Jacob 7

Unshaken Faith in Jesus Christ

If you feel like some people today are intentionally trying to shake the faith of members of the Savior’s Church, you are right. This is nothing new. Among the Nephites, a man named Sherem “labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people” (Jacob 7:3). This lesson can help you prepare to overcome challenges to your faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Helping learners understand the content of the scriptures. The content of the scriptures is the story line, people, events, sermons, and explanations. Understanding these elements can help students connect with individuals in the scriptures and be edified by inspired recorded sermons.

Student preparation: Invite students to come to class prepared to share an example of someone standing firm in their faith when others challenged them.

Possible Learning Activities

Preparing for future challenges

Before sharing the following statement, consider asking, “On a scale of one to ten, how difficult do you think it is to be a valiant disciple of Jesus Christ today?” You could ask students to hold up the number of fingers that represent their answer and then ask some of them to share why they responded the way they did.

President Russell M. Nelson shared the following about a difficult challenge that we will face:

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President Russell M. Nelson

Difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution” [2 Timothy 3:12]. That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives. (Russell M. Nelson, “Face the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 35–36)

President Nelson gave this talk in 2011. In what ways have you already experienced or seen what he described?
Why might it be even less popular in the future to remain faithful to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ? Why do you think it’s still worth it?
Why do you think the Lord would tell us about these difficulties ahead of time?

Reflect for a minute on the current strength of your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how prepared you are to remain faithful to Him in the difficult days ahead. As you study Jacob 7, look for how Jacob prepared himself to remain faithful when a wicked man named Sherem tried to shake his faith.

Sherem preaches against Christ

Read Jacob 7:1–7, or watch the video “Sherem Denies Christ” from time code 0:33 to 2:21. This video is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Look for what Sherem taught to try to shake the Nephites’ faith in Christ.

What did Sherem teach to try to shake the Nephites’ faith?
What are some ways that people might challenge the faith of disciples of Christ today?

Invite students to silently ponder the following:

Ponder if you have seen anyone around you begin to doubt their faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel because of the influence of others. Have you noticed anyone challenging your faith in Him?

Jacob’s faith cannot be shaken

Consider inviting students to read the following verses with a small group. Then invite each group to have a representative write on the board what they learned from Jacob’s example. These are some truths students might find: the Spirit can help us know what to do and say when our faith is challenged, and we can rely on the teachings of prophets to strengthen our faith in Christ.

As students share, consider reminding them that studying doctrinal mastery passages and the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can prepare them to withstand challenges to their faith in Jesus Christ.

Read Jacob 7:5, 8–12, looking for what helped Jacob reject Sherem’s teachings.

One principle we can learn from verse 5 is that we can overcome challenges to our faith in Jesus Christ by remembering past spiritual experiences that strengthened our faith.

What specific things did Jacob remember during this confrontation that helped him?
Why can remembering our past spiritual experiences strengthen us when we face challenges to our faith?

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. …

Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. … I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you. Heavenly Father knows you and loves you! (Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Defining Memories,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 19, 21–22)

If you use the following idea, allow sufficient time for students to ponder, pray, and record their feelings and experiences. Then invite volunteers to share experiences that are not too sacred. Consider sharing a personal example that is not too sacred or unique so that students can relate to your experience.

Take some time to remember feelings and experiences God has given you to assure you that He knows and loves you. Record some of them in your study journal or in your scriptures. If you need help remembering such experiences, ask Heavenly Father in prayer to help you recognize or remember some moving forward. He will do so in His own time and way.

You may want to watch the video “Spiritually Defining Memories” from time code 13:40 to 14:46. Look for how Elder Andersen’s illustration shows that our spiritual memories can light the way both for us and for others during trying times. This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

You could use the following suggestions and give students a few minutes to text or email a loved one. It may be helpful to remind them that some sacred experiences should be kept personal.

Ponder who you know that could be strengthened by hearing one of your experiences. Consider finding a way to share it with them.

Also think about loved ones and Church leaders whose faith and experiences could strengthen your own. Consider reaching out to them for help.

A sign from God

Read Jacob 7:13–23, or watch the video “Sherem Denies Christ” from time code 2:22 to 7:16, to learn what happened to Sherem.

Consider displaying the following questions and giving students time to ponder them. Then invite volunteers to share their answers.

Why do you think Jacob would record this account for people in our day?
How do you think Heavenly Father would have you apply what you learned today in a situation you are facing?

Commentary and Background Information

How can I better recognize and remember spiritual experiences?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency shared about a time when he was prompted to record in his journal how he saw the hand of the Lord:

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President Henry B. Eyring

I wrote down a few lines every day for years. … Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done. (Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 67)

How can I recognize the teachings of those who seek to destroy faith in Christ in our day?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson

The way of the world, as you know, is anti-Christ, or “anything but Christ.” Our day is a replay of Book of Mormon history in which charismatic figures pursue unrighteous dominion over others, celebrate sexual license, and promote accumulating wealth as the object of our existence. Their philosophies “justify in committing a little sin” [2 Nephi 28:8] or even a lot of sin, but none can offer redemption. That comes only through the blood of the Lamb. The best the “anything but Christ” or “anything but repentance” crowd can offer is the unfounded claim that sin does not exist or that if it exists, it ultimately has no consequences. I can’t see that argument getting much traction at the Final Judgment. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Love of God,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 17)

Consider studying paragraph 12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

What if I don’t know how to answer when someone questions my faith?

Elder Jörg Klebingat of the Seventy said:

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Elder Jörg Klebingat

Remember that even a child can be a defender of Christ on the playground by bearing a simple testimony; that you don’t have to be a gospel scholar to be a witness of the truth; that you don’t have to have all the answers; that it is OK to sometimes say, “I don’t know.” (Jörg Klebingat, “Defending the Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2017, 53)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Handling confrontation without contention

It can be difficult to have your beliefs questioned or attacked and not respond unkindly. The video “Everyday Example: When Beliefs Are Questioned” from time code 3:13 to 7:07 could help students understand how to better handle these situations. It portrays a young woman whose beliefs were attacked by a classmate at school. She seeks counsel from her bishop on how to better handle the situation.

Consider bringing up situations when students’ beliefs may be questioned in person or online. Then invite students to share ideas of how to stand firm in their faith while not creating or increasing contentious feelings with others.

Deepening understanding through cross-references

Invite students to cross-reference or link Jacob 7:5 with Helaman 5:12 and Joseph Smith—History 1:22–26. Then invite them to study these references with a partner to understand how to be firmer in their faith.

Studying the scriptures when facing doubt

Consider showing the video “Follow the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ” from time code 7:34 to 9:41. In it, President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares how studying the scriptures helped a missionary overcome questions and doubt.