want her to know?
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What would you do to try to help this woman?
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How might her current feelings influence her desire to turn to the Savior?
Perhaps you or someone you know has also felt worthless or unforgivable. Ponder what you truly believe about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and forgiveness.
As you study this lesson, look for insights into Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s nature and how They feel about us even when we sin. Ponder how these truths may help you and those you know.
Samuel the Lamanite
Like this woman, the Nephites had become entrenched in sin. In His love, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel with a message for them.
Read Helaman 13:5–8, 11, 39; 14:11–13; 15:3, and look for what you learn about the Lord, especially insights that may help us when we have sinned. (It may be helpful to know that to chasten [see Helaman 15:3] means to correct or discipline. See Guide to the Scriptures, “Chasten, Chastening,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
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Answer the following questions:
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Why would it be a blessing to receive a warning about the negative consequences we will face if we do not repent? How does the Lord’s correction show His love?
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Why would the message of Jesus Christ coming into the world, along with our ability to repent, be “glad tidings”? (Helaman 13:7).
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What phrases show the Lord’s willingness to forgive if the Nephites repent, even though they had committed serious sin?
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The Lord’s mercy and forgiveness
One truth we learn from these passages is that the Lord mercifully warns people of the consequences of sin and forgives those who repent.
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) testified that “all are within the reach of pardoning mercy” (“Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Published in Times and Seasons,” 577, josephsmithpapers.org).
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How might understanding the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature affect the way we feel about our sins and about repentance?
It is important to understand that though the Lord is merciful, He is also perfectly just. He does not ignore or dismiss the consequences of our sins. But because the Savior paid for our sins in His Atonement and “satisfied the demands of justice” (Mosiah 15:9), He offers us forgiveness when we repent.
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How might knowing of the Lord’s perfect justice and mercy influence your relationship with Him?
Imagine the difference a deeper understanding of the Lord could make to the woman President Nelson spoke of at the beginning of the lesson. Prepare an explanation for her by doing the following:
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Complete activity A or B, and use your responses to complete activity C.
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Select at least two phrases from the verses you read in Helaman, or identify other passages that illustrate the Lord’s forgiving nature as we repent, such as Mosiah 26:30 or Moroni 6:8. How could these phrases help this woman?
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Without sharing details regarding past sins, provide an example from your life, the lives of others, or the scriptures in which the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature is evident. To see some examples, you could review Luke 7:36–50 or Enos 1:1–8 or watch “Painted into a Corner” (3:41). This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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Using the passages or example you identified, help the woman understand that the Lord extends His mercy and forgiveness to us as we repent.
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President Nelson shared what happened with this woman. Watch “Repentance and Conversion” from time code 0:50 to 1:27, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the following statement.
As she spoke, the sweetness of her soul began to emerge. Pleading tearfully, she asked if there was any hope for her, any way up and out of her hopelessness.
“Yes,” we responded, “there is hope. Hope is linked to repentance. You can change. You can ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him’ [Moroni 10:32].” We urged her not to procrastinate [see Alma 13:27; 34:33]. She sobbed humbly and thanked us sincerely. (Russell M. Nelson, “Repentance and Conversion,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 102)
The next lesson will focus on repentance and how we can overcome any obstacles we face to our repentance.
Take the time to sincerely ponder how better understanding the Lord can help you when you have sinned. Write down what you learned and felt that was most meaningful to you and why. Think about how better understanding the Lord’s merciful and forgiving nature and repenting often could bring more peace to your life.
Consider sharing what you learned and felt today with someone you love.