3 Nephi 12–16

Overview

When teaching the people in the land of Bountiful, Jesus proclaimed many of the blessings we can receive and ways we can become more like Him in a sermon similar to His Sermon on the Mount. He then helped the people understand His love and His desire to gather all of God’s children.

Prepare to Teach

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

3 Nephi 12:1–16

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students prepare to receive the blessings the Savior spoke of as they strive to follow His counsel.

Student preparation: To help prepare students’ hearts to study the Savior’s sermon in 3 Nephi, which is very similar to His Sermon on the Mount, consider inviting them to ponder this statement from President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972). He said that the Sermon on the Mount is “the greatest [sermon] that was ever preached, so far as we know” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith [2013], 234).
Content to display: A simple drawing of an imaginary magazine cover with a title like Worldly Success Magazine; a simple drawing of the cover of the Liahona magazine
Videoconference teaching suggestion: If students study conference talks from Church leaders, you may allow them to share their screens to point out specific parts of the talks that were meaningful to them.

3 Nephi 12:17–48

Lesson purpose: This lesson is meant to help students understand their potential to become perfect like our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to study the first paragraph under the entry for “Perfect” in the Guide to the Scriptures and come prepared to share what they found most meaningful about this definition and why.
Images to display: Images of a seed, a puppy, and a baby
Materials for students: Small slips of paper for students to write on
Videoconference teaching suggestion: To begin the lesson, in addition to showing pictures of the seed, puppy, and baby, you could show pictures of a full-grown tree, a full-grown dog, and Jesus or Heavenly Father. After showing the first three images, you could help students visualize their potential by showing the additional images.

Doctrinal Mastery: 3 Nephi 12:48

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 12:48, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Student preparation: Invite students to memorize 3 Nephi 12:48 before coming to class. You might invite them to practice reciting the scripture from memory to other class members in the time leading up to class, whether in person, through messaging, or in some other way.
Materials for students: Half-sheets of paper
Videoconference teaching suggestion: For the “Explain and memorize” portion of the lesson, you might prepare a document with the scripture phrases written in different corners as described in the lesson. You could then share your screen and have students touch the phrases in order. Delete one phrase at a time, and invite students to repeat the process of touching the screen and saying the words until the document is blank. You could also prepare several documents with the scripture phrases written in different corners and display one document after another, giving students a chance to find the order of the words and repeat the key phrase.

3 Nephi 13–14

Lesson purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help students identify principles from the Savior’s teachings and see their relevance in their lives today.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to look for and come to class prepared to share cause-and-effect statements they find in their personal scripture study. These may be stated using the words if and then, or the passage may simply describe which choices lead to which outcomes.
Videoconference teaching suggestion: After students have had time to use the Savior’s teachings to form cause-and-effect statements, invite them to post their statements in the chat. This will allow students to see all the statements as they discuss how the Savior’s teachings are still relevant today.

3 Nephi 15–16

Lesson purpose: This lesson is meant to help students feel the Savior’s desire to gather them and everyone to Him.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how they would answer this question: “What evidence have you seen that the Savior wants to gather everyone to Him?”
Images: Two images of Christ (one of Him as a shepherd); an image of a sheepfold
Content to display: Passages in John 10 and 3 Nephi 15, 16 with the associated questions
Videoconference teaching suggestion: Toward the beginning of the lesson, consider giving students a few minutes to find their favorite image of the Savior as a shepherd. Allow students to share their screen as they explain what they like about the picture they chose and what it teaches them about Christ.