“2 Nephi 26: Seeing, Loving, and Treating Others as God Does,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“2 Nephi 26,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
2 Nephi 26
Seeing, Loving, and Treating Others as God Does
Every day we are faced with messages and information meant to influence our feelings and perspectives. In 2 Nephi 26, Nephi taught of God’s perspective. This lesson is intended to help you see, love, and treat others as God does.
Possible Learning Activities
Our perspective
Examine the following pictures and think about how the different glasses impact our vision.
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How might these different glasses affect someone’s perspective?
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What are some things that affect how we see and treat others?
Take a moment to reflect on your perception of others. Think about what might be shaping your perspective and how this could influence how you feel about and treat others. As you study, seek for inspiration to know what you can do to see and treat others as the Savior does.
This lesson is intended to help you see, love, and treat others as God does.
The character of God
In 2 Nephi 26, Nephi saw the Savior’s ministry among the Nephites, as well as the wickedness and final destruction of his people. He also saw the wickedness of the Gentiles in the last days. In contrast, he then emphasized God’s care for all His children.
Consider the following three questions as you read 2 Nephi 26:12–13, 23–33:
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How does God see and feel about His children?
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How does He demonstrate this?
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How does He want us to see and treat others?
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What words, phrases, or truths did you mark that could answer the questions? Why?
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What did you learn or feel about the character of God?
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How might remembering these truths about God influence your relationship with Him? How might it influence how you treat others?
Notice that in 2 Nephi 26:33, Nephi highlighted many different types of individuals by pairing them in contrasting groups. The following definitions may help you understand these better. You may consider writing these definitions in your scriptures by this verse.
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Bond: A slave.
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Heathen: Someone who does not believe in God.
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Jew and Gentile: A phrase referring to all who belong to the house of Israel and those who do not.
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What difference might it make if the world accepted and applied the teachings in verse 33?
Take a moment to reflect on your perspective, including the way you feel about and treat others, in comparison to God’s perspective and the way He feels about and treats others.
You might want to watch the video “We Don’t Need to Be the Same to Be One” (1:00), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, reflecting on what the Lord might have you improve.
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How might it affect you to remember God’s perspective and feelings toward all people?
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In what ways are you doing well at seeing and treating others like Heavenly Father and Jesus would treat them?
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How could remembering the teachings about the Lord in 2 Nephi 26:33 help you see, love, and treat others like God does?
During the next few days, try to notice how you see, feel toward, and treat others. Listen for promptings from the Holy Ghost and seek the Lord’s help to make any necessary changes to love and treat others more like God does.