Abinadi before King Noah, by Andrew Bosley

May 4–10

Mosiah 11–17

“A Light … That Can Never Be Darkened”

Consider Abinadi’s example of gospel teaching. What do you find in Mosiah 11–17 that can help you become a better teacher?

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

To allow class members to share something they learned in their personal or family scripture study, you could invite them to complete the following sentence: If I were to pick one verse from Mosiah 11–17 to share with a loved one, it would be .

Teach the Doctrine

Mosiah 11–13; 17

We can stand for truth, even when we stand alone.

• Although it is unlikely that members of your class will be threatened with death for their testimonies, they may face opposition for their beliefs. Perhaps they could find events or passages in Mosiah 11–13 and 17 that give them added courage to stand for truth. What gave Abinadi and Alma courage to be bold? How can we be more firm and steadfast in defending truth? The quotations in “Additional Resources” may provide some ideas.

• To help your class learn from other examples of courageously defending truth, you could write People Who Stood for Truth on the board. You might start with discussing Abinadi, inviting class members to share some things that impressed them about Abinadi as they read about him this week. Then they could name other men and women—from the scriptures, their families, or personal experiences—who they feel are examples of standing for truth. What do we feel inspired to do because of these examples?

Mosiah 12:19–37

When we study God’s word, we need to apply our hearts to understanding.

• As they studied Mosiah 12:19–37 this week, class members may have had insights about what it means to apply our hearts to understanding God’s word. Consider asking a few of them to share their thoughts. Or maybe you could use some time in class to search these verses together and discuss what they suggest about how to make gospel study more meaningful. For example, why is it important to both understand God’s law and “keep it”? (Mosiah 12:29).

• What can members of your class learn by contrasting the attitudes and practices of Noah’s priests with the approach we should take to our gospel study? Invite them to read Mosiah 12:19–37, looking for the criticisms that Abinadi raised about Noah’s priests. What might Abinadi say about our gospel study today? Ask class members to share what they do that helps them apply their hearts to understanding and add greater meaning to their gospel learning.

  

  Effective gospel study involves applying our hearts to understanding.

Mosiah 13:28–15:11

Salvation comes through Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

• To convince a skeptical audience about the coming of the Messiah, Abinadi quoted a moving prophecy from Isaiah (see Mosiah 14). There are several ways class members might review this chapter. They could read a few verses at a time and discuss them, or you could divide the class into small discussion groups to talk about meaningful verses, including footnotes, to discover additional insights. Encourage them to share what they learn about the Savior from this chapter.

• Do members of your class understand what it means that Jesus Christ “satisfied the demands of justice”? (Mosiah 15:9). To help them gain a better understanding, you might start by reading together “Justice” and “Merciful, Mercy” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or “Justice” and “Mercy” at topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Perhaps someone could volunteer to write a brief definition of each term on the board. Then you could read Mosiah 15:1–9 together. How did Jesus Christ satisfy the demands of justice? How does He extend His mercy to us? The videos suggested in “Additional Resources” use stories and analogies to describe the Savior’s mercy; watching one of these videos might help class members think of other analogies that illustrate how Jesus Christ satisfied the demands of justice.

Mosiah 11; 12:33–37; 13:11–26

The commandments should be written in our hearts.

• You might help class members understand the importance of having the commandments “written in [our] hearts” by asking them what they think this phrase means. Then invite them to contrast the commandments Abinadi taught in Mosiah 12:33–37 and 13:11–26 with the sins King Noah and his people were committing (see Mosiah 11:1–7, 14–15). How does having the commandments “written in [our] hearts” differ from merely being familiar with them? (Mosiah 13:11). How do we know if the commandments are written in our hearts? What examples can we share?

Encourage Learning at Home

Have class members ever felt like Abinadi might have felt—that their efforts to share the gospel were in vain? Tell them that in Mosiah 18–26 they will read about the abundant fruit of Abinadi’s efforts.

Additional Resources

Prophetic teachings about standing for truth.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. … There is nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples. Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee” (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40–41).

President Thomas S. Monson said: “May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven” (“Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 67).

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: “Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord’ (2 Tim. 1:7–8). I wish that every member of this church would put those words where he might see them every morning as he begins his day. They would give us the courage to speak up, they would give us the faith to try, they would strengthen our conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley [2016], 338).

Videos about justice and mercy on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• “Handel’s Messiah: Debtor’s Prison”

  Handel's Messiah: Debtor's Prison

• “The Mediator”

  The Mediator

• “Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet”

  Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet