1 Nephi 1–5

Overview

Lehi was called by God to preach repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He obeyed a revelation from the Lord to move his family into the wilderness. His son Nephi turned to the Lord for further understanding and had his heart softened. After traveling for days through the wilderness, Nephi and his brothers faced a test of their obedience and faith in God when they were commanded to return to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates from Laban.

Prepare to Teach

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

1 Nephi 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students feel the importance of receiving and following God’s prophets.

• Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share recent warnings they have heard from prophets and to ponder how they have responded to those warnings.

• Images: The images of a river and a waterfall from the lesson

• Video: “The Lord Commands Lehi’s Family to Leave Jerusalem” (18:14; watch from time code 0:39 to 5:53 and from time code 5:53 to 7:26)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: During the final activity, when students are preparing their response to the text message from a friend, invite them to wait to share it until everyone has finished. Use the chat feature to allow everyone to submit their responses at the same time. This way students will come up with their own response but will also have a chance to review the thinking of others.

1 Nephi 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students feel a greater desire to turn to the Lord when He asks them to do difficult things.

• Student preparation: Ask a friend or family member, “When have you sought and received the Lord’s help to believe and obey His words, even when it was difficult?”

• Image: Map of the possible route taken by Lehi’s family out of Jerusalem

• Videos: “Lehi Counsels with His Family to Leave Jerusalem” (2:27); “Nephi Prays for Laman and Lemuel” (6:02); “The Prophet of God” (16:04; watch from time code 11:51 to 12:37)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: After displaying the map of the possible route taken by Lehi’s family into the wilderness and explaining the distance they likely traveled, consider using an online map application to show students some locations that are a similar distance from where they live. Students could be invited to imagine what it would be like to travel there without a motorized vehicle, knowing they must bring any belongings that they wish to keep with them.

1 Nephi 3

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students exercise faith in God to accomplish what He asks them to do.

• Student preparation: Invite students to try to memorize the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Nephi 3:7 and to think about how it applies to situations they face in their lives.

• Video: “Nephi Is Led by the Spirit to Obtain the Plates of Brass” (25:44; watch from time code 4:43 to 8:18 and from time code 8:18 to 15:10)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: A possible way to begin the lesson is to invite students to show on their camera something that means a lot to them or their family because of the effort required to earn or obtain it. Invite some students to talk about the significance of their item and how it was earned or obtained. Then show an image of Lehi’s family holding the brass plates, and invite a student to explain what Lehi’s family had to do to obtain them and why they were so determined to do so.

Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Nephi 3:7

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Nephi 3:7, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to realistic scenarios.

• Student preparation: Invite students to think of experiences they or loved ones have had that show the Lord prepares a way to accomplish what He asks of us.

• Image to display: Nephi speaking to his father, Lehi

• Content to display: The instructions and questions pertaining to the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge (beginning with “Act in faith” in the “Practice application” section)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Rather than using the suggested scenarios in the “Practice application” section, consider inviting students to post in the chat real situations in which a commandment is difficult to keep. (Remind them not to post anything too personal about themselves or others.) Students could then choose one of their classmates’ posts to focus on while they apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

1 Nephi 4–5

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to strengthen students’ trust in Heavenly Father and His willingness to guide them.

• Student preparation: Give students a copy of President Russell M. Nelson’s statement that appears at the beginning of the lesson. Invite them to come prepared with ideas of situations in which they could personally benefit from receiving the Lord’s guidance.

• Videos: “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” (20:28; watch from time code 9:14 to 9:40); “The Spirit Directs Nephi to Slay Laban” (3:26); “Nephi Obtains the Sacred Records” (4:20)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Before students gather for class, consider inviting a few of them to come prepared to share experiences of being guided by the Holy Ghost. Look for opportunities throughout the discussion to allow students to testify of the Lord’s power to guide them.