3 Nephi 1

“The Prophecies of the Prophets Began to Be Fulfilled”

What might it have been like to wait for and see the star that announced the birth of Jesus Christ? Nephite believers watched for the signs Samuel the Lamanite prophesied would come (see Helaman 14), but unbelievers threatened to kill them if the signs did not appear. This lesson is intended to help you feel greater confidence that the Lord will fulfill all the words He speaks through His prophets.

Testifying about Jesus Christ. Students can be strengthened when you share your witness of Jesus Christ. Look for opportunities to share with students your feelings about the Savior and why you strive to follow Him.

Student preparation: Students could prepare to share an example of how or why having faith in Jesus Christ could strengthen someone in uncertain or troubling times.

Possible Learning Activities

Strengthened by faith

The following question is intended to help students assess themselves. Students should not be expected to share their responses.

• On a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest, how would you rate your level of belief or confidence that God fulfills the words of His prophets? Why?

When Samuel the Lamanite came among the Nephites, he prophesied that “five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God” (Helaman 14:2). Prophets had prophesied about the coming of Jesus Christ for thousands of years, and the anticipated time for His birth had arrived. The book of 3 Nephi begins at the end of those five years.

• If you were one of those who believed Samuel, what do you think you would have felt at this time?

As you study, look for similarities between circumstances in 3 Nephi 1 and circumstances in our day. You may want to mark meaningful words and phrases that strengthen your trust in God and the words of His prophets.

The Nephite believers

In the beginning of 3 Nephi 1, we learn that Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land and that his son Nephi was now the prophet among the Nephites.

Read 3 Nephi 1:4–9, looking for challenges the Nephite believers faced at this time.

• What do you think enabled some to “watch steadfastly” (verse 8) despite the threat of death?

Consider inviting students to read and discuss the following questions in small groups. A student from each group could then write on the board their group’s answer to the final question.

Read 3 Nephi 1:10–14 to learn what happened next.

• How do you imagine Nephi felt when he heard the Lord’s voice?

• What do you think the Lord wanted Nephi and the people to understand?

• What truths can you identify from these verses?

The words of prophets will be fulfilled

Among several truths found in these verses, we learn that the Lord will fulfill all the words He has spoken through His prophets. You may want to mark this truth in verse 13.

Additional truths students may identify from these verses include the Lord will hear our prayers for others or Jesus Christ came into the world to do the Father’s will.

Consider having students read the following verses in pairs.

Read 3 Nephi 1:15–22, looking for how the people responded when the prophecy was fulfilled.

You could discuss the following questions (or others you think of) to help students relate the scriptures to their own lives.

• Why do you think people responded so differently?

• How were the believers strengthened during this experience?

• In what ways could this experience increase your confidence in the Lord’s plan for your life?

Your experience

Like the Nephites in 3 Nephi 1, we live in times that can seem filled with uncertainty about the future. How can we have confidence in the Lord and His words given through His prophets?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Faithfulness is not foolishness or fanaticism. Rather, it is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises. As we “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” [2 Nephi 31:20], we are blessed with an eternal perspective and vision that stretches far beyond our limited mortal capacity. We will be enabled to “gather together, and stand in holy places” [Doctrine and Covenants 101:22] and “be not moved, until the day of the Lord come” [Doctrine and Covenants 87:8]. (David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 11)

Give students enough time to ponder the following. As needed, share some of the listed situations. It may be helpful for students to record their thoughts in their study journals. Be sensitive and aware that some students may feel emotional as they consider their personal challenges. Follow the promptings of the Spirit as you seek to point them to the Savior.

Think about why you might struggle between having faith in God and feeling uncertainty or fear about your life. These reasons are personal to each individual but could include the following:

• Being ridiculed or attacked for your beliefs in Jesus Christ

• Having troubled family relationships, including parents separated through divorce

• Experiencing anxiety or depression

• Worrying about loved ones who experience same-sex attraction

• Suffering from addiction or struggling to overcome damaging habits

• Fearing that the blessings of the gospel are unattainable

• Feeling unworthy or unforgiven

In John 16:33, Jesus Christ stated, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

• What have prophets revealed about Jesus Christ that could inspire you to maintain faith in Him? (You may want to read Alma 7:11–13; Ether 12:27; Isaiah 25:8–9.) How do you think He can help you in your circumstances?

• When has trusting the Lord or the words of His prophets strengthened you or someone you know in a time of uncertainty or fear? How could remembering this experience help you recognize His help in your life?

As prompted by the Spirit, you may want to ask students to share what has stood out to them today. Consider sharing your testimony of Jesus Christ and your confidence in prophetic words and prophecies about Him.

You may want to record your feelings about what you have learned today. You could include actions you felt prompted to take or how you are strengthened by understanding that God fulfills the words He speaks through His prophets.

Commentary and Background Information

What can I do to stay strong when my beliefs about Jesus Christ are challenged?

Bishop Richard C. Edgley, former First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, taught:

Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today’s world, I wish to suggest a single choice—a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. … Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism. …

When logic, reason, or personal intellect come into conflict with sacred teachings and doctrine, or conflicting messages assault your beliefs … , choose to not cast the seed out of your heart by unbelief [see Alma 32:28]. Remember, we receive not a witness until after the trial of our faith (see Ether 12:6). (Richard C. Edgley, “Faith—the Choice Is Yours,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 31, 32–33)

3 Nephi 1:14. How can Jesus Christ do both the will of the Father and the Son?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie [1915–85] of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

It is clear that [Jesus Christ] is the Son because of the flesh, meaning that he was born into the world as other mortals are. He had a body that was conceived and nurtured in the womb of a mortal woman. It is more difficult to envision how he was Father because of himself. This can only be taken to mean that he [the Savior] was the Father because he had the power of the Father; that his will was swallowed up in the will of the Father; that he could do all things because of his inheritance from that Supreme Being. …

Christ is God and he comes to redeem his people. He is the Son because he is born into mortality. He is the Father because he inherits from his Father all the might of omnipotence, and what he says and what he does become and are the words and works of him whose name he bears. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 371–73)

3 Nephi 1:22. How can I avoid falling for the lies spread by Satan today?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

Be Not Afraid, Only Believe

Satan, our adversary, wants us to fail. He spreads lies as part of his effort to destroy our belief. He slyly suggests that the doubter, the skeptic, the cynic is sophisticated and intelligent, while those who have faith in God and His miracles are naive, blind, or brainwashed. Satan will advocate that it is cool to doubt spiritual gifts and the teachings of true prophets.

I wish I could help everyone to understand this one simple fact: we believe in God because of things we know with our heart and mind, not because of things we do not know. Our spiritual experiences are sometimes too sacred to explain in worldly terms, but that doesn’t mean they are not real. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Be Not Afraid, Only Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 78)

Supplemental Learning Activities

3 Nephi 1:22–26. When we face Satan’s lies, we can choose to believe in Jesus Christ and be converted

You may want to help students see the relevance between the events of 3 Nephi 1 and our lives today before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Invite students to think about what challenges to faith they face and how young people respond. Read 3 Nephi 1:22–26, looking for how the believing Nephites responded. Students could identify a principle similar to this: when we face Satan’s lies, we can choose to believe in Jesus Christ and be converted.

You may want to discuss questions similar to the following:

• What are some of Satan’s lies that youth face today?

• How has your faith in Jesus Christ helped you avoid or dismiss Satan’s lies?

• How has choosing to believe in and follow Jesus Christ helped you become more converted?

Rely on the words of latter-day prophets

During the “Your experience” segment of the lesson, you could invite students to study recent words of the current prophet and apostles. You might share a short scenario about a teenager whose beliefs in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are being mocked or ridiculed by their peers and ask the following questions.

• How are you sustained and strengthened knowing that the Lord fulfills the words He speaks through His prophets?

• What recent words from the prophets were especially meaningful as you strive to live your beliefs in challenging times?