Seminary
3 Nephi 13–14: The Teachings of Christ

“3 Nephi 13–14: The Teachings of Christ,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“3 Nephi 13–14,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

3 Nephi 13–14

The Teachings of Christ

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Christ smiling at the people in the ancient Americas

Imagine what it must have been like for the people in the land of Bountiful to listen to the resurrected Savior teach. We are blessed to have part of His message recorded in 3 Nephi 13–14. These chapters are filled with principles that are as meaningful today as they were to the people who were there when He declared them. The purpose of this lesson is to help you identify principles from the Savior’s teachings and see their relevance in your life today.

What counsel would you give?

Think of a skill that you have developed through experience. It could be a sport, hobby, or school subject or a skill such as driving, cooking a specific dish, or taking care of a pet.

Imagine that after briefly explaining your skill to someone, they show interest in trying it.

Think of one piece of advice you could give them from your experience. It could be a tip that otherwise might have taken them a while to figure out, or it could help them avoid a common mistake people make in learning your skill.

Summarize your advice in a simple cause-and-effect statement. (For example, if the skill was distance running, you might say, “If you stay hydrated, then your muscles will recover more quickly.”)

Just as your knowledge and counsel could help someone who is learning your skill to succeed and to avoid unnecessary mistakes, Jesus Christ’s counsel can bless and protect you from mistakes.

Today you will have the blessing of studying 3 Nephi 13–14, which is a continuation of the Savior’s incomparable sermon that is also found in Matthew 5–7. Jesus continued teaching the higher law that helps us prepare to live in the presence of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:21–22). As you study His counsel, look for how His teachings are relevant to situations that you face. Pause often to ponder the principles you discover and record how following the truths He taught will prepare you to return to His presence.

Cause-and-effect statements in the scriptures

One effective way to study the teachings of the Lord is to look for cause-and-effect relationships. Many times, these statements begin with the word if. These statements can help you see clearly which choices lead to which results. In speaking of cause-and-effect (or conditional) statements, Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy declared:

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Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

The Lord also operates through conditions: conditions of faith, conditions of righteousness, conditions of repentance. There are many examples of conditional statements from God such as: …

“If ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, [then] he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4). …

“If ye keep my commandments, [then] ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:10). (Kevin S. Hamilton, “Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong,” Liahona, May 2022, 50, brackets and emphasis in the original)

Notice in Elder Hamilton’s examples that the word if comes before our required actions. The effects or results of our actions are then described.

As Jesus Christ taught the people in the land Bountiful, some of the important principles He taught were stated as cause-and-effect relationships that included the word if. For example, read 3 Nephi 13:14–15 and consider marking the word if in each verse.

Notice that in Elder Hamilton’s example, he inserted the word then into each statement to emphasize the results of our choices. You might want to record the word then in your scriptures where you think it fits in verses 14–15.

Rewording the Savior’s teachings as cause-and-effect statements

Some of Jesus’s teachings don’t include the word if. However, with careful thought and help from the Holy Ghost, you can notice cause-and-effect relationships that clarify principles He taught. Read at least three of the following passages and write a simple cause-and-effect statement for each passage that reflects the Savior’s counsel.

You may want to restate what He taught as an “if-then” statement. For example: After studying 3 Nephi 13:1–4, someone might write, “If our motive for helping the poor is Christlike, then our reward will come from Heavenly Father.” We can learn from this passage that our motives for righteous actions are important to our Heavenly Father, who loves to bless those who are becoming more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

  1. Record the three cause-and-effect statements you created, and briefly explain what each means to you. Then answer the questions from two of the following bullets:

    • Why do you think the Savior wants people today to know what He taught in these chapters? Which of His teachings do you think are most needed in our day?

    • How could a teenager apply one of the cause-and-effect principles you created from these chapters at home? at school? in their future adult lives? How could it help him or her?

    • Which of the Savior’s teachings in these chapters best relates to a situation you are facing in your life? How do you think He would have you use the counsel He gave?