1 Nephi 11

“Behold the Condescension of God!”

The scriptures teach us what is “most desirable” and “most joyous to the soul” of all the things we enjoy in this life (1 Nephi 11:22–23). As Nephi conversed with heavenly messengers, he had a vision of the Savior of the world and received his own understanding of what brings the most joy: God’s love. This lesson can help you feel Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love for you.

Loving those you teach. Everything the Savior did throughout His earthly ministry was motivated by love. As you follow His example, love will be the reason and motivation for your teaching. Love will influence what you do and how you interact with students.

Student preparation: Invite students to bring something to class that illustrates one way God shows His love for them.

Possible Learning Activities

The importance of the love of God

Sister Susan H. Porter of the Primary General Presidency said:

When you know and understand how completely you are loved as a child of God, it changes everything. (Susan H. Porter, “God’s Love: The Most Joyous to the Soul,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 33)

• What might change when someone knows and understands God’s love for them?

• How might feeling you are loved by God influence your life?

Consider giving students a moment to ponder how much they feel God’s love and evidence they see of His love in their lives. Invite students, as they study 1 Nephi 11, to look for evidence of the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for them.

Nephi’s vision

Invite students to recall the main symbols from Lehi’s dream recorded in 1 Nephi 8. If students need help, invite them to briefly review that chapter.

• What main symbols can you recall from Lehi’s dream recorded in 1 Nephi 8?

Nephi deeply wanted to understand the meaning of his father’s dream and believed the Lord would make it known to him. As he pondered in his heart, the Spirit of the Lord appeared and showed him the tree of life. When Nephi asked to know the interpretation of the tree, an angel appeared to help him learn more about what he was seeing in vision (see 1 Nephi 11:1–14).

As part of helping Nephi understand the meaning of the tree, the angel asked Nephi a question. Read 1 Nephi 11:16 to see what question was asked.

Consider dividing students into pairs and having them ask each other and respond to the question in verse 16 before they read verse 17.

• How would you respond to the question in verse 16?

Read verse 17 to see how Nephi responded.

• What stands out to you about Nephi’s response in verse 17?

“Condescension” means the voluntary descent from a position of rank or dignity. For example, the act of the Savior washing His disciples’ feet could be considered an act of condescension (see John 13:3–17). While the condescension of God described in these verses could also teach about Heavenly Father’s condescension, this lesson primarily focuses on the condescension of Jesus Christ.

Read what Nephi saw in 1 Nephi 11:13–23, looking for evidence of the condescension of God.

• What evidence did you find of the condescension of God?

• What truths do you learn about the condescension of God?

One truth we can learn is that the condescension of God demonstrates His love for us.

• How do you think the Savior’s birth demonstrates this truth?

Read 1 Nephi 11:26–33, looking for additional ways that Jesus condescended to show His love for mankind.

Consider dividing students into groups or pairs and assigning them smaller portions of 1 Nephi 11:26–33. After they read their assigned verses, they could discuss the following questions with their groups or partners.

Another idea is to show images of the parts of the Savior’s life mentioned in these verses. Then invite students to find New Testament accounts that describe the event depicted in each image.

Students could also view a picture, find the corresponding New Testament account, and explain how the account illustrates the condescension of God.

• What evidence of the Savior’s condescension did you find?

• How do these acts demonstrate His love?

• What are other examples from Jesus Christ’s life that you feel demonstrate His love and condescension?

Read what Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said about how these events help us see the Savior’s love for us. Or you may want to watch the video “The Eternal Everyday” from time code 4:01 to 4:43, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The Savior’s example of humility and sacrifice for all mankind is the most profound event in history. The Savior, even as a member of the Godhead, was willing to come to earth as a lowly infant and begin an existence that included teaching and healing His brothers and sisters and ultimately suffering indescribable pain in Gethsemane and on the cross in order to perfect His Atonement. This act of love and humility on the part of Christ is known as His condescension. He did this for every man and woman God has created or will create. (Quentin L. Cook, “The Eternal Everyday,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 52)

• How does Elder Cook’s statement help you better understand the condescension of God?

Continued blessings of the Savior’s condescension

The Savior’s condescension continues to be evidence of His love for us today.

Consider sharing how you have been blessed by the Savior’s condescension. This could help students feel Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love for them.

Watch the video “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (3:39), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, looking for ways the children in the video share how they feel His love.

Students may benefit from answering the following questions in their study journal.

• How have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ demonstrated Their love for you?

• How does what They have done influence how you feel about Them?

• What do you feel motivated to do to show your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

After students have had time to write, consider inviting willing students to share their thoughts and feelings. If students did the preparation for class, they could share the item they brought and explain how that item helps them feel God’s love for them.

Commentary and Background Information

Who is the Spirit that speaks to Nephi at the beginning of this vision?

Elder James E. Talmage (1862–1933) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

That the Spirit of the Lord is capable of manifesting Himself in the form and figure of a man, is indicated by the wonderful interview between the Spirit and Nephi, in which He revealed Himself to the prophet, questioned him concerning his desires and belief, instructed him in the things of God, speaking face to face with the man.” (James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith [1968], 159–60; see also Marion G. Romney, “The Holy Ghost,” Ensign, May 1974, 90–92)

What have Church leaders taught about the condescension of God?

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) said:

When we reflect upon the holiness and perfections of our great Master, who has opened a way whereby we may come unto him, even by the sacrifice of himself, our hearts melt within us for his condescension. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2011], 53–54)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Jesus was the Firstborn among spirits and the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. Although we are not begotten of God in the flesh, we are, just as Jesus, the spirit offspring of God. Thus, our birth into mortality is also something of a condescension, and like Christ’s, it has a noble purpose. Just as Jesus, we came down from heaven to do the will of Him that sent us and to achieve, with the grace of Christ, immortality and eternal life. Might it be important for us, as we seek to “ascend up on high,” also to descend below at least some things that we might comprehend more fully and become more Christlike? If Jesus needed certain experiences, might we also require some challenges and trials, “that [our] bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that [we] may know according to the flesh how to succor [one another] according to [our] infirmities” [Alma 7:12]? (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Condescension of God and of Man” [First Presidency Christmas devotional, Dec. 7, 2014], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

For more about the condescension of God, you can read an article by Bishop Richard C. Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric, “The Condescension of God,” Ensign, Dec. 2001, 16–21.

Supplemental Learning Activities

1 Nephi 11:34–36. “The great and spacious building”

Consider inviting students to recall details about the great and spacious building mentioned in Lehi’s dream. Invite them to briefly review 1 Nephi 8:26–28, 31–34, if needed.

Invite students to read 1 Nephi 11:34–36, looking for the meaning of the great and spacious building. Ask them what that means to them and what they learn from the symbolism of the building falling. Ask why they think those in the building “fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (verse 35), and invite them to share how that could happen in our day.

Invite students to share ways they can stand with the Apostles or experiences they have had that strengthen their testimonies that the Apostles really are “apostles of the Lamb.” Invite students to set a goal to stand by the Savior and His chosen Apostles.

1 Nephi 11. “Look!”

During their time with Nephi, the Spirit and an angel of the Lord told Nephi many times to look. Invite students to search 1 Nephi 11 for the word look and to take note of what Nephi was shown.

Remind students that one of the main purposes of the Holy Ghost is to testify of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (see 3 Nephi 28:11).

Ask students to share how the Holy Ghost has pointed their attention to Jesus Christ and helped them learn about Him.

Invite students to ask Heavenly Father to point them to the Savior as they study the Book of Mormon. Remind students to pay attention to promptings of the Spirit that will guide them to look and behold the Lamb of God (see 1 Nephi 11:31).