2 Nephi 21–24

The Millennium

a lion and a sheep

Imagine what life would be like if there was no evil in the world. One day the world will be this way. It will happen during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Many prophets, including Nephi and Isaiah, prophesied about the 1,000 years of peace called the Millennium. This lesson can help you understand and prepare for the Savior’s millennial reign.

Focusing on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When deciding what truths or principles to help students discover, look for what will help them to come unto Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost can help you and the learners recognize truths about the Savior and His redeeming power in each principle, commandment, and prophetic teaching.

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on what they know about the Millennium and come prepared to ask questions they may have about it.

Possible Learning Activities

The future

Students could write their answers to the following questions on the board or discuss them in small groups.

• What are some important events in the future you look forward to? Why?

• What feelings do you have when you think about these events?

• What are you doing to prepare?

The Millennium

One significant event in the future is the Millennium.

Listen carefully to how students respond to the following questions. Consider listing students’ questions on the board. Instead of directly answering them, encourage students to seek answers as they study.

Adapt the lesson according to the responses they give. For example, if many students have the same question, you could find the answer as a class. Students who have similar questions could be placed in groups to find answers together.

• What do you know about the Millennium? What questions do you have about it?

The prophet Nephi wrote about the last days and included many of Isaiah’s prophecies about the last days. Isaiah prophesied of the destruction of Assyria and Babylon as a type of the destruction at the Second Coming (see 2 Nephi 20; 23). He also prophesied of the Restoration of the gospel preceding the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. His prophecies are rich with symbolism and imagery that add depth to our understanding of the Millennium.

Read the following prophecies from Nephi and Isaiah and look for descriptions of the Millennium.

Consider placing papers with the following scripture references around the room and inviting students to walk around and read the various passages. Another option is to invite students to draw in a study journal or on the board some of the descriptions in these verses.

As needed, help students understand the scriptures. For example, you could point out that the animals dwelling together without fighting represents conditions of peace (see 2 Nephi 21:6–7) or that the waters covering the sea represent the knowledge of the Lord covering the earth (see 2 Nephi 21:9).

• 1 Nephi 22:24–26

• 2 Nephi 21:6–9

• 2 Nephi 22:1–6

• 2 Nephi 24:3, 7

• From these descriptions, how do you think your life will be different in the Millennium?

• What descriptions of the Savior did you find? What do they teach you about Him?

One of the truths we learn from these scriptures is that Jesus Christ will reign on the earth in righteousness and peace during the Millennium.

Visualize in your mind what it may be like to live during the Millennium—when the Savior reigns in righteousness and peace. Reflect on how the Savior’s peace could bless your life.

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency described another blessing of the Millennium:

President Dallin H. Oaks

Singleness, childlessness, death, and divorce frustrate ideals and postpone the fulfillment of promised blessings. … The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right.

Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is incomplete in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father’s worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be true of family relationships and experiences. (President Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75)

• What does this statement teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• Which of the blessings of the Millennium do you most desire? Why?

• During the lesson, what answers did you find to your questions about the Millennium?

If students are still looking for answers to their questions, direct them to where they could find an answer. Some of the following passages may help: Doctrine and Covenants 29:11; 88:110; 101:26–34; Articles of Faith 1:10. See also “Millennium” in the Guide to the Scriptures or Gospel Topics.

Preparation for the Millennium

Salt Lake Temple under construction

In 2020, renovations began on the Salt Lake Temple. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about these renovations. Look for how he compared them to our own lives. Watch the video “A Good Foundation against the Time to Come,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 14:51 to 15:26, or read the statement below.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

It is the sincere hope of Church leaders that the significant renovations to the Salt Lake Temple will contribute to the fulfillment of Brigham Young’s desire to see “the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the millennium.” During the coming years, may we allow these improvements made to the Salt Lake Temple to move and inspire us, as individuals and families, so that we too—metaphorically—will “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium.” (Gary E. Stevenson, “A Good Foundation against the Time to Come,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 51–52)

• What do you think it means to “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium”?

Consider referring back to the future events students are looking forward to and discussing what they are doing to prepare for them. Then discuss ways to prepare for the Millennium.

Students may benefit from answering the following questions in their study journal.

• When you think about the Savior’s millennial reign, what do you feel?

• What can you do now to prepare for the Millennium?

• What challenges might you face as you make these preparations?

Commentary and Background Information

Will only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be on earth during the Millennium?

President Joseph Fielding Smith (1878–1972) taught:

President Joseph Fielding Smith

Some members of the Church have an erroneous idea that when the millennium comes all of the people are going to be swept off the earth except righteous members of the Church. That is not so. There will be millions of people … of all classes, and of all beliefs, still permitted to remain upon the face of the earth, but they will be those who have lived clean lives, those who have been free from wickedness and corruption. …

Eventually, however, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do the sea. But there will be need for the preaching of the gospel, after the millennium is brought in, until all men are either converted or pass away. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:86–87)

The article “Who Will Be on the Earth during the Millennium, and What Will They Be Doing?” (New Era, June 2014, 41) may help answer other questions you have about the Millennium.

What will life be like in the Millennium?

President Brigham Young (1801–1877) taught:

President Brigham Young

The Millennium consists in this—every heart in the Church and Kingdom of God being united in one; the Kingdom increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of heaven, and Satan being bound, and having a seal set upon him. All things else will be as they are now, we shall eat, drink, and wear clothing. …

In the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth in power, glory, and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that has so long prevailed is subdued, the Saints of God will have the privilege of building their temples, and of entering into them, becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God [see Revelation 3:12], and they will officiate for their dead. Then we will see our friends come up, and perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here. … And we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them. Then [children] will be sealed to [parents] until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of Priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene.

This will be the work of the Latter-day Saints in the Millennium. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [2007], 333–4)

Will The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exist in the Millennium?

President Russell M. Nelson declared:

President Russell M. Nelson

This Church will not be moved from its place, even through the Millennium. (Russell M. Nelson, “How Firm Our Foundation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2002, 76)

1 Nephi 22:26. How can Satan have no power?

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught:

President Spencer W. Kimball

When Satan is bound in a single home—when Satan is bound in a single life—the Millennium has already begun in that home, in that life. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 172)

Supplemental Learning Activities

2 Nephi 21. Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith

Display an image of Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith. Explain that when Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith on September 21, 1823, he quoted Isaiah 11, which is also 2 Nephi 21 (see Joseph Smith History 1:40). Invite students to search 2 Nephi 21 and look for prophecies that may have been meaningful to Joseph Smith and help prepare him for his prophetic mission.

2 Nephi 21. The rod, the stem, and the root

This exercise can help students discover how to use the scriptures to understand the scriptures. Invite students to search 2 Nephi 21:1–5, 10 and find the rod, the stem, and the root. Then invite students to search Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6, looking for the interpretation of these symbols.

2 Nephi 21:10–12. An ensign to the nations

Consider bringing a flag to class and discussing how a flag can signal where to gather. Explain that an ensign is a flag.

Read 2 Nephi 21:10–12, looking for what the Lord would do through Joseph Smith and the restored gospel.

Discuss how the restored gospel is like an ensign. Brainstorm ways we can invite people to come unto Christ through His restored gospel.

2 Nephi 22:2. Trusting Jesus Christ

Invite students to share what impressions they have from this verse. Ask various follow-up questions to help students share their feelings about the Savior. For example: How can Jesus Christ be a source of strength for a teenager? What are some ways we can show our trust in Jesus Christ? How can trusting in Jesus Christ help us overcome fear?