Primary 4 Lesson 39: Mormon Witnesses the Destruction of the Nephites

Primary 4 Lesson 39: Mormon Witnesses the Destruction of the Nephites

CLASSROOM PREP

On the board → "How do you feel when people call you a Mormon?"

OPENING

Question on the board --> discuss, then share this quotation by President Hinckley

“While I sometimes regret that people do not call this church by its proper name, I am happy that the nickname they use is one of great honor made so by a remarkable man and a book which gives an unmatched testimony concerning the Redeemer of the world. Anyone who comes to know the man Mormon, through the reading and pondering of his words, anyone who reads this precious trove of history which was assembled and preserved in large measure by him, will come to know that Mormon...represents the greatest good—that good which is of God.”

So today we are going to read the Book of Mormon in the Book of Mormon!

SUMMARY OF MORMON 1-6 IN ORDER

Read through summary of Mormon 1-6 with Illustrated Scriptures -- print out each illustration caption on a different piece of paper and have them put it in the right order!

GO THROUGH LESSON DISCUSSION IF TIME (BELOW)

QUESTION AGAIN → after learning all that mormon went through to help the book of mormon exist, how do you feel about him? how do you feel about being called ‘mormon’

QUIZ OF SIX MORMONS (DRAW) -- Draw each Mormon and have them review what happened at that age.

• Age 10 learned about plates
• Age 11 traveled to land of Zarahemla.
• Age 15 saw Jesus.
• Age 16 led Nephite army.
• Age 24 received plates.
  Age 74 hid plates in Hill Cumorah

MAKE PLATES AND WRITE

Bring in cardboard squares, foil, Q-tips with cotton tips taken off. They cover a square with foil and scribe their testimony on it, or their gratitude for the Book of Mormon.

I’M A MORMON VIDEOS/SNACKS

Watch "I'm a Mormon" videos with snacks

Lesson discussion...

How and why was Mormon chosen to keep the records? (Mormon 1:2–4.) How do you think you would feel if you were given the same responsibilities that Mormon was given so early in your life? How could you prepare yourself for such a sacred responsibility? Summarize Mormon 1:6–12 by explaining that while Mormon was in his youth, he witnessed a number of battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites. He also witnessed the spread of wickedness among all the people in the land. What spiritual blessings did the Nephites give up because of their wickedness? (Mormon 1:13–14.) Why is it important to live so we can have the Holy Ghost with us? Explain that because the Nephites became so wicked, they lost precious gifts from the Lord. Divide the class in half. Assign one half to read Mormon 1:13–14, 18 silently, looking for gifts that the Lord began to take away from the Nephites. Assign the other half to read Mormon 1:14, 16–17, 19, looking for reasons why the Lord took these gifts away from the Nephites. Point out that the Nephites’ rebellion was extreme. However, this principle applies to us individually when we disobey God’s commandments. Which of the gifts listed in Mormon 1:13–14, 18 would be most difficult for you to lose? Invite a student to read Mormon 1:15 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Mormon was experiencing while many of the Nephites were losing the gifts of God and the influence of the Holy Ghost. Why do you think Mormon was able to have spiritual experiences even though he was in the midst of great wickedness? Why was Mormon not allowed to teach the gospel to the Nephites? (Mormon 1:16–17.) In what ways is it hard to live in a wicked world? What caused the Nephites to begin to repent? (Mormon 2:10–11) Why did Mormon’s happiness over the repentance of the people soon turn to sorrow? (Mormon 2:12–15.) How can we sincerely repent? During the wars, what did Mormon do with the large plates of Nephi? (Mormon 2:16–18.) Help the children understand that the Book of Mormon is named after Mormon because he was the prophet who abridged or summarized the large plates of Nephi. This abridgment made by Mormon; the things added by his son, Moroni; and the small plates of Nephi are the gold plates Joseph Smith got from Moroni at the Hill Cumorah. Why weren’t the Nephites as successful in battle as they could have been? (Mormon 2:26–27.) What can we do to have the “strength of the Lord” in our lives? What happened when Mormon taught the Nephites about repentance? (Mormon 3:2–3.) Why do many people not listen to Heavenly Father and his prophets? How can you recognize the Lord’s influence in your life? (see Mormon 3:3) What did Mormon finally do because of the people’s wickedness? (Mormon 3:11.) What did he do to show how much he cared about them? (Mormon 3:12.) Why should we pray for people who are not keeping Heavenly Father’s commandments? What were some of the hardships the people suffered, because of their wickedness, in fulfillment of these prophesies? (Mormon 2:8, 20; 4:11, 21; 5:16, 18; 6:7–9.) If you saw these hardships happening to your friends and neighbors, what would you want to do for them? What can we do to help others learn to keep Heavenly Father’s commandments? Draw attention to Mormon’s statement in Mormon 5:11 that if his people had repented, they would have been “clasped in the arms of Jesus.” What do you think it means to be “clasped in the arms of Jesus”? (You may want to point out that the word clasped means to be held tightly or securely or to be embraced.) What does this phrase teach us about the result of our own repentance? What do you think it means to be “in the hands of God”? (Mormon 5:23). What can you do to qualify to enjoy more benefits from being in God’s hands. How many people were killed in these wars? (Mormon 6:10–15) How did Mormon feel about the destruction of his people? (Mormon 6:16–22.)