Moroni 7:1–19

“Search Diligently in the Light of Christ”

It can sometimes be difficult to know what is right and what is not. However, God has provided help for us. Moroni, using the words of his father, encouraged us to use the Light of Christ to know right from wrong. This lesson can help you rely on Jesus Christ to judge between good and evil.

Encourage students to think deeply about gospel principles. Careful study of the scriptures can inspire students to remember how gospel principles have influenced their lives. Invite students to recall past experiences that helped them draw closer to Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share how the choices they make are influenced by their belief in Jesus Christ.

Possible Learning Activities

Which square is lighter?

Consider starting class by displaying the following image. Invite students to look at the two gray squares and to tell a partner which one is lighter.

Would it surprise you to know that both gray squares are the same shade? Your brain perceives the two gray squares as different shades because of the light or dark colors surrounding them.

Rather than reading the following paragraph, consider inviting students to read Isaiah 5:20 and asking them to compare the illusion of the squares to Isaiah’s prophecy about our day.

Like this illusion, there may be situations in which it is difficult to make correct judgments. Isaiah prophesied that in the last days, some people would “call evil good, and good evil; [and] put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20; see also 2 Nephi 15:20).

To help students think about how they see Isaiah’s prophecy being fulfilled in our day, consider discussing one or more of these questions with students.

• What is one way you have seen people in our day “call evil good and good evil”?

• What makes it difficult for someone to see truth easily or clearly?

Invite students to silently ponder their answers to the following questions.

• How do you determine if something is right or wrong?

• How confident are you that you can recognize good from evil? Why?

Think of something you would like to distinguish more clearly as good or bad. For example, someone might think their choice of music is fine, but their parents may disagree. Who is right? Other examples could be deciding which stance to take on a social issue, choosing who to be friends with, participating in a hobby, and so on.

As you study today, look for what can help you know whether something is good or not.

The difference between good and evil

Like Isaiah, Moroni also saw our day (see Mormon 8:35). He included help for us in the Book of Mormon. After teaching the importance of doing good works with real intent (see Moroni 7:1–11), he recorded words which his father, Mormon, had taught Church members about judging between good and evil.

Read Moroni 7:12–17, and consider marking what you find for each prompt below:

1. How we can tell if something is good

2. How we can tell if something is evil

3. What the Savior does to help us

If you feel it would be more effective, write the three prompts above on the board and invite students to write appropriate phrases they discovered below each one.

• Based on what you found in these verses, how would you summarize the principles discussed?

From Moroni 7:12–17 we can discover that all things which are of God invite us to do good, believe in Jesus Christ, and love and serve God. On the other hand, that which is evil persuades us to sin, deny Jesus Christ, or fight against God.

Students could do the following activity individually, in small groups, or as a class.

To help you understand Mormon’s teachings, suppose that a person believes the music they listen to and the way they use their phone and other technology is fine, but their parents or leaders do not agree.

• Based on the truths you have identified, what could this person ask themselves to discover if their music and technology use is good or not?

Listen to students’ answers and consider writing them on the board. If students do not mention them, consider using the following examples:

• Does listening to this music or does using my phone and technology the way I do …

  • … fill my mind with thoughts to do good or to commit sin?

  • … encourage me to do things a follower of Jesus Christ would or would not do?

  • … help me love the things of God or not?

Note that you may need to ponder certain artists or songs individually, as well as certain apps, games, or media. In addition, the amount of time you spend on an activity may be an important factor to consider.

Light to help you see

You may have noticed that in some situations it may be difficult to judge between right or wrong.

Consider helping students experience what they are asked to imagine in the following paragraph.

This could be done by turning off the lights and asking students to try to describe a picture or read something. Then turn the lights back on and invite them to describe or read it again.

With this imagery in mind, note phrases in verse 16 that show how the Savior helps us.

Read the following statement by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency to help you understand the Light of Christ:

Every child of Heavenly Father born in the world is given at birth, as a free gift, the Light of Christ. You have felt that. It is the sense of what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false. That has been with you since your journey in life began. …

… You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. (Henry B. Eyring, “Walk in the Light,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 123–124)

• What did you learn about the Light of Christ?

For more information on the Light of Christ, see Gospel Topics, “Light of Christ,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Read Moroni 7:18–19, looking for additional advice Mormon gave about judging between good and evil.

• What do you think it means to “search diligently in the Light of Christ”?

  Listen carefully to students’ answers. Students might mention pondering quietly, thinking through decisions, and listening to our conscience or inner voice. Another idea is thinking about what will bring us closer to Jesus Christ. If useful, consider asking some of the following questions:

• How might the Savior’s example and teachings be like a light to help us correctly judge between right and wrong today?

• What are some other ways we can hear His words and feel His influence guiding us?

It may also be useful to ask, “When were you able to recognize something as good or evil because of Christ’s light in your life?”

Applying what you learned

Recall the situation you thought of earlier when you were asked to think of something you would like to better distinguish as good or not. Take a few minutes to prayerfully consider how you might use the principles you learned today to determine whether it is right or wrong. Try to search diligently in the Light of Christ as you ponder the situation. Record your thoughts in your study journal.

The following questions could be used to wrap up class with a discussion about what the students learned.

• What did you learn today that can help you improve your ability to choose between right and wrong?

• In what two or three areas of life do you see the need to successfully distinguish good from evil? Why?

Commentary and Background Information

What does the Light of Christ do?

Elder Timothy J. Dyches of the Seventy taught:

In His perfect love, God grants the Light of Christ to every person “that cometh into the world” [Doctrine and Covenants 93:2] that they may “know good from evil” [Moroni 7:16] and be prompted “to do good continually” [Moroni 7:13]. That light, revealing itself through what we often call our conscience, beckons us ever to act and be better, to be our best self. (Timothy J. Dyches, “Light Cleaveth unto Light,” Liahona, May 2021, 113)

How does the Light of Christ help us and others?

Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy taught:

The Light of Christ will help us see others through the Savior’s eyes. We will be more loving and understanding of the struggles of others. It will help us be more patient with those who may not worship as we do or serve as we might. It will help us understand the great plan of happiness more fully and see how we all fit into that great loving plan. It gives life, meaning, and purpose to all that we do. (Mark A. Bragg, “Brighter and Brighter until the Perfect Day,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 38)

Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternate beginning

Consider showing a picture of a city or a house and then turning it upside down.

Tell students that Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy referred to our modern-day world as “upside down” (“ A Celestial Connection to Your Teenage Years,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 1997, 30). Invite students to read Isaiah 5:20–21 and to share ways in which our world may be upside down.

Share the following statement by Elder Maynes:

“As young people growing up in this upside-down world, you have quite a challenge confronting the various pressures of modern-day life” (Richard J. Maynes, “A Celestial Connection to Your Teenage Years,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 1997, 30).

Moroni 7:5–12. With real intent

Invite students to answer the following questions: “How important is our intent when we strive to do good works? Why?” Students could read Moroni 7:5–12 looking for answers to these questions. Help students understand words and phrases like “real intent” and “grudgingly” that can describe our commitment to follow Jesus Christ or lack thereof. Invite them to describe ways someone could do the following with real intent: pray, attend church, and serve others. Also invite them to share what someone could do to seek the right intent if they do not currently have it.

Helping someone know good from evil

Invite students to imagine that the For the Strength of Youth magazine has the following question in their “Questions and Answers” section:

“I know it should be easy to tell what’s good and what’s bad, and most of the time I can. However, sometimes my friends have pretty good reasons for doing and believing the things they do. How can I tell what’s good and what’s evil when the line of good and bad doesn’t always seem so clear?”

Invite students to write a response to this question. Allow students time to study Moroni 7:12–19 and additional scriptures or prophetic teachings on the topic.