2 Nephi 4

Nephi’s Psalm

Everyone faces temptation and feels down or discouraged at times. The prophet Nephi also felt this way. After experiencing the death of his father, Lehi, and facing his angry brothers, Nephi wrote about some of his deepest feelings. He expressed his joy as well as his sorrow. His example shows us how we can turn to the Lord when we experience the challenges of mortality. This lesson can help you respond faithfully to temptation and discouragement by turning to the Lord.

Challenges of mortality

We all are tempted, sad, or discouraged at times. Think about specific temptations or problems you are facing that may cause you to feel down.

Why do you think everyone is tempted and feels discouraged at times?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you feel you are managing these difficulties?
How would your life be blessed if you were better able to overcome temptation and discouragement?

Nephi’s psalm

Read 2 Nephi 4:12–13, 18, looking for some of the challenges Nephi faced.

How do you imagine these challenges caused Nephi to feel?

The verses 2 Nephi 4:16–35 are often referred to as Nephi’s psalm. A psalm is “an inspired poem or hymn” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Psalm,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). In these verses Nephi wrote about some of his deepest feelings. He shared his challenges and how he responded to temptation and discouragement. As you study these verses, seek inspiration through the Holy Ghost to know what you can do in the specific challenges you are facing.

You may recall four steps to help you liken the scriptures to your life:

Find important details.
Make comparisons to your life.
Discover valuable lessons.
Determine personal application.

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Read the verses and answer the questions in the following chart in your study journal.

Nephi’s Psalm and Me (2 Nephi 4:16–35)

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“2 Nephi 4: Nephi’s Psalm”

	Nephi’s Experience	My Experience
2 Nephi 4:16	Nephi’s Experience How was Nephi feeling?	My Experience When have I had similar feelings?
2 Nephi 4:17–19	Nephi’s Experience How was Nephi feeling?	My Experience When have I had similar feelings?
2 Nephi 4:20–25	Nephi’s Experience What experiences with God helped Nephi respond faithfully to his temptations and discouragement?	My Experience What are some spiritual experiences that I could remember when I am tempted or discouraged?
2 Nephi 4:26–29	Nephi’s Experience What kinds of thoughts helped Nephi to be strong when feeling tempted or discouraged?	My Experience What kinds of thoughts can help me be strong when feeling tempted or discouraged?
2 Nephi 4:30–35	Nephi’s Experience What impresses me from Nephi’s prayer?	My Experience How can I apply Nephi’s example to my own prayers?

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Answer at least three of the following questions:
- What verses or phrases in 2 Nephi 4 stand out to you? Why?
- What did you learn about the Savior from 2 Nephi 4?
- How did likening the scriptures to your life influence your study of 2 Nephi 4?
- What are some principles you identified?
- How do you think these principles can help you turn to the Lord when you are tempted or feel discouraged?

My plan to overcome temptation and discouragement

To see how one young woman turned to the Lord in a difficult time, watch “Heavenly Father Knows Me” (3:18), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Follow Nephi’s example and write your own psalm. Some of the following questions can help:

What principle, teaching, or verse(s) from 2 Nephi 4 can you apply to your life?
How will you apply it to your life?
How do you think doing this will help you turn to the Savior?
When life gets difficult, how can you respond with faith in the Savior?

Optional: Want to Learn More?

How can remembering past spiritual experiences help me?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Neil L. Andersen

Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly. Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind. …

You might think of your spiritual memories this way. With constant prayer, a determination to keep our covenants, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, we navigate our way through life. When personal difficulty, doubt, or discouragement darken our path, or when world conditions beyond our control lead us to wonder about the future, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead, assuring us that God knows us, loves us, and has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us return home. (Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Defining Memories,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 19, 21)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Ronald A. Rasband

I encourage you now, to recall, especially in times of crisis, when you felt the Spirit and your testimony was strong; remember the spiritual foundations you have built. (Ronald A. Rasband, “Lest Thou Forget,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 114)

How can I overcome temptation and discouragement?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

When we face … temptations in our time, we must declare, as young Nephi did in his, “[I will] give place no more for the enemy of my soul” [2 Nephi 4:28]. We can reject the evil one. If we want it dearly and deeply enough, that enemy can and will be rebuked by the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 46)

Elder Allen D. Haynie of the Seventy taught:

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Elder Allen D. Haynie

Brothers and sisters, if you feel discouraged or wonder if you can ever get out of the spiritual hole that you have dug, please remember who stands “betwixt [us] and justice,” who is “filled with compassion towards the children of men,” and who has taken upon Himself our iniquities and transgressions and “satisfied the demands of justice” [Mosiah 15:9]. In other words, as Nephi did in his moment of self-doubt, simply remember “in whom [you] have trusted” [2 Nephi 4:19], even Jesus Christ, and then repent and experience yet again “a perfect brightness of hope” [2 Nephi 31:20]. (Allen D. Haynie, “Remembering in Whom We Have Trusted,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 123)