2 Nephi 29

Receive More of God’s Word

Many people believe the Bible to be the word of God. However, not all of them are willing to receive more of God’s word than they already have. Nephi prophesied that in the last days, many people would reject the Book of Mormon because they already had the Bible. The Lord wants us to know that His gospel is for all people and that His word is not limited to the Bible. This lesson is intended to help you be more willing to receive the Lord’s word in your life.

Learning from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are scriptural companions and support one another in teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ. In addition, the Book of Mormon restores plain and precious truths that have been lost from the Bible. Help students understand that when we study the Book of Mormon, it can clarify our understanding of the doctrine in the Bible.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about what they are doing to be receptive to communication from God.

Possible Learning Activities

Be willing to receive greater understanding

Imagine that Oliver, at age 15, decided that all the information and technology available to him at that point would be all he would ever need.

If needed, consider adjusting the year in the following question to make it more relevant to your students.

• What would Oliver be missing out on if he decided this in the year 1950? What information or technology has become available since then?

• How can this situation relate to learning spiritual truths?

Invite students to think about what blessings come from being willing or even eager to learn from God.

As you read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson, think about what it could mean for you.

Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!” [“Meek and Lowly” (Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 21, 1986), 9, speeches.byu.edu]. (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)

To help students evaluate their receptiveness to God’s word in their lives, consider distributing the following handout and inviting students to complete it individually.

My Desire to Learn Spiritual Truths from God

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“2 Nephi 29: Receive More of God’s Word”

Take a moment to reflect on your attitude about receiving spiritual truths from God. Try to see what you are doing well and where you can potentially improve.

• Rarely: 1

• Sometimes: 2

• Often: 3

• Always: 4

I value and study both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

I look for answers to my questions by studying the scriptures.

I seek to learn from God and about Him through the scriptures.

I seek and follow personal revelation from the Holy Ghost.

I study the words spoken at general conference to learn what God wants me to know.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

As you study today, look for what you can do to continue learning all that God wants to teach you.

Different attitudes to receiving God’s word

In 2 Nephi 28–29, Nephi prophesied about the attitude some people in the latter days would have about receiving more of God’s word. Read 2 Nephi 28:29 and 2 Nephi 29:3, looking for what Nephi and the Lord taught about how some people would react to receiving additional scripture in the last days.

• What did you find?

• What are some reasons people might have this view?

Consider demonstrating the following as an object lesson. Discuss what an upside-down cup cannot do, and help students compare this with those who reject the Book of Mormon.

Take an empty cup and think about what it can be used for. Now turn it upside down. Can it still be used the way it was meant to be used? Compare this with the Book of Mormon and its potential influence in someone’s life.

• What knowledge and blessings do you think God wants us to receive through the Book of Mormon?

During the object lesson above, flip the cup right side up to symbolize being ready to receive. You could hand out small slips of paper to each student. Invite each student to write down at least one thing God wants us to know or receive through the Book of Mormon. Students could fill up the cup with their responses. Consider reading these aloud to help students recognize what great blessings are available to those willing to receive them.

Read 2 Nephi 29:7–11, looking for what Jesus Christ wants people who reject the Book of Mormon to know.

Some students may discover more if they read with others in a small group. Consider dividing students into groups to read verses 7–11 if it would better meet their needs.

• What is a truth you learned about Jesus Christ from these verses?

Give students an opportunity to share different truths, and invite the students to explain what impact these truths could have.

One truth we can learn is that God remembers all people and speaks to them in all nations.

• What are some of the different ways God speaks to His children in all nations?

• What experiences have helped you realize that God remembers you and speaks to you?

Watch “A Book of Mormon Story” (5:15), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to see how one man was blessed by being receptive to God’s word.

Consider concluding the lesson by inviting students to reflect on how they can be more receptive to God’s word. One way to do this is to invite students to complete the following steps in their study journal. After students have had sufficient time to complete the steps, testify of the truths you have discussed.

1. Make a list of all the ways God has made His word available to you.

2. Reflect on how willing you are to receive God’s word through each of these ways. (You might draw a simple cup next to each way you feel most receptive to hearing the Lord.)

3. Write down one or more changes you can make to be more ready to receive God’s word in more of these ways.

Commentary and Background Information

What can I do to hear what God wants me to hear?

Watch “#HearHim: President Nelson Invites Us to Hear the Voice of the Lord” (2:32) to learn important counsel from President Russell M. Nelson.

President Nelson also taught:

Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95–96)

How does God speak to us through the Book of Mormon?

The following videos illustrate how people have received God’s guidance through studying the Book of Mormon.

“Principles of Peace: God’s Word #PrinceofPeace” (2:02)

“Jared’s Story about the Book of Mormon” (1:37)

“Shaquille’s Story about the Book of Mormon” (1:28)

Will there be more books of scripture in the future?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency said:

The Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people. This will include accounts of the visit of the resurrected Lord to what we call the lost tribes of Israel and His revelations to all the seed of Abraham. …

When new writings come forth—and according to prophecy they will—we hope they will not be treated with the rejection some applied to the Book of Mormon because they already had a Bible. (Dallin H. Oaks, “All Men Everywhere,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 80)

Supplemental Learning Activities

2 Nephi 29:7, 11. The word of the Lord upon all nations

One way to help students understand that Jesus Christ speaks to people in all nations is to display a world map and invite students to identify some of the many nations of the earth.

Help students understand that Jesus Christ is the head of this global Church and speaks to people in all nations. For instance, you might point out that today’s Church leaders come from many parts of the world. President Russell M. Nelson said the following during the Sunday morning session of general conference in April 2021:

This morning, we have heard from Church leaders who come from every populated continent on earth. Truly, the blessings of the gospel are for every race, language, and people. The Church of Jesus Christ is a global church. Jesus Christ is our leader. (Russell M. Nelson, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, May 2021, 101–2)

It might be fun for students to look up which Church leaders spoke in the most recent general conference and point out which nations they come from.

A knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon

Help students recognize that the Book of Mormon can help us come to know Jesus Christ and His gospel. Students could read 2 Nephi 30:3–8, looking for the blessings Nephi said would come because of the many people in the last days who would believe in the Book of Mormon. You could also share different statements from the many women and men who have shared their witness of the Book of Mormon in general conference. Additionally, consider sharing your personal testimony and inviting the students to share how they have come to know their Savior through studying the Book of Mormon.