Jacob 1–4

March 14–20

“I Must Do According to the Strict Commands of God”

Preparing to Teach in Sunday School

Begin your preparation to teach by reading Jacob 1–4 before studying any supplemental material. Prepare your teaching plan and record your thoughts and impressions. You might also use some of the ideas on the next page or in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families.

Encourage Sharing

• How can you encourage class members to share insights they had as they studied these scriptures individually and with their family?

• What experiences have class members had as they acted on what they learned?

Teach the Doctrine

• As you teach gospel principles from these scriptures, what verses, quotations, experiences, questions, and other materials might you share?

• How might you use these resources to help class members ponder the gospel principles?

• How can you encourage class members to record and act upon the impressions they receive?

Encourage Sharing and Learning at Home

• To inspire class members to study Jacob 5–7 this week, you could explain that as they read they will learn about God’s plan to gather His people in the last days.

My Teaching Plan

Additional Ideas

Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11. Righteous leaders labor diligently for the welfare of souls.

• Consider inviting a few class members in advance to share insights about sustaining Church leaders that they learned from the reading this week.

• Jacob used many words and phrases that help us understand how much he cared for his people. What words and phrases convey that love in Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11? What have our Church leaders done to help us feel their “desire and anxiety for the welfare of [our] souls”? (Jacob 2:3). As a class, make a list on the board of things we can do to sustain our local and general Church leaders. A ward leader could also share how he or she is strengthened by the sustaining support of members.

Jacob 2:12–21. We should avoid pride and administer relief to the suffering.

• What insights can we share about pride and wealth from Jacob 2:12–21? What have modern prophets taught about these issues in our day?

• The Book of Mormon was written for our day. Its repeated teachings about the dangers of pride (see, for example, Mormon 9) can be particularly useful to us. Think about the different ways the adversary communicates his messages about materialism—through advertisements, television shows, and literature. What would an advertisement look like if it promoted Jacob’s counsel regarding materialism and riches? As a class, what could we do to teach Jacob’s counsel to others? Could we create an advertisement or a poster to share with each other? (See also Matthew 6:33–34.)

Jacob 2:22–35. The Lord delights in chastity.

• As we studied these verses, what thoughts did we have about how Jacob’s teachings apply to us?

• Like Jacob, we live “in a world that increasingly mocks the sanctity of procreation and minimizes the worth of human life” (David A. Bednar, “We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 41–44). How does the Lord’s message as described in Jacob 2:22–35 and Elder David A. Bednar’s talk contrast with the world’s message? (See also Matthew 5:27–28.)

Optional Resource

Video: “I Choose to Be Pure” (LDS.org)

I Choose to be Pure

Six interfaith youth speak candidly on why they have chosen to be sexually pure.

In this video, six young people of various faiths speak about why they have chosen to be sexually pure. Before watching the video, consider asking class members to look for answers to the question “Why is chastity important?” After the video, invite class members to share what they found.

Improving Our Teaching

Be flexible.

Often the best teaching moments are unexpected. For example, someone might share an experience or ask a question that leads to a meaningful discussion. Listen for promptings from the Spirit and be willing to change your plans if necessary.