“January 11–17. 1 Nephi 1–7: ‘I Will Go and Do’” Come, Follow Me: For Individuals and Families at Home (2015), 6–7
“January 11–17. 1 Nephi 1–7: ‘I Will Go and Do’” For Individuals and Families at Home, 6–7
January 11–17
“I Will Go and Do”
Introduction and Impressions
From the first pages of the Book of Mormon, I can see myself. I encounter a family—a father, a mother, and children—living in circumstances not that different from my own. They lived in a world of increasing wickedness. Because God loved them, He gave them a difficult commandment—to leave their home and seek a promised land. As they obeyed, they learned to depend on Him, and they enjoyed many blessings and miracles. It’s a perfect beginning for a story meant for me—to help me and my family receive the blessings God has prepared for us.
Record Impressions
It is very important that you seek impressions from the Spirit to help you and your family. Therefore, before reading the rest of this study outline, read 1 Nephi 1–7. What messages do you find for your life? What will be of most value to you and your family? What can you share in your Church classes? Record your thoughts and impressions below or in a journal or notebook.
Ideas for Personal Learning
1 Nephi 2:11–21; 3:4–7, 28–31. I need my own testimony.
President Harold B. Lee taught, “That which you possess today in testimony will not be yours tomorrow unless you do something about it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 43). Nephi’s testimony was strengthened because he had “great desires to know of the mysteries of God” (1 Nephi 2:16) and he acted on those desires. Why didn’t Laman and Lemuel gain strong testimonies? What are my spiritual desires, and what am I doing to act on them?
See also 1 Nephi 15:1–11; Joseph Smith—History 1:5–20; “Origin” (video), LDS.org.
1 Nephi 3–4. God will prepare a way for me to do His will.
What inspires me about Nephi’s words found in 1 Nephi 3:7, 15–16? What would be hard for me to leave behind? As I review 1 Nephi 1–7, what examples do I see of God preparing the way for Lehi and his family? How has God done this for me?
See also Proverbs 3:5–6; 1 Nephi 17:3; “Obedience,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org.
1 Nephi 5:10–22. The scriptures are “of great worth.”
The first six chapters of the Book of Mormon contain powerful teachings about why the scriptures are “of great worth” (1 Nephi 5:21) to me. From these chapters, I can learn about power that comes into my life as I search the scriptures—power to trust in God, keep His commandments, and sacrifice for His cause. As I read 1 Nephi 1–6, what messages inspire me to search the scriptures with greater commitment?
See also Richard G. Scott, “Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 92–94.
Ideas for Family Learning
Family Discussions
1 Nephi 1:11–19. What do we learn from Lehi’s experience about the blessings that come from reading God’s words?
1 Nephi 2:12–14. What do we do when revelation from God is different from what we think and what we want to do?
1 Nephi 5:10–22. Why are the scriptures of great worth to us?
Family Home Evening
1 Nephi 3–6. The scriptures are a valuable treasure.
What are some objects that we treasure in our family? In 1 Nephi 3–6, what do we learn about the value that Lehi’s family placed on God’s word? Is there a message for us in each of these chapters that can help us recognize the value of the scriptures for our family? How can we show that the scriptures are valuable to us?
See also “Scriptures Legacy” (video), LDS.org.