3 Nephi 27, Part 1

“Built upon My Gospel”

What are some of the most important characteristics of the Savior’s Church? Jesus Christ taught His Nephite disciples that His Church should be called after His name and built upon His gospel. This lesson can help you understand what the Savior’s gospel is and the importance of the Church’s name.

Prepare yourself to be an instrument of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has taught, “and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:14). As you strive to follow the Savior’s example of obedience and live the gospel with all your heart, the Spirit will help you teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Students could be invited to read 3 Nephi 27:1–10 and discover what the Savior taught His Nephite disciples about His Church.

Possible Learning Activities

How would you respond?

Share the following scenario with the students. You could also invite two willing students to act it out.

One day while sharing what they did over the weekend, Naomi mentioned to her friend Marco that she attended church on Sunday.

Marco asked, “You are a Mormon, right?”

Naomi said, “Sometimes people call us that, but we prefer to be called members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Marco replied, “That sounds like a mouthful. Why don’t you just say you belong to the Mormon church? Don’t you read from the Book of Mormon?”

Students could be invited to discuss the following question with a partner or small group.

• What are some ways Naomi could respond to Marco’s question?

Today, you will study some of the Savior’s teachings to His Nephite disciples recorded in 3 Nephi 27. As you study, look for truths Jesus taught about His Church that can help you when faced with situations like the one you just read about.

The name of the Church

Soon after Christ’s visit to the Nephites, His twelve Nephite disciples united in fasting and prayer. They wanted to know what the name of the Church should be. As they were praying, the Savior appeared and began to teach them (see 3 Nephi 27:1–3).

Read 3 Nephi 27:4–7, looking for what the Savior taught His disciples about the name of His Church.

• What did the Savior say His Church should be called?

Consider writing the following truth on the board and leaving space on the board at the end, so you can add to the truth later in the lesson.

One truth we learn from these verses is that the true Church of Jesus Christ must be called by His name.

• What reasons did the Savior give for naming the Church after Himself?

President Russell M. Nelson shared reasons why it is important that we use the correct name of the Church:

The name of the Church is not negotiable. When the Savior clearly states what the name of His Church should be and even precedes His declaration with “Thus shall my church be called,” He is serious. And if we allow nicknames to be used or adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, He is offended.

What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Correct Name of the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 87–88)

• What stands out to you from President Nelson’s statement?

• How do you think our efforts to use the correct name of the Church could impact those who are not members of the Church?

As part of the discussion of the previous question, consider watching one or more of the videos from the “Commentary and Background Information” section under the heading “What can happen when we use the correct name of the Church?”

“Built upon my gospel”

In addition to emphasizing that His Church should be called by His name, the Savior taught His Nephite disciples another essential characteristic of His Church.

Read 3 Nephi 27:8–10, looking for this characteristic.

• What could you add from these verses to the bolded truth you identified earlier about the Savior’s Church?

Consider updating the truth you previously wrote on the board to something similar to the following.

One way we could summarize the Savior’s teachings you have studied so far is the true Church of Jesus Christ must be called by His name and be built upon His gospel.

• What do you think it means for the Savior’s Church to be built upon His gospel?

It may be helpful to understand that the word gospel means “good news” (see Bible Dictionary, “Gospels”).

To help you understand important aspects of the Savior’s gospel, draw a simple picture of a church building in your study journal, like the following. Be sure to save room to write words and phrases beneath the church.

Create an image of a church on the board so it can be used as part of your discussion.

Read 3 Nephi 27:13–22, looking for what Jesus Christ said His gospel is. Write words or phrases you find in the space beneath your drawing.

Invite various students to list words or phrases they identified beneath the picture of the church on the board. Then discuss what students learned from their study of these verses by asking questions like the following.

• Based on the verses you studied, how would you describe what the Savior’s gospel is?

Point out specific aspects of the Savior’s gospel that are listed on the board. Help students understand the significance of these aspects by asking questions like these: Why do you think this aspect of the Savior’s gospel could be considered good news? Why do you think it is important for the Savior’s Church to be “built upon” (or focus on) this teaching or principle? How can this aspect of the Savior’s gospel impact your life?

When you finish with the discussion, you may want to revisit the scenario from the beginning of the lesson and have students practice responding using what they learned.

Commentary and Background Information

What can happen when we use the correct name of the Church?

President Russell M. Nelson promised:

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Correct Name of the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 89)

To see examples of good that has come from individuals using the correct name of the Church, watch some or all of the following videos:

“The Correct Name of the Church” (time codes 11:34 to 13:07).

“The Name of the Church is Not Negotiable” (time codes 4:36 to 6:41).

“The Name of the Church is Not Negotiable” (time codes 10:45 to 12:16).

How does living the Savior’s gospel help us become like Him?

Elder Thierry K. Mutombo of the Seventy explained how learning, accepting, and following the Savior’s gospel impacted him and his family.

When we started meeting with these wonderful missionaries, who were like angels that came from God, I noticed that something started to change in our family. After our baptism, we truly started to progressively have a new lifestyle because of the restored gospel. The words of Christ began to enlarge our souls. They began to enlighten our understanding and became delicious to us, as the truths that we received were discernible and we could see the light, and this light grew brighter and brighter daily.

This understanding of the why of the gospel was helping us to become more like the Savior. (Thierry K. Mutombo, “Ye Shall Be Free,” Liahona, May 2021, 51)

Video presentation

To watch a depiction of the Savior teaching His Apostles about His Church and His gospel, watch “Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine” from time code 0:00 to 5:26.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternate beginning to the lesson

Consider inviting students to imagine they and some friends are going to create a team for something they enjoy (a sport, a music group, etc.). Invite them to think of a name they would use for their group. You could ask them why they chose that name and what the name can communicate to others about their group. Then invite them to read 3 Nephi 27:4–7, looking for the name the Savior gave for His Church and why He gave that name.

3 Nephi 27:11. Joy for a season

Some may be concerned about others outside the Church who seem to experience happiness and freedom. Consider sharing the story from Elder Robert C. Gay about a young woman who asked this question: “‘My boyfriend and I recently broke up, and he chose to leave the Church. He tells me he has never been happier. How can this be?’” (“Taking upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 99). Invite students to think about how they might respond. Students could study 3 Nephi 27:10–17, looking for what the Savior taught that could help them respond.

3 Nephi 27:13–15. Christ lifted up on the cross

The Savior used the powerful visual of the cross to remind the people of what He did for them. Because He was lifted up, we will also be lifted up, or raised from the grave (resurrected), so that we may then be judged. You might consider inviting students to read John 3:14–17 and cross-reference it with 3 Nephi 27:14 in their scriptures.