2 Nephi 5:1–9

The Warnings of God

It must have been heartbreaking for Nephi. Because Laman and Lemuel planned to kill him, Nephi was warned to take “those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God” (2 Nephi 5:6) and flee into the wilderness. At times, we too may be warned by the Lord of physical and spiritual dangers around us. This lesson can help you to follow the warnings that the Lord lovingly gives to protect you.

Fostering an environment of acceptance and respect. Cultivate a feeling of belonging in each learner by genuinely recognizing that each student is needed, valuing a variety of backgrounds and circumstances, and providing opportunities for students to draw strength from one another and the Savior. You can also help students see that they play a role in God’s work.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to come to class prepared to share an experience when someone gave them a warning that they were grateful for.

Possible Learning Activities

Warnings

Consider displaying some warning signs and asking questions like the following to help students discuss how warnings can be blessings.

You might also consider putting something dirty or sticky on one of the seats and placing warning signs all around that seat before class.

• Why are warning signs like these important?

• Why might some people look at warning signs with gratitude? with irritation?

• When have you been grateful you were warned?

As you study today, think about why God sends us warnings. Try also to remember different ways that you may have reacted to warnings He has given.

God’s warnings for Nephi

Read 2 Nephi 5:1–9, looking for a warning that the Lord gave Nephi after he became the spiritual leader of the family following Lehi’s death. Or you may want to watch the video “The Nephites Flee into the Wilderness” from time code 0:00–3:21.

The Nephites Flee into the Wilderness | 2 Nephi 4:17–30; 5:2–6

Try to put yourself in the place of one of the Nephite teenagers whose families were invited to follow Nephi.

• Why might it have been difficult to leave?

• What would it take for you to make the decision to follow Nephi into the wilderness?

• According to verse 6, what determined who went with him?

One truth we can learn from this account is that God can lead us away from danger if we choose to believe His revelations and hearken to His prophets.

A class discussion may help students to feel grateful that God loves us enough to warn us of dangers.

To facilitate a discussion, you might encourage students to try to imagine how the world (or their personal lives) would be different if God never warned us about anything. Then invite students to share their thoughts with the class. As students discuss their thoughts, help them see that God’s warnings are a sign of His love and care for us. The following video and some of the following questions could be used to further the class discussion.

You may want to watch the video “Enemy Territory” (3:38), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, looking for how God’s warnings can bless our lives.

Enemy Territory

• Why do you think we need God’s warnings in our day?

• What are different ways that God makes His warnings known to people in general and to individuals about their specific circumstances?

• What are reasons that someone might choose not to follow God’s warnings, and how might you respond to someone who gives one of these reasons?

• How have you or your loved ones been protected by following warnings from God? Share a specific example if you can think of one.

God warns us through His prophets

One of the ways God lovingly warns us of danger is through His living prophets. For example, in 2 Nephi 5:5–6, many of Nephi’s family hearkened to the warning given to him by the Lord to depart into the wilderness. (See also Amos 3:7.) We also find many prophetic warnings from God for us in His scriptures.

Take some time to search the scriptures for warnings that God has given us through His prophets in the past. (Some examples include Alma 41:10; Moroni 10:30, 32; Doctrine and Covenants 63:57–58; 89:1–4.)

Consider allowing students to find warnings from God in the scriptures on their own. You could provide the examples above or other examples if they need help.

Display the following questions while they study. Then invite them to share their answers in small groups.

• What warnings did you find that you think the world most needs today?

• What do you think the consequences are for obeying or disregarding these warnings?

• How are these warnings a sign of God’s love?

• How will obeying the warnings you found help you become more like Jesus Christ?

• How can ignoring His warnings distance us from Him?

God’s warnings for you

Consider sharing a personal experience when you were blessed by following a warning from God.

Then give students sufficient quiet time to ponder and write their thoughts and feelings in their study journal to finish the lesson. The following statement and prompts may be helpful to prepare students before writing.

President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church. (Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 18)

• Has Heavenly Father been warning me of something specific in my life through thoughts or feelings from the Spirit?

• Are there specific warnings from God that I have received through Church leaders, parents, priesthood blessings, or other means? How am I doing at following them?

• What is one thing that I think Heavenly Father wants me to do with what I learned or felt today?

Commentary and Background Information

How can I find spiritual safety in the world today?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:

There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is constancy in the way He shows us the path. He calls by more than one means so that it will reach those willing to accept it. And those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets, whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety. (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 24)

President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

As a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the promptings that come from the Holy Spirit. (Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 18)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Doctrinal mastery: Ezekiel 3:16–17

When talking about the role of prophets to warn, consider reading Ezekiel 3:16–17 and discussing how prophets are like watchmen. Invite students to share why a prophet’s perspective and view of situations may differ from other people’s views.

Separating ourselves from wickedness

Invite students to share examples from the scriptures of the Lord warning a person or group of people to separate themselves from a wicked situation. (Examples might include 1 Nephi 2:1–2; Omni 1:12–13; or Ether 9:2–3.)

Invite students to share examples in our day of when it might be best to separate ourselves from spiritually dangerous situations. Invite volunteers to share how they have been blessed by following a warning from God to separate themselves from such a situation.

It might also be helpful to discuss ways they can receive help and protection from God if it’s not possible to move away from a spiritually dangerous situation for a time.

We can trust God’s warnings

Consider bringing two containers to class, one with something good inside and one with something even better inside.

Tell a volunteer that they can have what is in one of the containers, but they have to choose without knowing what is in them. Ask the volunteer to leave the room for a minute before choosing. While he or she is gone, show several students what is in each container. Instruct some of them to warn the student against choosing the good one and some of them to warn the volunteer against choosing the better one. Then invite the volunteer back into the room and allow the students to try to influence his or her decision. After the volunteer chooses, ask why it was difficult to know whose opinions and warnings they should listen to.

Invite students to share things that the world feels are safe and good but that the Lord through His prophets has warned us about. Invite students to share why we can trust God’s warnings and perspective over the opinions of people in the world.