2 Nephi 31:14–21

“Ye Must Press Forward”

youth hiking

Sometimes the journey toward eternal life can seem challenging. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have not left us on this journey alone; They want to help us along the way. This lesson can help you increase your desire to press forward and endure to the end so that one day you will reach your ultimate destination: eternal life with your Heavenly Father.

Seeing students as the Lord sees them. When teachers strive to love as the Savior loves, they begin to see others as He sees them. Christlike love inspires teachers to persevere in helping each student become truly converted. The Holy Ghost can help you recognize the divine worth of every student and assist them in reaching their potential.

Student preparation: Invite students to come to class prepared to share how they might help someone who is struggling to want to keep moving forward in righteousness on their journey back to Heavenly Father.

Possible Learning Activities

Our long-distance journey

Consider displaying a picture of a runner or a race, like the one at the beginning of this lesson. Ask if any of the students have ever run a long-distance race and have them describe what they experienced.

If useful, adapt this example to any other activity that may require endurance that might relate to your students.

• In a long-distance race, what things might cause a runner to want to give up?

• What might encourage a runner to finish the race when it gets hard?

If possible, watch “You’re Never Alone,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 0:00 to 1:25. In this video, President Elaine S. Dalton, former Young Women General President, retells her struggles in a long-distance race.

Compare your journey back to live with Heavenly Father to a long-distance race. Ponder the following:

Consider displaying the following questions and inviting students to record their answers in their study journals.

• What is motivating you, or could motivate you, to press forward on your journey back to Heavenly Father?

• What challenges are you facing?

As you study this lesson, look for truths or insights that may help you overcome your challenges and strive toward returning to your Heavenly Father.

A divine invitation

Nephi teaching group

After Nephi taught about baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost, he taught another important aspect of the doctrine of Christ using a direct quote from Heavenly Father. Read 2 Nephi 31:15 looking for what Heavenly Father taught.

• What do you think it means to endure to the end?

• What do you think is the difference between simply enduring, and enduring by following the example of the Savior?

Nephi used imagery to help us visualize our journey back to Heavenly Father. Read 2 Nephi 31:17–20 and draw a simple picture of the path that Nephi described. Label what the different aspects on the path represent.

• How would you summarize what you learned?

One thing we learn from these verses is that as we follow the example of the Savior and endure to the end, we will receive eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

• Why do you want to receive eternal life with your Heavenly Father?

Pressing forward

In verses 19–20, Nephi listed various attitudes and actions required to press forward along the path toward eternal life. Review these verses and list along the path that you drew the attitudes and actions you find. If you would like to see a video portraying Nephi giving these teachings, watch “Nephi Teaches the Doctrine of Christ,” time code 2:55 to 3:47, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and follow along in your scriptures.

Take a moment to rate yourself on a scale of 1–5 (1 being low; 5 being high) on how well you understand and are striving to live these attitudes and actions.

Choose one of the phrases you would like to understand or live better. Find a scripture or quote that helps increase your understanding. Consider using the Topical Guide, Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Library app, general conference talks, or other reliable resources.

Consider allowing students to share what they learned from the activity with the class, in small groups, or in pairs. You may consider asking some or all of the following questions to increase students’ understanding and desire to apply what they learned.

As an alternative, you could display some or all of the questions and have students answer them as they study. Then invite some students to share.

Note: The next lesson will focus more on feasting upon the words of Christ.

• What did you learn about the attitude or action that you chose?

• What might it look like for someone to demonstrate the attitude or action that you chose?

• When have you felt Heavenly Father bless you or someone you know because of one of these attitudes or actions?

Your individual journey

Consider watching the rest of the video “You’re Never Alone,” from time code 1:25–2:54, to see how the Lord helped President Dalton to endure to the end.

Think about your life and your current journey back to Heavenly Father. Ponder how you are doing at enduring to the end.

Consider inviting students to write their answer to one of the following questions on or by the picture they drew. Then they could take it home and put it somewhere they might see again.

• What have you learned today that helps you want to press forward toward Heavenly Father?

• How would you like to apply what you learned today? (An example might be better living one of the phrases you have studied.)

Read the following from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, pondering what you wrote down. You may consider watching a clip from his talk “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You” from time code 15:12 to 16:20, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow—and every other day—is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children! It is a plan predicated on the truth “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 127)

Consider sharing your testimony. You may also invite students to share their testimonies or thoughts.

Commentary and Background Information

What does it mean to endure to the end?

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2009) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Enduring to the end means that we have planted our lives firmly on gospel soil, staying in the mainstream of the Church, humbly serving our fellow men, living Christlike lives, and keeping our covenants. Those who endure are balanced, consistent, humble, constantly improving, and without guile. Their testimony is not based on worldly reasons—it is based on truth, knowledge, experience, and the Spirit. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Press On,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 101)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God.

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life. It is not for Sunday only. It is not something we can do only as a habit or a tradition if we expect to harvest all of its promised blessings. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 20)

What if I feel I am not on the path that leads to eternal life?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

President Russell M. Nelson

If you have wandered off, or if there are some things you need to let go of to help your mind and heart be more pure, today is the perfect time to change.

If you aren’t sure how to repent, talk with your bishop or your parents or both. They will help you understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They will help you experience the joy that true repentance always brings.

Please do not stay off the covenant path one more minute. Please come back through true repentance, now. (Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, Jun. 2018)

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

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Best is Yet to Be,” Ensign, Jan. 2010, 27)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternate beginning to the lesson

Invite the students to do a few jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Ask the students: “If you had to do each of these for several minutes, how might your experience be different? Why can it be difficult to continue to participate in good activities over time? What benefits do we gain?”

Music video

To help the students feel the truth and importance of the principle “as we press forward on the covenant path and endure to the end, we will receive eternal life with our Heavenly Father,” consider showing the video “2016 Mutual Theme: Press Forward” (4:12), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.