Alma 47–48

Amalickiah and Lehonti

Have you ever heard someone say, “Just once won’t hurt,” “It’s only a little bit,” or “It’s not that bad”? When we decide to yield to Satan’s temptations even a little, we give him power over us. In Alma 47, we learn about a man named Lehonti who yielded just a little to his enemy and found himself in very dangerous and even deadly circumstances. This lesson can help you resist Satan’s attempts to gain power over you.

Help students be active in the learning process. As you teach, look for ways to help students be active in the learning process. For example, ask open-ended questions that encourage thoughtful responses, and create activities that encourage engagement, such as drawing or writing.

Student preparation: Invite students to read 2 Nephi 28:7–8, 21–22 and to think of examples of how Satan uses these tactics in our day.

Possible Learning Activities

Lures

Before sharing the following explanation, consider showing a picture of a fishing pole with a lure and asking the students to share what they know about the purpose of a fishing lure.

A fishing lure is a type of bait used to catch fish. The lure attracts the attention of the fish and can entice the fish to try to bite it. Then once the fish is hooked, it can be captured.

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared similarities between fishing lures and Satan’s temptations. You may want to watch “O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One” from time code 0:43 to 2:30, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to learn about the comparisons he made.

• What are some of the lures Satan uses to entice us to sin?

  Students might identify ways Satan tries to make his temptations seem appealing, such as providing temporary pleasure or popularity or making us feel like there is no danger in sinning.

• Why would you want to resist these lures?

• What can make resisting temptation difficult?

You might remember that Amalickiah and a group of Nephite dissenters sought to overthrow the freedom of the Nephites and destroy the church of God (see Alma 46:10). After being stopped by Moroni and other Nephites, Amalickiah escaped to the Lamanites and attempted to stir them up to anger against the Nephites (see Alma 46:29–33; 47:1).

Today you will learn about Amalickiah’s further attempts to gain power. Many of his tactics are similar to the tactics Satan uses against us today. As you study, look for truths that can help you avoid the lures Satan uses in his attempts to harm you.

Amalickiah seeks to become king of the Lamanites

It may be helpful to refer students to the steps for likening the scriptures that they learned in the “Alma 43, 48–50” lesson. Students could practice using these steps as they study this account.

Read Alma 47:1–8, and look for what Amalickiah’s plans were as he went among the Lamanites.

• What did Amalickiah do to gain influence and power among the Lamanites?

• How are Amalickiah’s goals similar to Satan’s? (see 2 Nephi 26:22).

• How are Heavenly Father’s goals for you different from Satan’s? (see Moses 1:39). Why is this important to remember?

The group of Lamanites who refused to go to battle against the Nephites were led by a man named Lehonti.

Read Alma 47:9–12, looking for what Amalickiah wanted Lehonti to do.

Consider drawing the following diagram on the board to help students visualize the situation described in these verses.

After reading verse 11, you could ask, “Why might it have been unwise to come down to the foot of the mountain to meet with Amalickiah?” Then students could read verse 12 and look for what Amalickiah did differently the fourth time he tried to entice Lehonti to meet with him.

To illustrate Amalickiah’s different approach, you could add arrows to the diagram on the board to reflect Amalickiah going nearly to the top of the mountain, as well as his request that Lehonti come down just a little.

• What are some reasons Lehonti might have considered accepting Amalickiah’s final invitation in verse 12?

• What would you have told Lehonti if you had been in his army and he had asked you for advice about whether to meet Amalickiah? Why?

Read Alma 47:13–19, looking for how Lehonti responded to additional efforts from Amalickiah and what happened as a result.

• In what ways were Amalickiah’s tactics similar to the tactics Satan uses to destroy us? (If needed, see 2 Nephi 28:7–8, 21–22.)

In response to the previous question, students might point out that Satan is persistent, deceptive, cunning, and ruthless. Like Amalickiah, Satan may seek to persuade us to gradually lower our standards and place ourselves in circumstances that make us vulnerable to his attacks. Consider inviting students to mark the phrase “come down” wherever it appears in Alma 47:10–13. What is a truth you learn from this account about the danger of giving in to Satan’s temptations, even a little?

Your fight against Satan

One truth we can learn from this account is that if we give in to Satan’s temptations even a little, we give him greater influence to lead us astray.

Think about how you have seen this truth demonstrated in your life or the lives of others. The following activity can help you identify some ways Satan might try to make you vulnerable to his temptations and ways the Savior can help protect you against those temptations.

Consider doing this activity on the board as a class. Alternatively, you could display the instructions for the activity and place students in small groups to work on it together. Each group could then share its picture with the class.

To prepare students for this activity, you could use the video statements by Sister Elaine S. Dalton and President Henry B. Eyring in the “Commentary and Background Information” section.

• Step 1: Draw a teenager standing on top of a mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, list temptations or tactics Satan uses to try to get us to “come down” a little so he can gain power over us. Be sure to leave space between the teenager and the temptations you list so you have room for step 2.

• Step 2: At the top of the mountain, list some of the resources or teachings the Lord has given us that can protect us against Satan’s temptations. (For some examples, consider studying a few of the following verses: 1 Nephi 15:24; Helaman 5:12; Doctrine and Covenants 10:5; 11:12–13; 20:22; 87:8.)

Make a plan

Think about how the truths you have studied today apply to your life. Consider recording your answers to the following questions:

Display the following questions and give students time to record their answers in their study journals.

• When have you resisted Satan’s temptations by using the tools the Lord has provided you with?

• How will you strive to better seek God’s help to resist Satan’s temptations?

Invite volunteers to share their answers to the first question. Mention that they should not share anything too personal or sacred.

Encourage students to resist Satan’s temptations by acting on the thoughts and impressions they listed in their journals. Testify of the Savior’s power to help them.

Commentary and Background Information

What are examples of temptations Satan uses to try to gain power over us?

Watch “A Return to Virtue” from time code 4:28 to 6:30 to see examples shared by Sister Elaine S. Dalton, former Young Women General President.

Watch “Step 3: Trust in God – Sharon’s Story About Crystal Meth Addiction Recovery” (5:29) to see an example of someone who fell into Satan’s traps.

Watch “Seek Christ in Every Thought” from time code 8:18 to 9:42 to see an example told by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

What can I remember when I feel a desire to participate in “small” sins?

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

My dear friends, when we resist the little temptations, which often come unexpectedly in our life, we are better equipped to avoid serious transgressions. (Ulisses Soares, “Seek Christ in Every Thought,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 84)

What help does the Lord provide to resist temptation?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:

With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can watch over ourselves. We can pray to recognize and reject the first thoughts of sin. We can pray to recognize a warning not to speak words which would hurt or tempt someone else. And we can, when we must, pray for the humility and the faith to repent.

There will surely be some who hear my voice who will have this thought come into their minds: “But the temptations are too great for me. I have resisted as long as I can. For me, the commandments are too hard. The standard is too high.”

That is not so. The Savior is our Advocate with the Father. He knows our weaknesses. He knows how to succor those who are tempted. (Henry B. Eyring, “As a Child,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 17)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The power of one

As students study Alma 47–48, they may benefit from comparing and contrasting Amalickiah with Captain Moroni to discover the power that one person can have for good or for bad. Invite them to share how each man influenced others around him. Invite them to share ways that the Savior, as one man, influenced the world for good. They could also share examples of people they know who have shown that one person can influence many for good. Invite them to consider how they can follow these examples of doing good in their own lives. You might consider using the story “Gulp!” (Rand Packer, New Era, July 2004, 26–27).

Alma 48:7–20. How to shake the powers of hell

Students could study Alma 48:7–20 and look for ways that Moroni is like Jesus Christ. For example, he built up the weak places of his people (see Alma 48:7–9), just as Christ builds up our weak places as we come to Him in faith (Ether 12:27). Invite them to read Alma 48:17 and to consider why this was true of Moroni and why it was true of the Savior. Ask students to think of people they know whose names could be inserted in Alma 48:17 in place of “Moroni.” Invite them to choose one way they can follow the example of Jesus Christ and receive the same power Moroni did.