Helaman 3; 6

“Thus We See”

Imagine writing a letter to help people who will live hundreds of years in the future. The prophet Mormon essentially did just that. As he abridged the Nephite history and engraved it on 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. This lesson can help you identify truths from the scriptures and analyze how those truths can impact your life.

Help students learn from key words and phrases. Certain words or phrases in the scriptures can provide contextual clues for readers. Help students recognize words that point to important doctrine and principles relevant today.

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.

Possible Learning Activities

A survival guide

Begin the lesson with an activity that helps students think about how the scriptures are useful in their lives. This could help them desire to more diligently search for doctrine and principles in the scriptures. The following is one way to do this.

• If you were asked to write a school survival guide for 12- and 13-year-olds, what would you include?

Read what President Russell M. Nelson said about a survival guide for your life:

[Book of Mormon] prophets, as inspired by the Lord, saw our day and selected the doctrine and truths that would help us most. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide. (Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 75)

• How are the doctrine and truths you find in the scriptures helping you survive spiritually? Can you think of any recent examples?

As you study Helaman 3 and Helaman 6, you will have the opportunity to practice identifying doctrine and principles from the scriptures. This can help you have more meaningful scripture study and bring you and your family closer to Christ.

“Thus we see …”

Amid all the contention recorded in Helaman 1–6, there were temporary moments of peace. In Helaman 3, many thousands were baptized into the Church, and the Church prospered. In Helaman 6, following the conversion of many Lamanites, the Nephites and Lamanites lived in unity as both groups turned to the Lord. In both of these chapters, Mormon paused his narration of Nephite history to highlight important doctrine and principles of truth. He did this by using the statement “thus we see.”

The following activity is intended to train students to look for words or phrases that help them identify doctrine or principles and see how those truths can impact their lives.

Consider putting students in small groups or pairs and displaying the instructions for them to follow.

Read Helaman 3:27–30; 6:34–36 to identify the “thus we see” statements of truth. Consider marking those truths in your scriptures and recording them in your own words in your study journal.

Although students may use different words, they might identify principles similar to the following:

• The Lord is merciful to all who call upon Him with sincere hearts (see Helaman 3:27).

• The gate of heaven is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ (see Helaman 3:28).

• Anyone who desires can study the word of God, which will lead them to the kingdom of God (see Helaman 3:29–30).

• The better we know God, the more likely we are to keep His commandments (see Helaman 6:34).

• If we are wicked and harden our hearts, then the Spirit of the Lord will withdraw from us (see Helaman 6:35).

• If we choose to willingly believe in the Lord’s words, then He will pour out His Spirit upon us (see Helaman 6:36).

If students would benefit from studying one or more of these principles in depth, refer to the “Commentary and Background Information” and “Supplemental Learning Activities” sections for ideas found in the Gospel Library App or the Gospel Library Online.

Another option is to give students more time to practice identifying truths. Consider asking them to write other “thus we see” statements from a doctrinal mastery verse, something they recently studied at home, or another favorite verse of their choice.

Next, choose one of the truths you found, and list some of the spiritual dangers, challenges, or attacks on faith that this truth can help you survive. For example, if you used the truth if we choose to willingly believe in the Lord’s words, then He will pour out His Spirit upon us (see Helaman 6:36), you might list dangers like needing scientific proof before believing the scriptures, believing worldly experts more than believing prophets, or trusting logic over spiritual impressions.

Recall the statement by President Nelson from the beginning of this lesson about the Book of Mormon being our latter-day survival guide.

If available, provide crayons, colored pencils, or markers for the students to create a one-page “survival guide.” They could do the following individually or as groups.

On a piece of paper write “How to survive …” and finish the statement with one of the dangers, challenges, or attacks you listed. For example, if you used the previously identified truth, you could write, “How to survive an attack on a spiritual impression.” Use the truth you chose to create a one-page survival guide. Explain in drawings or words how this truth can help a teenager survive spiritually. Incorporate at least two of the following ideas into your survival guide:

• Why this truth can help someone spiritually survive the difficulty you listed

• Other scriptures that relate to this truth or help with the difficulty you listed

• How this truth brings you or others to Jesus Christ or helps you receive His strength

• What could happen to people if this truth is not known or not followed

• How the world would change if everyone chose to live by this truth

Invite students to share their survival guide with other groups or the whole class. As they do so, consider inviting them to share personal experiences they have had relating to the truths they highlighted. For example, if students used the truth if we choose to willingly believe in the Lord’s words, then He will pour out His Spirit upon us (see Helaman 6:36), you could ask how they have felt His Spirit while studying and applying His words from the Book of Mormon.

Encourage students to look for important doctrine and truths as they study the scriptures. Testify of the power of the word of God.

Commentary and Background Information

Helaman 3:27–28. I struggle with so much. Is the gate of heaven really open to me?

Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy taught:

Our members often ask, “Am I good enough as a person?” or “Will I really make it to the celestial kingdom?” Of course, there is no such thing as “being good enough.” None of us could ever “earn” or “deserve” our salvation, but it is normal to wonder if we are acceptable before the Lord, which is how I understand these questions. …

… The God of heaven is not a heartless referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game. He is our perfectly loving Father, who yearns more than anything else to have all of His children come back home and live with Him as families forever. He truly gave His Only Begotten Son that we might not perish but have everlasting life! [see John 3:16]. Please believe, and please take hope and comfort from, this eternal truth. Our Heavenly Father intends for us to make it! That is His work and His glory [see Moses 1:39].

… None of us will ever be “good enough,” save through the merits and mercy of Jesus Christ [see 2 Nephi 2:6–8], but because God respects our agency, we also cannot be saved without our trying. (J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 32–33, 34)

Helaman 6:35–36. What does it mean that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that our choices and actions can cause us to withdraw from the Holy Spirit:

Precisely because the promised blessing [of baptism and the sacrament] is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit.

The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us. (David A. Bednar, “That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 30)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Helaman 3:27–28. “The Lord is merciful unto all who will …”

Consider highlighting the Lord’s mercy in accepting all who “call upon his holy name” or “believe on the name of Jesus Christ” (Helaman 3:27–28).

Students could read Helaman 3:24–26, looking for how the Church received the repentant and the blessings they received from God. Consider discussing why God wants all people to be a part of His Church and how we can help all feel welcomed and loved.

Helaman 3:28. The gate of heaven is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ

Consider inviting students to cross-reference Helaman 3:28 with 2 Nephi 31:17–20. Discuss how we open the gate of heaven through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. You could also talk about the “path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:18) and how we can follow it with faith in Jesus Christ. Students could draw some of the key symbols in these verses and explain what they represent.

Helaman 6:34. The better we know God, the more likely we are to keep His commandments

You could invite students to cross-reference Helaman 6:34 with Mosiah 5:13; John 14:15; or John 15:13–15. Discuss what we can learn from the Lamanites’ example and these scripture passages.

Helaman 6:35–36. “The Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw”

Draw the following diagram on the board:

Students could read Helaman 6:34–36, looking for actions or attitudes that can result in an increase or decrease in the influence of the Holy Ghost. They could write these ideas above or below the diagram, depending on which way those actions or attitudes pull us in relation to God.

Consider referring to Elder David A. Bednar’s statement in the “Commentary and Background Information” section.

Invite volunteers to share how the actions on the top half of the board have helped them develop greater sensitivity to the Holy Ghost’s influence. Discuss what else we can learn from the example of the righteous Nephites and Lamanites in Helaman 6:1–3, 34–36.