Seminary
Mosiah 21–24, Part 1: Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions

“Mosiah 21–24, Part 1: Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Mosiah 21–24, Part 1,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Mosiah 21–24, Part 1

Finding the Lord’s Purposes for Our Trials and Afflictions

Image
a youth pondering, who appears sad

How would you explain to someone why the Lord allows us to experience trials and afflictions? Mosiah 21–24 describes the experiences of the people of Limhi and the people of Alma, who both encountered difficult challenges. This lesson is intended to help you feel increased trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when you experience trials and afflictions in your life.

Ask questions that encourage discussion. Meaningful class discussions occur when teachers interact with students and students interact with each other. Ask questions that are relevant and that provide opportunities for multiple students to respond. You can also encourage discussion by asking students to respond to comments made by their classmates.

Student preparation: Students could be invited to think about a past trial or challenge that helped them experience growth or draw closer to the Lord. Encourage students to come prepared to share what they learned or how this trial may have positively influenced them.

Possible Learning Activities

This is the first of two lessons that address Mosiah 21–24. Part 1 will focus on why the Lord might allow us to experience trials, and part 2 will focus on how we can rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help us through these trials. If class time is limited and only one lesson on Mosiah 21–24 can be taught, consider how the two lessons might be effectively combined.

Carrying burdens

Image
person carrying a heavy backpack

Imagine that your trials, burdens, and afflictions are represented by rocks you have to physically carry in a bag or backpack.

You might consider bringing a backpack and heavy items representing burdens to class. Invite a willing student to wear the backpack while class members name different trials and place the items in the bag. Ensure that the backpack does not become so heavy that the student wearing it could be harmed. If possible, the student could continue wearing the backpack while the class discusses the following questions.

Consider listing on the board students’ responses to the following questions.

  • What are some of the trials or burdens teenagers might experience that could feel like heavy rocks in a backpack?

  • What questions might people have about the burdens they carry?

Consider giving students time to list some of their personal trials and record their thoughts, questions, and feelings about those trials in their study journals. This can help to better prepare them to have a personalized experience as they study the scriptures.

As you study today, look for truths that can help you better understand why the Lord might allow you to experience these trials.

The people of Limhi and the people of Alma

To help students remember the context related to the people of Limhi and the people of Alma, consider displaying or drawing the following image and pointing out the location of each group of people as you mention them.

In Mosiah 21–24, we learn about two groups of people who experienced great trials and afflictions. The first group lived in the land of Nephi and was led by King Noah’s son Limhi. The second group lived in the land of Helam and was led by Alma.

Image
illustration of places in Mosiah 21–24

Invite a few volunteers to share what they know about the circumstances that led to the captivity of the people of Limhi and the people of Alma. If needed, use the following summaries.

The people of Limhi

After rejecting the teachings and warnings of Abinadi, the Nephites, who were now led by King Limhi, were taken captive by the Lamanites in the land of Nephi and were required to pay heavy taxes (see Mosiah 19:15). As prophesied by the prophet Abinadi (see Mosiah 12:5), the Lamanites forced Limhi’s people to serve them and to carry heavy burdens (see Mosiah 21:3).

The people of Alma

After Abinadi’s death, Alma and his followers fled to the Waters of Mormon, where they were baptized (see Mosiah 17:1–4; 18:1–14). They later fled for their safety and built a righteous settlement in the land of Helam (see Mosiah 18:32–34; 23:1–4, 19–20). Alma’s people were eventually discovered and taken captive by the Lamanites (see Mosiah 23:25–29, 36–37). Amulon, who had been one of Noah’s wicked priests, was given authority over them and began persecuting Alma and his people (see Mosiah 24:8–9).

Why the Lord allows trials

Consider dividing the class into small groups and having half of the groups study the people of Limhi and the other half study the people of Alma.

Read the following scripture passages, looking for teachings that can help you understand why the Lord allows us to experience trials and afflictions. You may want to mark words and phrases that stand out to you.

If students studied these verses in small groups, invite volunteers from each group to summarize what they learned from the verses they studied. The following questions could help students discuss what they learned from these verses.

  • What similarities and differences did you see between the two groups of people and what they experienced?

  • What evidence did you see in these accounts of the Lord’s love and concern for the people?

    In response to the previous question, students might point out phrases such as “the Lord did hear their cries” (Mosiah 21:15), “they began to prosper by degrees” (Mosiah 21:16), “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders,” or “I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).

  • What did you learn about why the Lord allows people to suffer trials and afflictions?

Consider inviting students to write on the board their answers to the previous question. The following are some examples of truths students may have found.

  • The Lord allows us to experience trials to help us become humble and rely more upon Him (see Mosiah 21:5–14).

  • Some trials and afflictions come as a result of disobedience (see Mosiah 21:15).

  • Our trials can give us opportunities to seek after and feel the Lord’s power in our lives (see Mosiah 21:15–16; 24:14).

  • The Lord chastens His people and tries their patience and faith (see Mosiah 23:21).

Many people think being chastened (see Mosiah 23:21) has the same meaning as being punished. Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy explained, “The word chasten comes from the Latin castus, meaning ‘chaste or pure,’ and chasten means ‘to purify’ [see Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. (2003), “chasten”]” (“The Righteous Judge,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 97). Ponder for a moment how the Lord might be purifying you through your trials and afflictions.

The following questions (or others you think of) could be used to help create relevance for students. You might consider giving students time to record their responses in their journals before discussing the questions as a class. Be sure to thank students for sharing their thoughts.

  • How could understanding these truths influence the way you react to your trials?

  • What experiences have helped you see the Lord’s purposes for allowing you to experience trials?

    To show an example that illustrates the previous question, consider showing the video “The Will of God“ (3:02), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

  • What have you learned today that can help you better understand the trials you experience?

Testify of the truths you have discussed today.