Seminary
Helaman 1–6: Overview

“Helaman 1–6: Overview,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Helaman 1–6,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Helaman 1–6

Overview

Not long after the deaths of Captain Moroni, Helaman, and the chief judge Pahoran, the Nephites suffered the consequences of much contention. Helaman’s sons, Nephi and Lehi, remembered how their father had declared that those who built the foundation of their lives “upon the rock of our Redeemer” (Helaman 5:12) would have power to resist evil and stay faithful. When darkness overshadowed a group of wicked Lamanites, they were taught to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ. Many years later, as the prophet Mormon abridged the Nephite history and recorded it onto the gold plates, he occasionally pointed out important truths using statements such as “thus we see.” The truths he highlighted can help us with the challenges we face today.

Prepare to Teach

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

Helaman 1–4; 6

Note: The pride cycle in the Book of Mormon is discussed in the study outline for Helaman 1–6 in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2024. In this manual, the pride cycle will be emphasized in the lesson on Helaman 11–12.

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand the consequences of contention and how to find peace in Christ in a contentious world.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to pray for someone or about something that has been a source of contention in their life.

  • Content to display: A bubble diagram for students to copy in their journal

  • Video: “The Power of Spiritual Momentum” (17:17; watch from time code 1:38 to 3:31)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Students could show their finished bubble diagrams and the statement of principle they identified from their study. They could do this by taking a digital picture of their bubble diagram and sharing their screen, or they could hold their diagram up to their camera.

Helaman 3; 6

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students identify truths from the scriptures and analyze how those truths can impact their lives.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to look for one or two important truths during their personal or family scripture study. Ask them to prepare to explain how they find meaningful truth in the scriptures.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to share in the chat various principles they identify in Helaman 3 and Helaman 6.

Helaman 5:1–13

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students withstand the devil and build their foundations on Jesus Christ.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read Helaman 5:12 and mark words or phrases that are meaningful to them. Consider also inviting students to begin memorizing the entire passage.

  • Image: A picture of the Salt Lake Temple

  • Videos: “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation” (18:59; watch from time code 3:19 to 4:26); “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (2:24)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: As students share ways to build their foundations on Jesus Christ, consider using the whiteboard feature to list their responses and help them analyze a few of them.

Doctrinal Mastery: Helaman 5:12

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for Helaman 5:12, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to continue striving to memorize the entire passage of Helaman 5:12.

  • Video: “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains” (16:22; watch from time code 8:42 to 9:43)

  • Images: Image of a young person standing on a rock

  • Materials for students: Small rocks, strips of paper, glue, tape, rubber bands, and markers

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider placing students into breakout groups to discuss the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. You could place them in different groups for each principle.

Helaman 5:14–52

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students rely on Jesus Christ to remove feelings of fear and darkness and replace them with His joy, peace, and light.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to ponder ways that Jesus Christ is like light (see John 8:12).

  • Object lesson: A flashlight

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: To start class, consider discussing how good lighting and poor lighting affect how well students show up on camera. You could invite students to turn on extra lights to help them be more visible on-screen.