Lesson 19 Teacher Material

Living Righteously in a Day of Wickedness

President Russell M. Nelson observed, “The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary” (“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 62; see also 2 Nephi 26–33). Unit 6 will help students better detect the tactics of the adversary and determine what they can do to fortify themselves against his evil designs. In this lesson, students will identify what they can do to remain strong when they face persecution and what they can do to live righteously in a world filled with wickedness.

Suggestions for Teaching

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Use realistic scenarios. When students see connections between their own lives and what they are studying in the scriptures, they are better prepared to appreciate the relevance of the word of God and to see how it can lead to effective, righteous action. Scenarios that present real-life situations and address the actual questions, concerns, and challenges that students face can help students connect their lives to the doctrine and principles found in the word of God. Realistic scenarios can also help students discover for themselves that sometimes life is complex and answers are not always easy to find.

The righteous followers of Jesus Christ are strengthened in the midst of persecution.

To begin class, consider sharing the following scenario or another relevant scenario that you think of.

Akari is a newly baptized member of the Church. Her parents disowned her when she was baptized. At first, everyone in her ward was very friendly. However, recently some members have said some unkind things about Akari’s past and have even mocked her because of her eagerness to live the gospel. She wants to be a faithful member of the Church but feels really discouraged.

• Why might it be especially challenging for Akari to be persecuted by fellow Church members?

• If Akari turned to you for help, what would you say or do?

Remind students that in Helaman 3:24–34 we read that tens of thousands of people joined the Church and the people prospered greatly. Eventually, however, pride crept into the hearts of some Church members, who began to persecute those who remained humble and faithful.

Invite students to review Helaman 3:33–35 and look for what helped the humble Church members to stand strong in the face of persecution. Consider which of the following questions you could ask to best foster learning for your students:

• What teachings in these verses could help Akari or someone in a similar situation? (You might list some of the truths students find, such as the following: As we fast, pray, and yield our hearts to God, our humility and faith in Jesus Christ will grow stronger, and our hearts will be sanctified—regardless of the hurtful behavior of others.)

• In what ways have fasting, praying, and yielding your heart to God affected your faith in Jesus Christ? (see Helaman 3:35). How have these righteous actions helped you as you have faced others’ hurtful behavior?

Consider displaying the following questions and giving students some personal time to evaluate one or more of them and make a plan for how they will respond to any promptings they receive:

• How are you doing at welcoming and fellowshipping others in the Church of Jesus Christ?

• How are you doing at yielding your heart to God?

• How might you increase your faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of any hurtful behavior of others?

Share your testimony or invite a student to testify of the power that comes as we act in faith and yield our hearts to God.

As the Nephites increased in wickedness, Mormon and Moroni remained faithful to the Lord.

Invite students to share examples of news stories, cultural trends, and topics of conversation on social media that can make it challenging to live the gospel in our day.

• What circumstances made it challenging to live the gospel in the days of Mormon and his son Moroni? (If necessary, invite students to review section 2 of the preparation material or to skim the chapter headings of Mormon 1–6 and Moroni 9.)

• What do you imagine it might have been like to live in the time of Mormon and Moroni?

Invite students to review Mormon 1:1–2, 15 and Moroni 9:25–26, looking for possible reasons why Mormon and Moroni were able to remain faithful to the Lord as they faced a society steeped in wickedness.

• What principle can we learn from these verses about how to remain faithful to the Lord in times of wickedness? (Help students identify a principle similar to the following: We can overcome the wickedness of this world as we experience the goodness of Jesus Christ and remain faithful to Him.)

• What do you think it means to experience the goodness of Jesus Christ?

• How can looking to Jesus Christ and experiencing His goodness help us remain righteous when wickedness surrounds us? (You might want to invite students to review the statements by President Joy D. Jones and Elder Neil L. Andersen in section 2 of the preparation material.)

• How has your testimony of the goodness of Jesus Christ and your faith in Him helped you to make righteous choices as you have confronted wickedness?

Remind students that in section 2 of the preparation material, they were invited to identify an individual or group of people in the Book of Mormon or someone they know personally who faced wickedness and remained faithful. (If necessary, provide students with time to review what they wrote.) Depending on the size of your class, select an approach that will give each student the opportunity to share his or her example.

Display the following question:

• Based on what you have learned and felt today, what will you do to increase your capacity to stand strong in your commitment to the Lord as you face the wickedness of the world? (Encourage students to record any promptings they receive from the Holy Ghost and to act on them.)

For Next Time

Share this quote by the Prophet Joseph Smith: “It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul—civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 345). As students study the preparation material for the next class, invite them to ponder what religious freedom means to them and to come prepared to discuss what they can do to help promote or preserve that freedom.