Mormon 7

“A State of Happiness Which Hath No End”

Imagine what Mormon may have felt as he witnessed the sorrow and destruction caused by the final battles between the Nephites and Lamanites. Before these battles claimed his own life, Mormon concluded his writings by teaching of Jesus Christ and the eternal happiness that awaits those who follow Him. This lesson can help you follow Jesus Christ and prepare to live with God in eternal happiness.

Encourage a habit of daily scripture study. Developing a habit of daily scripture study has the potential to bless students for the rest of their lives. Look for ways to teach students about the blessings of studying the scriptures each day.

Student preparation: You could invite students to come to class prepared to share what makes them happy. Students could also talk to a family member about what makes that family member happy.

Possible Learning Activities

To help students reflect on what they know about Mormon, you could use the following quiz. Students could respond electronically or raise their hand when the correct answer is read. Rather than providing a quiz, you might display an image of Mormon and ask students to share what they know about him. Because Mormon’s writings (his own words and an abridgement of Nephite history) include everything from Words of Mormon to Mormon 7, you could invite students with paper scriptures to open to these chapters to visualize how many pages within the Book of Mormon he abridged and wrote.

Answers to the quiz: 1) c; 2) a; 3) b (Words of Mormon–Mormon 7 and Moroni 7–9)

The life of Mormon

Take the following quiz to see what you remember about the prophet Mormon.

1. How was Mormon described in his youth? (See Mormon 1:2.)

   1. He was an arms bearer in the Nephite army

   2. He was scared

   3. He was quick to observe

2. What did Mormon experience at the age of 15? (See Mormon 1:15.)

   1. He was visited of the Lord

   2. His preaching converted hundreds

   3. He was injured in battle

3. Approximately how much of the Book of Mormon was written or abridged by Mormon?

   1. 1/2

   2. 2/3

   3. 3/4

Mormon had the responsibility to abridge, write, and preserve the sacred scripture we now know as the Book of Mormon. Toward the end of his life, Mormon witnessed and participated in a great war between the Nephites and Lamanites. This war eventually cost Mormon his life (see Mormon 8:3). Prior to passing the sacred records to his son Moroni, Mormon wrote his final message to future readers of the Book of Mormon.

Invite students to ponder and discuss the following question in small groups. This will allow more students to share their thoughts.

• As you reflect on Mormon’s life, experience, and testimony, what do you think he might write in his final message to future Book of Mormon readers? Why?

As you study Mormon 7, look at how Mormon’s message might be meaningful not only to people in the midst of a war but to people in any circumstance in life.

What Mormon wants us to know

As students study Mormon 7, they could compare Mormon’s teachings to the truths they anticipated he would teach.

Read Mormon 7:2–7. Mark in your scriptures or list in your journal the things that Mormon wanted readers to know. Pay particular attention to what Mormon taught about Jesus Christ in verses 5–7.

• Why do you think Mormon may have felt these were important truths for us to know?

• Which of these truths is most meaningful to you personally? Why?

• Why is it essential to know “that ye are of the house of Israel” (Mormon 7:2)?

If you feel students could benefit from a deeper study of verses 2–7, consider inviting them to use study resources such as Gospel Library, footnotes, or general conference talks. Such resources could help them better understand the significance of what Mormon invited us to know. For example, some could study the significance of knowing “ye are of the house of Israel” (verse 2). Others could seek to understand the relevance of “[laying] down your weapons of war” (verse 4).

You may have noticed that as Mormon was surrounded by wickedness and war, he looked to the Resurrection and redemption of Jesus Christ. He taught that because of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and thus prepared to live with God in a state of happiness (see Mormon 7:7).

• What are some challenges or negative influences that surround you?

• How does a knowledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the potential for eternal happiness serve as a source of hope and strength in your life right now?

Turning knowledge into action

Knowing we can dwell with God in eternal happiness can provide us with great hope. To help us achieve this happiness, Mormon encouraged us to turn knowledge into action. This is indicated by his use of the word “therefore” in verse 8.

Consider writing the following incomplete principle on the board. Students could write different ways they can use Mormon’s words in verses 8–10 to finish the statement.

In your study journal, write the following incomplete statement: “I can live with God in a state of happiness as I …”

Read Mormon 7:8–10 and complete the statement by writing at least three actions that Mormon invites us to take. Note that in verse 9, “this” refers to the Book of Mormon and “that” refers to the Holy Bible.

If needed, help students identify actions such as the following:

• “… repent, and [am] baptized in the name of Jesus” (Mormon 7:8).

• “… lay hold upon the gospel of Christ [in the scriptures]” (Mormon 7:8).

• “… [follow] the example of our Savior” (Mormon 7:10).

Students could be divided into small groups and assigned one of the three actions. Together, they could discuss the following questions.

• What are some ways we can apply these actions?

• How can these actions prepare us to receive the promised happiness available through Jesus Christ?

If possible, provide students with the following scale. Or read the options aloud so students can ponder their responses.

Reflect on how well you are acting on Mormon’s counsel. Look at the following scale and rate yourself in each category (1 = never; 5 = almost always).

You might share a personal story or testimony to illustrate the peace that can come from repenting, studying the scriptures, following the example of Jesus Christ, and looking forward to eternal happiness with God. Students could complete the following in their study journal.

Select one of Mormon’s invitations that you feel could help you seek the happiness available through Jesus Christ. Decide what you can do to act on that invitation and how it can help you focus on the Savior.

Commentary and Background Information

Mormon 7:2. How can knowing I am of the house of Israel make a difference in my life?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

One of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.” Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul! …

When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become nonissues! You know how best to groom yourself. You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate. You know what you want to accomplish. You know the kind of person you really want to become. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92, 94)

Mormon 7:2. What does it mean to be of the house of Israel?

Being a part of the house of Israel means that you have a covenant relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It means that you, like Abraham, are meant to “be a blessing” to God’s children (Genesis 12:2; Abraham 2:9–11). It means, in the words of Peter, that “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It means that you are one who “perseveres with God” as you honor your covenants with Him. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022, 41)

Mormon 7:9. How can the Book of Mormon increase my faith in the Holy Bible?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible. We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing, the temple, the Sabbath day, and the priesthood. (Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 43)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Teach me all that I must do

Students can benefit from recognizing Mormon’s pattern of teaching things we must know (Mormon 7:2–7), followed by teaching us things we must do (Mormon 7:8–10).

After studying what Mormon invited us to know in verses 2–7, consider sharing the following details about the hymn “I Am a Child of God.”

When “I Am a Child of God” was first written in English, one of the lines read, “Teach me all that I must know to live with Him someday.” When President Spencer W. Kimball heard the hymn, he asked if that line could be changed to, “Teach me all that I must do” (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 1).

Discuss what we can learn from the change of the word “know” to “do.”

Direct students to then look for what Mormon invited us to do in Mormon 7:8–10. Discuss how doing these things can help us to return to live with our Heavenly Father.

Mormon 7:9. “This is written for the intent that ye may believe that”

To help students understand how the Bible and Book of Mormon work together, display a copy of the Book of Mormon labeled “this.” Then display a copy of the Bible labeled “that.” Invite students to read Mormon 7:8–9 silently, looking for what Mormon said about the relationship between “this” (the Book of Mormon) and “that” (the Bible). Invite students to cross-reference Mormon 7:9 with 2 Nephi 3:12 and Doctrine and Covenants 10:52. Ask questions such as the following:

• How has your study of the Book of Mormon strengthened your testimony of the truths in the Bible?

• How has your study of the Bible strengthened your testimony of the Book of Mormon?

• What might a person with faith in the Bible need to do to allow the Spirit to testify to him or her of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon?