The following summary of the events, doctrines, and principles students learned as they studied 2 Nephi 11–25 (unit 7) is not intended to be taught as part of your lesson. The lesson you teach concentrates on only a few of these doctrines and principles. Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit as you consider the needs of your students.
Isaiah described ancient Israel’s pride and wickedness and the judgments that awaited them. He also prophesied of a temple to be built in the last days and taught that God establishes temples to teach us of His ways and help us walk in His paths. Isaiah saw the Lord and was cleansed from sin. From Isaiah’s experience, students learned that we can be cleansed of our unworthiness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah chastened the kingdom of Judah for failing to put their trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Students learned that God will be with us when we trust in Him, even during times of difficulty and fear. Isaiah described the destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming and taught that Jesus Christ is a God of judgment and mercy, and His mercy is extended to those who repent and keep His commandments.
In this lesson, students learned that Jesus Christ would judge in righteousness and that eventually, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord would restore His gospel and His Church to gather His people in the last days. Nephi also delighted in Isaiah’s prophecy that during the Millennium, the earth will be a place of peace because it will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Students were encouraged to think about this truth and how they might be more prepared for this time.
As Nephi summarized the main messages of the writings of Isaiah, he reviewed simple truths concerning God’s work among the children of men: Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven “whereby man can be saved” (2 Nephi 25:20), and Jesus Christ is the only source we can look to for a remission of our sins.
Introduction
This week students studied selected chapters of Isaiah that Nephi included in his writings. President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of these Isaiah chapters: “Do not stop reading! Move forward through those difficult-to-understand chapters of Old Testament prophecy, even if you understand very little of it. Move on, if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there” (“The Things of My Soul,” Ensign, May 1986, 61).
As you meet with students this week, encourage them to be patient as they study the words of Isaiah. You might also invite them to share how the writings of Isaiah have helped them “lift up their hearts and rejoice” (2 Nephi 11:8) in the goodness of God.
Nephi quotes Isaiah’s prophecies about Jesus Christ
Display a magnifying glass or draw a picture of one on the board. Invite a student to read 2 Nephi 25:13 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Nephi “magnified.” Explain that one reason Nephi recorded the words of Isaiah, found in 2 Nephi 11–25, was to magnify the name, ministry, and Atonement of Jesus Christ in the lives of those who would read Nephi’s words.
Ask a student to read 2 Nephi 11:4–8 aloud. Invite the class to follow along, looking for phrases that identify Nephi’s purposes for quoting the words of Isaiah.
In their study at home, students were asked to mark the name “Christ” every time it appeared in 2 Nephi 25:20–30. Invite them to turn to 2 Nephi 25:28–29 and look for a phrase that is repeated in these verses. (“The right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not.”)
What experiences in your life have taught you that believing in and following Jesus Christ is the right way to live?
The following list contains the truths, doctrines, and principles students studied in 2 Nephi 11–25 this week. Write the following statements on the board or include them in a handout for each student. Invite students to read the statements and look for these truths, doctrines, and principles in the verses cited.
Understanding Isaiah’s Teachings in Our Day
God has established temples to teach us of His ways and to help us walk in His paths (see 2 Nephi 12:2–3).
We can be cleansed of our unworthiness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 16:5–7).
God will be with us when we trust in Him, even during times of difficulty and fear (see 2 Nephi 17:4, 7, 14).
Jesus Christ is a God of judgment and mercy. His mercy is extended to those who repent and keep His commandments (see 2 Nephi 19:12, 17, 21; 20:4).
The Lord has restored His gospel and His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith and is now gathering His people in the last days (see 2 Nephi 21:10, 12).
During the Millennium, the earth will be a place of peace because it will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (see 2 Nephi 21:6–9).
The Lord will be merciful to His people, but the wicked will perish (see 2 Nephi 23:22).
Nephi’s Teachings
Because of Jesus Christ, we can be saved by grace after all we can do (see 2 Nephi 25:23).
Through the Savior’s Atonement, we can receive a remission of our sins (see 2 Nephi 25:26).
After sufficient time, ask the following questions:
What themes do you see in these teachings from Isaiah and Nephi? (Possible themes: Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to extend salvation and peace to His children. We can trust God in any circumstance. Temples teach us about God.)
Which of the statements do you find most meaningful? Why?
Assign each student one doctrine or principle from the list, and ask students to do the following:
Read the scripture passage from which the doctrine or principle is taken.
Answer this question: How can this doctrine or principle help you to “delight” in the Lord? (See 2 Nephi 11:4–6.)
Think of a circumstance in which having a knowledge of this doctrine or principle could bring you hope and strength.
Invite students to share their thoughts. As they do so, you might ask, “Who else has a testimony or insight about what was just taught?” Allowing them to share insights and testimony will confirm truths to their hearts and to the hearts of their peers. Thank them for participating.
Invite a student to read 2 Nephi 25:13 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the reasons Nephi delighted in magnifying the Lord’s name. Ask students to report what they find.
Invite a student to read the following testimony by President Thomas S. Monson:
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President Thomas S. Monson
“I believe that none of us can conceive the full import of what Christ did for us in Gethsemane, but I am grateful every day of my life for His atoning sacrifice in our behalf.
“At the last moment, He could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things. In doing so, He gave us life beyond this mortal existence. He reclaimed us from the Fall of Adam.
“To the depths of my very soul, I am grateful to Him. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. He secured our salvation” (Thomas S. Monson, “At Parting,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 114).
What similarities do you see between Nephi’s words in 2 Nephi 25:13 and President Monson’s words?
Conclude today’s lesson by asking students to describe ways young Latter-day Saints can magnify the Lord’s name. After students have answered, encourage them to magnify the Lord’s name every day.
Tell students that in the next unit they will study some of Nephi’s prophecies about the latter days. Nephi saw that false churches and secret combinations would abound. He also saw that the Lord would do “a marvelous work and a wonder” (2 Nephi 27:26) and that many would reject the Book of Mormon because they already had the Bible. In addition, Nephi explained the doctrine of Christ.